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DRIVING LICENCES

How do rules for exchanging UK driving licences compare for Brits around Europe?

Brexit is forcing Britons living throughout the EU to exchange their UK licences for an EU one in their country of residence. But the rules they face in each country are quite different and many may need to take a new test.

Published: 28 April 2021 15:43 CEST
Updated: 2 May 2021 11:39 CEST

UK driving licence photocard. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP)

Brexit has thrown up numerous bureaucratic hurdles for the 1.2 million Britons living throughout the EU, from residency to healthcare, but one of the main hangovers left after Britain’s divorce from the EU is around the issue of driving licences.

The UK government has been warning its citizens in the EU that they cannot renew their licence in the UK and should “consider exchanging your UK driving licence for an EU licence as soon as possible.”

While that sounds fairly straight forward, the problem is that the rules are different in each country and the reality has meant exchanges are not possible, at least not yet.

Driving licences were not covered in the Withdrawal Agreement that guaranteed citizens’ rights, so the result is a mash-mash of different rules and exchange deadlines in each EU country.

Here’s a run through of the differences in each country with information taken from the UK government’s website (countries marked *) as well as more detailed input from our journalists throughout The Local’s nine European countries.

Austria

You can use your UK licence in Austria for short visits, but if you live in Austria you will need to exchange it.

You can exchange your licence before July 1st 2021 without having to take a test. After that Brexit means you’ll have to take a driving test to get an Austrian licence.

The British embassy in Austria confirmed: “If you are resident in Austria, according to a draft update to Austrian law, you will have 6 months from January 1st to swap your driving licence.”

After this date the embassy warns that UK licences “will cease to be valid”. For anyone wishing to get an Austrian licence after this date, things get more complicated and they may have to take a driving test as is the case for some third-country nationals who fail to exchange their licence within 6 months.

The British embassy says: “If you are legally resident in Austria it is important that you swap your UK licence for an Austrian one, or, according to a draft update to Austria’s law, it will cease to be valid from 30th June 2021. Please be aware that if you spend more than six months in the year outside of Austria, this may affect your right to residence.”

The process for swapping over your licence is slightly different depending on the local authority you apply to.

The Austrian government says that most driving licence authorities require the original documents plus copies.

More information on how to swap over your licence and the documentation you will need is available at the following link.

*Belgium

The UK government says: “You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible. If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need to take a test.”

Driving in Belgium.

*Bulgaria

Driving in Bulgaria.

*Croatia

The UK government says: “You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.”

*Cyprus

The UK government says: “You can continue to use your licence without exchanging until 7 July 2021. You are encouraged to exchange your licence within this period otherwise you may need to take a test. If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need to take a test.”

Driving in Cyprus.

*Czech Republic

The UK government says: “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

Following Brexit, UK driving licence holders resident in Denmark must exchange their driving licences for a Danish one, according to information on the Danish transport authority website.

Residents of Denmark who hold a UK driving licence issued before January 1st 2021 can exchange their licence for a Danish one without having to take a driving test. This must be completed within 180 days of moving to Denmark, or by June 30th 2021, whichever is later.

Current rules say that anyone who does not manage to exchange their UK driving licence within the aforementioned timeline or whose licence was issued after January 1st 2021 will have to take a test to exchange their UK driving licence.

*Estonia

Driving in Estonia.

Finland

The UK government says: “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.”

Driving in Finland.

France

British residents in France can continue to drive on a UK licence until December 31st 2021, but by then they must have swapped their licence for a French one.

This is easier said than done, however, because the British government has so far not settled on a reciprocal agreement with the French about driving licences, so no applications for UK licence swaps are currently being accepted. Most people can continue to drive on their UK licence, but for people whose licence is about to expire or has expired (for example people turning 70) the situation is grim as they cannot either extend their UK licence or swap it for a new one, and some have been left stranded with no licence at all.

The British Embassy in Paris says it hopes a deal will be agreed shortly that can allow swaps to start being processed. Anyone who ends up having to take a driving test in France faces a complicated and expensive process.

Visitors, tourists or second-home owners can continue to drive on a UK licence and do not need an International Drivers’ Permit.

Germany

Germany recently confirmed that it will enter into a reciprocal agreement to allow UK driving-licence holders to swap their licence for a German one – without taking a new test.

If you’re only staying in Germany for a short period of time, you can continue to use your UK licence as normal.

If you’re a British national living in Germany you should exchange your licence for a German one within six months of becoming a resident.

According to the UK Government’s Living in Germany advice, British nationals living in Germany who didn’t swap their licence before the end of the transition period (December 31st 2020) have until June 30th 2021.

