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Interactive tool

We are always trying to improve our service, and have created a way for you to get the most accurate information based on your individual need as an alternative to the content below. If possible, please use our interactive tool and give us your comments when you have completed it.

• Use the 'driving in GB' interactive tool

Northern Ireland

You can exchange a full Northern Ireland driving licence for a full GB licence or you can use your licence here until it runs out. When your licence expires you may apply for a GB licence. A Northern Ireland ordinary licence may be exchanged provided it was issued on or after 1 January 1976. A vocational licence may be exchanged if issued on or after 1 April 1986. You may take a driving test in Great Britain using your Northern Ireland provisional or full licence if this gives the appropriate entitlement. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) cannot register an address in England, Scotland or Wales on to a Northern Ireland licence.

Mutual recognition of driving disqualifications

Since 11 October 2004 there has been mutual recognition between GB & NI of driving disqualifications. This allows:

Reciprocal provisions came into force in Northern Ireland at the same time as those made in Great Britain.

Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man

If you are a visitor in GB and provided your full ordinary licence remains valid, you can drive any category of vehicle shown on your licence for 12 months. If you are the holder of a vocational licence, you can drive British registered, or vehicles registered outside GB that you have driven into the country, for a period up to 12 months.

If you are resident in GB and the holder of an ordinary driving licence, you may drive for up to 12 months from the time you became resident. To continue driving after that time your licence must be exchanged for the British equivalent. A licence from Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man can be exchanged for a GB one provided it has been issued since 1 April 1991. If you are the holder of a vocational licence, you may drive for 12 months and may exchange your vocational entitlement for the British equivalent.

Mutual Recognition - Isle of Man

Since 23 May 2005 mutual recognition of driving disqualifications between Great Britain and Northern Ireland was extended to include the Isle of Man (IoM).

This means that drivers who are disqualified from holding a driving licence in GB or NI on or after 23 May 2005 will also be disqualified from driving, holding or obtaining a driving licence in the Isle of Man. Similarly, if a court in the Isle of Man disqualifies a driver from driving they will also be disqualified from driving in GB or NI until the disqualification has ended.

Mutual recognition between GB or NI and IoM will only be in relation to driving disqualifications. The New Drivers Act and fixed penalties will not be included.

Gibraltar and Designated Countries

Great Britain has reciprocal exchange agreements with Gibraltar and 15 designated countries. The designated countries are:

Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands*, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea*, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and Zimbabwe.

If you are a visitor in GB, and hold full ordinary entitlement, you can drive any category of vehicle, up to 3.5 tonnes and with up to eight passenger seats, shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the date you last entered GB, whether or not you brought the vehicle into GB. If you also hold full entitlement to drive large lorries or buses you are only allowed to drive large vehicles registered outside the GB that you have driven into the country.

If you are resident in GB and provided your full licence remains valid, you can drive small vehicles for 12 months from the time you became resident. To ensure continuous driving entitlement a GB licence must be obtained before this period elapses, by exchanging your licence for a GB one. If you do not do this you must stop driving although you may apply to exchange your licence at any time within five years of becoming resident.

*Motorcycle entitlement from the Republic of Korea and Faroe Islands is not exchangeable.

Vocational designated licence holders

• new residents may not drive medium or large vehicles or passenger carrying vehicles until they have passed the relevant GB driving test.  Gibraltar vocational licence holders can drive for 12 months, and can exchange a valid vocational licence within five years of date of residency.