FOREIGN LICENCE?

How do I obtain a UK driving licence if I've already been driving using a non UK driving licence ?

At Golden School Of Motoring, we get a lot of calls from individuals who need to obtain a UK driving licence, who are currently driving in the UK on a driving licence obtained from their country of origin.

Many people are confused over what they can and cannot do, I hope to answer some of your questions below.

If you are the holder of an ordinary driving licence (car, moped, motorcycle entitlement) and provided your driving licence remains valid, you can drive any category of vehicle shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the time you became a UK resident.

To ensure continuous driving entitlement a provisional GB licence must have been obtained and you will need to pass both the Theory and Practical driving tests before the 12-month period elapses. You can apply for a provisional licence by obtaining a form from any Post Office or you can apply online. (SEE LINK AT BOTTOM OF PAGE)

If you obtain a provisional licence during the 12 month period from when you first became a UK resident, you are not subject to provisional licence conditions eg displaying 'L' plates or being supervised by a qualified driver or excluded from driving on motorways.

However, if you do not pass both tests within the 12-month concessionary period, you will not be allowed to drive as a full licence holder and provisional licence conditions will then apply.

If you do not apply for a provisional licence within the first 12 months you must stop driving and obtain a British provisional licence with a view to then taking and passing both driving tests. Provisional licence conditions will then apply and you will no longer to able to drive on UK roads without being supervised by a qualified driver.

If you require driving lessons to help in passing either tests, we require you to be able to produce your GB provisional licence at the first lesson. Without a provisional licence we are not insured to teach, therefore you are not insured to drive our cars, sorry!

Please do not leave it too long before calling to book lessons, we get so many calls from people who have left it to the week before their test before contacting us and are then disappointed that we cannot fit them in. Also, from our experience you will need to work on your driving and practice in your own car to be able to reach the necessary level of competence in order to pass the driving test.