Forign Drivers

Question 1

Regardless of where your from if in the UK the age limits for driving is

Answer 1

• 17 years for motor cars
• 18 years for medium sized vehicles (up to 7.5 tonnes)
• 21 years for large vehicles (7.5 tonnes and over) and buses.

Question 2

Driving Licences

Visitors from the EU/EEA

Answer 2

When a person visits the uk from any of the European Union counties or those in the European Economic Area, providing they hold a valid ‘community licence’ they can drive any vehicle their licence entitles them to drive.

A community licence is a licence issued by any government body within any of the member states which follows a set format to ensure the straightforward examination of a licence, irrespective of which EU/EEA country a driver is stopped in.

Question 3

Driving Licence

Visitors from designated counties

Answer 3

If a person visiting the UK is from a designated country and providing their licence is valid , they may drive any category of vehicle shown on their licence for up to 12 months.

Should they wish to drive after the 12 months, they need a provisional licence and must pass the relevant tests prior to the end of the 12 months

No requirement for the person undergoing this process to display L plates, be supervised by a qualified driver or be prohibited from driving on motorways.

If they fail to apply for a provisional licence within the 12 month concessionary period, their right to drive as a full licence holder will cease and normal provisional licence holder conditions will apply.

Question 4

Driving Licence

Visitors from other counties

Answer 4

If a person is the holder of a valid driving license or international driving permit, they can drive any category vehicle (up to 3.5 tonnes) shown on the license for up to 12 months in the UK.

If the person returns to their home country for a period of MORE THAN 185 days and then comes back to the UK, the 12 month period will start from the beginning again.

Question 5

Driving licences

Residents from the EU/EEA

Answer 5

Persons from the EU/EEA who are now resident in the UK, in possession of a valid EC driving licence are entitled to drive any car or motorcycle in the UK until 70 or for 3 years after becoming resident, whichever is the longer period provided the licence remains valid.

In order to continue driving after these periods, the person must obtain a British Driving Licence.

Alternatively the person may exchange their licence for a British licence at any time during its validity.

Question 6

Driving licences

Residents from Designated Counties

Answer 6

If a person from a designated county becomes resident in the UK and providing their licence is valid, they may drive any category of vehicle shown on their licence for up to 12 months.

Should they wish to continue driving in the UK after 12 months, they must exchange their licence for a British licence during this time.

If they fail to do so, their right to continue driving in the UK will cease.

A person in this situation can apply to exchange their licence for a GB one anytime up to 5 years from first arriving in the UK.

Question 7

Driving licence

Residents from other counties

Answer 7

Similar to when we discussed drivers from designated countries who become residents in the UK after the 12 month period, they must obtain a provisional licence and have passed the relevant tests prior to the expiry of the 12 months.

Again there is no requirement for a person undergoing this process to display “L” plates, be supervised by a qualified driver or be prohibited from driving on motorways.

If the person fails to apply for a provisional within the 12 month concessionary period, their right to drive as a full licence holder will cease and normal provisional licence holder conditions will apply.

If the person returned to their home country for a period of MORE THAN 185 days, then comes back to the UK, the 12 month period will start from the beginning again.

Question 8

Who is a foreign vocational resident?

Answer 8

Is someone who is living and working legally in the UK, who drives as part of their employment.

A vocational licence is a licence that allows someone to drive a minibus, bus or medium sized vehicle (those over 3.5 tons)

Question 9

Driving licence

Requirement for vocational residents from the EU

Answer 9

Persons from the EU who are vocational residents in the UK, in possession of a valid EC driving licence are entitled to drive in the UK for the following period:-

• Provided the licence remains valid, and lorry, or minibus or bus until aged 45 or for 5 years after becoming resident, whichever is the longer period (if aged 45 but under 65, until after their 66th birthday or for 5 years after becoming resident, whichever is shorter)

After this period, the person would be required to apply for a British licence.

Any person holding a EC vocational licence who is driving in the UK must register their details with the DVLA, failure to do so is an offence.

Question 10

Driving licence

Requirements for vocational residents form designated counties

Answer 10

May only drive a vehicle registered outside the UK and driven into the UK by them (E.g. Japanese holiday tour bus)

Exception is Gibraltar licence, they can also drive large goods vehicles (LGVs) or busses register in the uk.

Question 11

Driving licence

Requirements for vocational residents from other counties

Answer 11

May only drive a vehicle registered outside the UK and driven into the UK by them.

Question 12

Driving licences from NI

Answer 12

Can drive any class of vehicle their licence entitles them to drive in the UK until it expires providing it was issued on or after 01/01/1976 or 01/04/1986 for ordinary and vocational licences.

Question 13

Driving licences from Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man

Answer 13

Visiting, residents and vocational residents in UK from above, providing their licence is valid, they can drive any vehicle they are entitled to drive in the uk for up to 12 months. If they wish to continue driving in the UK after this time has elapsed, they must exchange for a British Driving licence.

Question 14

Insurance requirements

Answer 14

Irrespective of if they’re a foreign visitor, resident or vocational resident, they must have insurance covering a minimum of third party risks when driving a motor vehicle on a road in the UK.

Either through an insurance policy with a uk company or a green card.

Question 15

What is a green card?

Answer 15

Document recognised in over 40 counties, including all EU countries and is prof that minimum legal requirements for insurance are met by the insured persons own motor policy.

Please do not be confused, the green card offers no insurance cover itself, merely proof that sufficient cover exists.

Question 16

Test certificate requirements

Answer 16

Foreign vehicles must adhere to the regulations surrounding vehicle testing in the UK.

Foreign vehicles brought to the UK for a period of less than 12 months are not required to undergo the normal system of Department for Transport vehicle testing.

After this time a DIT certificate would be required.

At all times however, even within the first 12 month period, foreign vehicles must be constructed and maintained in accordance with British law.

Question 17

Foreign vehicle

Vehicle excise

Answer 17

You might be surprised to learn that there are international agreements in place which allow foreign vehicles to be driven on UK roads for a limited period of time, providing that all relevant taxes have been paid in its originating country.

That limited period of time extends to 6 months in any 12 month period and includes vehicles from the EU, designated countries, or and other country.

The 6 months can be made up of one short visit or several short visits within a 12 month period.

THE SAME APPLIES FOR VEHICLE LICENSING

Drivers responsibility to prove how long they have been in the UK.