“If you were living in Germany before January 1st 2021, you can use your UK photocard licence to drive in Germany until June 30th 2021, provided that it remains valid in the UK,” the site says.

But unfortunately it appears you won’t be able to swap it if your licence isn’t valid. You can read more in our story below.

Reader question: Do I need to swap my German licence for a British one?

*Greece

The UK government says: “You can exchange your licence without having to take a test from 1 February 2021. A medical – physical and eye – examination will be required.”

Driving in Greece.

*Hungary

Driving in Hungary.

*Iceland

The UK government says: “You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.”

Driving in Iceland.

*Ireland

The UK government says: “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 aren’t legal for driving in Ireland for residents. However, they can be exchanged without the need to take a driving or theory test.”

Driving in Ireland.

Italy

After months of uncertainty, the Italian interior ministry confirmed on April 24th that UK nationals who were officially living in Italy before January 2021 are in fact allowed to continue using their UK licences until December 31st 2021.

The British Embassy has said that talks continue on a reciprocal agreement that would allow Brits to swap their licences without resitting the exam.

If a deal is reached before the end of the year, people with UK driving licences could end up escaping the notoriously tricky theory and practical tests, which have to be taken entirely in Italian.

If you started the process of exchanging your UK licence before 1st January 2021, you’re in the clear and will not have to re-sit a driving test.

*Latvia

The UK government says: “You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.”

Driving in Latvia.

*Liechtenstein

Driving in Liechtenstein.

*Lithuania

The UK government says: “You can exchange your licence without having to take a test if you obtained the licence before 1 January 2021. Consider doing this as soon as possible.”

Driving in Lithuania.

*Luxembourg

The UK government says: “Most drivers can exchange their licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible. You may need to take a test to exchange Category C and D licences in 2021.”

Driving in Luxembourg.

*Malta

The UK government says: “You can continue to use your licence until 1 July 2021. From 1 July 2021, you will need to take a test to exchange your licence. Consider exchanging your licence as soon as possible. If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man you may need to take a test.”

Driving in Malta.

*The Netherlands

The UK government says: “You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.

“However, in some cases, you may need to provide a certificate of health that could involve a medical examination.

“If you became resident in The Netherlands before 31 January 2020, you must exchange your UK licence by 1 May 2021. If you exchange by this date, you do not need to provide a health certificate. Your UK licence will no longer be valid to drive on Dutch roads after 1 May 2021.

“If you became resident in The Netherlands between 31 January 2020 and 13 June 2020, your UK licence is no longer valid to drive on Dutch roads. You must not drive until you have exchanged it for a Dutch licence.

“If you became resident in The Netherlands between 13 June 2020 and 15 February 2021, you must exchange your UK licence by 1 October 2021. Your UK licence must have been valid on 14 December 2020 to benefit from this extended validity.

“If you became resident in The Netherlands after 15 February 2021, you must exchange your licence within 185 days of becoming a resident.”

Driving in the Netherlands.

Norway

Brits in Norway will be able to use their UK licences as Britain and Norway have an agreement whereby British driving licences receive the same treatment as EU/EAA licences.

It may be worth exchanging your licence, however, as a Norwegian licence can be used freely across the EU/EAA.

You will be able to swap your British licence without taking a test. This is good news as driving tests in Norway can be difficult and expensive.

To swap your licence, you will have to submit your British licence as well as documentation of when you took up residence along with an application form. This can be done in person at a vehicle licencing office or by post.

You will need to apply for a temporary permit if you plan on driving while you wait for your Norwegian licence.

Driving in Norway: How to exchange your licence for a Norwegian one

*Poland

The UK government says: “You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.”

Driving in Poland.

*Portugal

“You can continue to use your valid UK licence in Portugal until 31 December 2021. If you are resident in Portugal, you should exchange your UK driving licence by 31 December 2021.”

Driving in Portugal.

*Romania

Driving in Romania.

*Slovakia

The UK government says: “You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. If you have been resident for over 185 days starting from 1 January 2021, you must exchange your UK licence for a Slovak one within 60 days of completing the 185 days and before 2 September 2021.”

Driving in Slovakia.

*Slovenia

The UK government says: “You can exchange your licence without having to take a test until 31 December 2021, or within one year of becoming resident, whichever is longer.”

Driving in Slovenia.

Spain (including Balearic and Canary Islands)

As things stand, UK nationals who were Spanish residents before January 1st 2021 will be allowed to drive in Spain with a valid UK driving licence until June 30th 2021.

British drivers who wanted to exchange their UK licence for a Spanish one had to register their intention to do so with the Spanish Traffic Authority (DGT) before December 30th 2020.

Depending on whether they did this or not, the process for getting a Spanish licence will be different. Find out more here.

