Department For Transport
UK and European driving licences
If you move to an EU country or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you will not be able to renew your driving licence in the UK.
Consider exchanging your UK driving licence for a local licence as soon as possible in line with specific advice for your country of residence.
If your UK licence is lost, stolen or expired, you will not be able to exchange it for a local licence in the country where you are living. You will have to apply for a local licence and may have to retake your driving test. Please check with the licensing authority in your country of residence if your licence is lost, stolen or expired.
Check the driving advice for the country you live in.
Austria
If you intend to drive in Austria you must exchange your UK licence for an Austrian licence within 6 months of becoming resident in Austria. You can exchange your valid UK licence without taking a test.
After 6 months you can no longer use your UK licence to drive in Austria, but can still exchange it for an Austrian one, for as long as it is valid. This also applies to driving licences from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
Belgium
You can exchange your UK or Isle of Man licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, you should contact the driving licence department in the municipality where you are registered to see if your licence can be exchanged.
If you hold a licence from Jersey or Guernsey, you may need to take a test.
Bulgaria
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible. If you hold a licence from the Isle of Man, you may need to take a test.
Croatia
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
Cyprus
You can exchange your licence without taking a test. You must exchange your UK licence within 6 months of becoming a resident in Cyprus.
If you became resident in Cyprus before 31 December 2020, you must exchange your licence by 7 July 2021.
If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need to take a test.
Czech Republic
Most drivers can exchange their licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible. If you hold a licence issued by the Isle of Man, you will need to take a test to exchange your licence.
Driving in the Czech Republic.
Denmark
If your UK or Gibraltar licence was issued before 1 January 2021, you can exchange your licence without having to take a test. You need to do this within 180 days of taking up residency in Denmark, or by 30 June 2021, whichever is later.
If your UK or Gibraltar licence was issued on or after 1 January 2021, you can only exchange a Category B licence without having to take a test. You must do this within 180 days of taking up residency in Denmark.
If your licence was issued in Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, you can only exchange a Category B licence without having to take a test. You must do this within 180 days of taking up residency in Denmark.
Estonia
Most drivers can exchange their licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible. If you hold a licence issued by the Isle of Man, you will need to take a test to exchange your licence.
Finland
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test for licence categories A1, A2, A or B. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
France
This guidance also applies to driving licences from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
If your UK driving licence was first issued before 1 January 2021
Your licence is recognised in France for as long as it is valid. Paper licences are usually valid until you are 70. For plastic photocard licences, the expiry date is on the front.
If your UK licence has expired, or has less than 6 months validity remaining, you must exchange it for a French licence. You do not need to take a driving test.
You can only exchange your licence if it is due to expire within 6 months. If you do not have a valid reason to request an exchange, your application will not be processed.
If your UK driving licence was first issued on or after 1 January 2021
Your licence will be recognised for 1 year from the date of issue of your residency permit (carte de sjour). If you intend to stay in France for longer than 1 year, you must exchange your UK licence for a French licence during this initial 1-year period. You do not need to take a driving test.
Germany
You must exchange your UK driving licence for a German one within 6 months of moving there. You will not need to take a driving test to exchange your licence. Your local Brgeramt can tell you where to exchange your licence.
Living in Germany before 1 January 2021
If you were living in Germany before 1 January 2021, you must exchange your driving licence for a German one to continue to drive in Germany. You will not need to take a driving test to exchange your licence.
Greece
If you hold a valid UK or Gibraltar driving licence you can drive in Greece without restrictions.
If you hold a Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man licence, you should contact the competent Greek Directorate of Transport and Communications (in Greek) in the area of your residence to find out what you must do to drive legally in Greece.
Hungary
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible. If you hold a licence issued by the Isle of Man, you will need to take a test to exchange your licence.
Iceland
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
Ireland
UK and Northern Ireland licence holders resident in the Republic of Ireland must exchange their driving licence for an Irish licence. UK and Northern Ireland licences arent legal for driving in Ireland. However, they can be exchanged without the need to take a driving or theory test.
Italy
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
If you were resident in Italy before 1 January 2023,