I have to drive in the UK, can I use my driving licence?

The signing of the Brexit deal in January 2020 confirmed that the UK had officially left the European Union.

The rules governing relations between the United Kingdom and EU member countries will therefore have to be renewed. In addition, citizens will now have to adapt to the new travel rules.

Among them: Is the validity of the driving license compromised? Find out below!

The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic: what is it?

The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic is a treaty that aims to standardize road rules among the signatory countries. Therefore, it imposes the various conditions to be met as well as the rules to be observed in order to travel on international roads.

It also contains an article on the rules to be followed for road signs.

Signed in 1968 and entered into force in 1977, this Convention led to the mutual recognition of driving licences between the signatory countries. Therefore, it was possible to drive in the UK with an licence before the Brexit deal.

Is it possible to drive in the UK with my license after the Brexit deal?

The Brexit agreement was signed on 31 January 2020 and entered into force at the beginning of February of the same year. In other words, the United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union as of February 1, 2020.

However, the recognition of driving licences derives from the terms of the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic and involves all signatory countries.

So the Brexit deal should not affect the convention itself. However, some changes have been made for permits issued after the transition period, i.e. after January 1, 2021.

Here are the possible cases.

You are not a UK resident

Any European citizen who lives in the UK for more than 185 days is called a resident. You can then apply for permanent resident status if you meet the necessary conditions.

If you are not a resident, so willy-nilly you plan to stay in Great Britain for less than 6 months, you can freely use your Personal driver’s license.

Inoltre, in questo caso non è consentito ottenere con una licenza di guida britannica.

Do you intend to stay in the UK for more than a year?

Do you intend to reside in the UK for more than a year? In this case, you will need to apply for a UK driving licence. This will be your valid driving licence in the UK, although you can also keep your Personal driving licence. The validity period of your Personal driving licence has expired. If your Personal driving licence was issued before January 1, 2021, you can use it to drive freely in the UK until you reach the age of 70, as long as it is valid. However, you will need to obtain a UK driving licence in the following cases:

The validity period of your Personal driving licence has expired;
You have reached your 70th birthday;
Your Personal driving licence has been lost (or stolen).

How to get a UK driving licence?

So, what should you do if your Personal driving license isn’t sufficient and a British one is required? Here are the steps to follow.

• Complete the D1, D1W, D2, or D4 form.

You can download it from the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority) website or pick it up at any DVLA office.

• Send the form, the required £43 fee, and the required documents, including your Personal driving license, to the address provided.

You should typically receive your UK driving license within 3 weeks. Please note that you will not need to retake the written and practical driving tests.

What documents do I need to drive in the UK with my personal driving license? Here is the list of documents you must have with you to drive legally on UK roads:

Your valid driving license;
Your identity card or passport;
Documents for the vehicle you are driving;
Insurance certificate proving coverage;
Breakdown and accident coverage;

Optionally, you can also take out international travel insurance to cover your safety. This should be requested from your insurer, and it’s a good idea to check that the terms and conditions include medical coverage for driving abroad (in the unfortunate event of a road accident). Please note that driving an uninsured vehicle is punishable by six points on your license and a fine of £300 (approximately €395).

What safety equipment should I have in my vehicle?

No one is safe from breakdowns or accidents. Therefore, you must have the following safety equipment to drive in the UK:

Spare wheels;
Fire extinguisher;
First aid kit and/or medicine chest;
High-visibility vest;
Warning triangle.

Which ID Should You Have to Drive with your EU and US Driver License in the UK?

Before Brexit, citizens of the European Union, could enter the United Kingdom without a passport. They just needed their ID card.

However, some rules have changed since the UK ceased to be a member of the EU.

Therefore, from 1 October 2021, all citizens of EU member states will need a passport to be able to cross the borders of the United Kingdom.

Therefore, in addition to the Personal driver’s license, you must have with you:

Your ID card if you are travelling to the UK before 1 October 2021;
Your passport if you are planning your trip after October 1, 2021.

What about visa waiver?

Citizens of European Union member countries who wish to travel to the United Kingdom for a period of less than 6 months are exempt from the visa for the following reasons:

transit
tourism
family visit,
job search or again,
participation in seminar, conference, trade show or symposium.

On the other hand, those who intend to carry out a professional activity, study, follow training or stay in the country for more than 6 months must apply for a visa that suits their needs.

It is thought that in 2025 Great Britain will introduce the eTA UK. This, like the American Esta or the Canadian eTA counterpart, will be an electronic travel authorization for Great Britain.

Conclusion

You can use your Personal driver’s license in the UK if your stay is less than a year.

After this period, you will need to change your Eu or US to a UK license (if the Driver License was issued after January 1, 2021.

To do so, you must submit the D1, D1W, D2, or D4 form along with the processing fee and other documents required by DVLA.

You will receive your new driver’s license approximately 3 weeks after submitting your file.

However, during this time, it is possible that the procedures may take longer due to the Covid-19 pandemic.