“The UK and Spain are currently in discussion about an exchange process, for the long term,” – Regional Consular Policy Adviser at the British Embassy in Madrid Lorna Geddie said during a recent Q&A, adding at another date that one of the points being negotiated is “a licence exchange without the need for a practical test”.

So those with UK driving licences might be able to exchange their licences in the future without having to resit the driving exam in Spain, but nothing is confirmed yet.

If no deal is reached, UK licence holders in Spain who don’t meet the DGT’s registration and exchange requirements will have to pass their driving licence again.

The theory exam can be done in English but the practical test is in Spanish, unfortunately for those who aren’t proficient in the language.

Spanish driving licence: the essential language to pass your practical test

Driving in Spain: the 10 questions everyone gets wrong in their theory test

Sweden

Just like EU/EEA drivers, Brits will continue to be able to use their licences in Sweden indefinitely, regardless of whether or not they live in Sweden or when they moved.

But as British driving licences are connected to a UK address, the UK may still require Brits to change their licence if they plan to take up long-term residence in Sweden.

If they want to do that, they won’t have to break a sweat. The Swedish government says it will be possible for Brits to swap their licence for a Swedish one for free from July 1st.

This means they won’t have to take the Swedish driving test as non-EU/EEA licence holders normally have to after a year of living in Sweden, and will in turn avoid the 4,000 kronor cost (approximately $477) for the compulsory elements of the test.

READ MORE:

Switzerland

Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, meaning that Brexit has not had a dramatic impact on the rules for licences – unlike in some of the above countries.

You can exchange your licence without having to take a test, but will need to do so within 12 months of moving to Switzerland.

Changing your licence over within a year of moving to Switzerland is relatively easy and does not require any additional tests.

You’ll however need to bring the following: a completed application form, original driving licence (with a translation if applicable), residence permit (and residence certificate if you have one), two colour passport photos and a certificate from a qualified ophthalmologist.

If you’re applying for a class 3 licence, you’ll also require a medical certificate.

You’ll need to exchange the licence at your cantonal authority and the cost for doing so varies from canton to canton.

For short tourist visits, you do not need to change over your licence.

If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need to take a test.

More information is available at the following link.

Driving in Switzerland: How to convert your drivers licence for a Swiss one

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9 things Brits need to know about moving to France since Brexit

Brits who want to move to France now face a radically different process from those who took advantage of EU freedom of movement to make the move before Brexit.

It’s a more complicated process – but it’s still possible and 8,700 UK nationals moved to France in 2023.

Here are some of the big things you need to know before making the move.

1 Visa

The biggest post-Brexit change is that Brits moving to France now require a visa (unless they have dual nationality with an EU country).

The visa must be applied for first, and only when it is granted can you make the move – you cannot come to France and then apply for residency (unless you are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, more on that below).

There are various different types of visas depending on what you intend to do in France – work, study, retire etc – and many of them contain conditions eg people on a ‘visitor’ visa are not permitted to work in France.

It makes things less flexible as it’s harder to change your plans once you have arrived. It also means that it’s harder to have a ‘half and half’ lifestyle – eg retire from your day job and move to France to run a gîte or B&B.

Explained: What type of French visa do you need

The best visa type is undoubtedly the ‘Talent Passport’, so it’s worth checking whether you fit any of the criteria for this visa type.

2 Residency card

Once you have your visa and have moved to France this is very far from being the end of the process.

You will need to apply for a residency card after a certain period (usually three months but different visa types have different rules) and according to your personal situation you may also be required to attend a compulsory medical, language classes and ‘integration’ classes through the French office of immigration and integration (OFII) – more on that here.

3 Health cover

When it comes to health there is some good news – Brits have retained many of their pre-Brexit rights to healthcare.

While you may need to provide proof of private health cover for your visa (depending on the visa type) once you have been resident in France for three months you are entitled to register in the French health system, which covers most of your medical costs.

Full details on how to register HERE.

Brits who are retired and have reached UK pension age also retain their right to an S1 – the status which entitles you to register in the French health system, while the UK continues to pay your medical costs.

4 Remote working

The rise in remote working means that the dream of moving abroad seems much closer for working-age people – since you will be able to work remotely in your native language, maybe even keep your existing job and simply relocate.

While this is possible, you need to do careful research in advance to ensure that work is compliant with your visa and tax situation. Unlike some countries, France does not have a ‘digital nomad visa’ or other visa types aimed at remote workers, in fact the visa rules were written before remote working became widespread, which is why there are some grey areas.

Most lawyers advise getting a working visa (salarié if you are working remotely for a French company as an employee, or auto-entrepreneur for freelancers) and paying social contributions in France. Find full details on visa and tax implications.

You also need to be aware that being a remote working can have an effect on your long-term plans in France – for example if after five years of residence you intend to apply for French citizenship you will need to prove that the ‘centre of your economic activity’ in in France. If all your work is done remotely for foreign companies then this could be a reason to have citizenship refused.

5 Working restrictions

If you want to work in France (remotely or not) you first need to check if there are any restrictions on your profession – certain types of work are ‘regulated professions’ in France, which means you will need specific French qualifications and/or registration within a French guild or professional organisation. The number of professions that are ‘regulated’ is surprisingly wide – taking in everything from chimney sweeping to hairdressing.

The next step is whether your qualifications will be recognised in France – EU countries generally recognise most of each other’s qualifications apart from in certain specific areas like medicine, but this is no longer the case for qualifications gained in the UK – more details here.

There are also certain jobs that are restricted to French citizens only, while others – including working in the public sector in positions including being a librarian – are limited to EU citizens only.

In visa terms, the simplest way for working-age people to come to France is as a salarié (employee) but to do this you will need a job already in place and your new employers will have to act as sponsors for your visa and may also be required to get a work permit for you. All of which means that Brits are less attractive as employees than EU citizens, which makes getting a job harder.

The other option is to be self-employed as either a freelancer, contractor or running a small business – this is a more complicated visa to get, requiring a detailed business plan. Once in France you need to register yourself as a small business/self-employed and register with Urssaf.

6 Tax

If you are living in France, then you will need to do the annual income tax declaration – even if all your income comes from abroad and you are retired/not working in France.

Full details on that HERE.

This was in fact the case before Brexit as well but previously there was a little more flexibility for people who split their time between France and the UK. These days if you want to be here for the majority of the year then you will need a visa/residency card, which removes much of the ambiguity about who is a ‘resident’.

The main post-Brexit difference is the rate at which prélèvements sociaux (social charges, similar to National Insurance) are charged on overseas income (eg earnings from work in the UK or income from renting out a UK property).

The rate is 7.5 percent for income from an EU country and 17.2 percent for income from a non-EU country – after Brexit, UK income switched to the non-EU rate.

7 Driving licence

Foreigners who make France their home will sooner or later need to swap their driving licence for a French one. This too was the case even before Brexit, but many UK or NI licence holders never got round to making the switch, and there wasn’t a lot of enforcement of the rule.

This has now been tightened up and UK/NI licence holders will need to swap their licences for a French one – the exact details of when you make the swap are slightly different for Brits than from other non-EU nationals due to a specific UK-France deal. Find full details HERE.

If you want to bring a car with you from the UK to France, you will also need to re-register it as French – full details HERE.

8 Banks

Most people moving to France will want to set up a French bank account for daily life, but you may also need a UK account, especially if you are a pensioner as some pensions will only pay into a UK account.

However since Brexit some of the biggest UK high street banks have been closing the accounts of their customers who do not live in the UK.

Alternatives include specific ‘expat’ accounts or internet banks – more details HERE.

9 The Brexit Withdrawal Agreement

It’s worth mentioning the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement even though most of it will not apply to newcomers. In brief, the citizens’ rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement covered people who moved to France prior to December 31st 2020, and intended to give them an easy way to remain in France and retain at least some of their pre-Brexit rights.

In general it does not apply to newcomers unless you are a close family member of someone who is covered by the Withdrawal Agreement – either a spouse or civil partner (in which case you must have married/ registered your partnership prior to December 31st 2020) or child. These people have a different path to residency, and can arrive in France and then request residency via the local préfecture of the family member who is already living here.

It’s also worth mentioning because of how different it is to the situation for new arrivals. It’s normal to ask Brits already living in France how they found the whole process – but if someone starts to tell you that getting residency is easy, the first question that you need to ask is when they moved here.

Those here prior to 2021 did indeed get an easy process – they had a special website to apply online for (free) residency cards and received straight away either a 5-year or 10-year card. This is a totally difference process to the one for Brits moving to France now.

If you’re asking around you would be better talking to Americans, Canadians or other non-EU nationals since their process is much more similar to that now in place for Brits.

. . . And new deals/visas/residency permits for Brits

Every now and again UK media will report which great excitement the possibility of a ‘new deal’ for Brits that will make moving to France, or buying a second home here, easier.

These reports should all be taken with a pinch of salt – there are currently no negotiations underway that would affect the process of Brits moving to France, and even if something is proposed in the near future it will likely take years to come into effect because these types of international agreements usually happen slowly.

A proposal for a ‘youth mobility scheme’ from the EU was rejected out of hand by British politicians before it had even been formally offered.

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