Driving after Brexit: Licence exchange for UK licence holders resident in Europe… by Dave Moss.
Following Britain’s departure from the EU, if you live and drive in any EU country, or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, and hold a UK-issued driving licence, you will need to exchange it for a local one. To arrange this, in some cases you might need a medical examination, or have to re-take a driving test.
Deadlines and actual procedures involved in exchanging driving licences vary considerably country by country, so below is a brief summary of the situation as of January 1st 2021. Links offering access to further, more detailed information are included below.
The guidance offered here is believed to be accurate, and was compiled from latest available data provided by the Department for Transport and DVLA. Additional input has been provided by “Your Europe,” an official EU website, which carries information from relevant departments of the European Commission, complemented by content from authorities in every country it covers. Nonetheless, this can only be an overview: You are advised to confirm requirements with the authorities concerned in your country of interest before making any arrangement for the exchange of a current, valid UK licence.
Austria
Driving licences can be exchanged before 1 July 2021 without having to take a test.
Belgium
UK licences can be exchanged without having to take a test. The DfT advises 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.
Bulgaria
UK licences can be exchanged without having to take a test. The DfT advises 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.
Croatia
UK licences can be exchanged without having to take a test. The DfT advises doing this as soon as possible.
Cyprus
You can continue to use your licence without exchanging until 30 June 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.
Czech Republic
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.
Denmark
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. The DfT advises doing this as soon as possible.
Estonia
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.
Finland
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.
France
You can continue to use your licence until 1 January 2022. From 1 January 2022, you may need to take a test to exchange your licence. If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need to take a test.
Germany
You can continue to use your licence until 1 July 2021. After this, it may be necessary to take a test to exchange your licence. If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need to take a test anyway.
Greece
Licences can be exchanged without having to take a test from 1 February 2021. However a medical – physical and eye – examination will be required.
Hungary
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.
Iceland
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. The DfT suggests doing this as soon as possible.
Ireland
UK and Northern Ireland licence holders’ resident in the Republic of Ireland must exchange their driving licence for an Irish licence. Visits excepted, UK and Northern Ireland licences aren’t legal for driving in Ireland. However, they can be exchanged without the need to take a driving or theory test.
Italy
You may need to take a test to exchange your licence.
Latvia
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
Liechtenstein
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.
Lithuania
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.
Luxembourg
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.
Malta
You can continue to use a UK licence until 1 July 2021. From 1 July 2021, you will need to take a test to exchange your licence. The DfT advises 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.
The Netherlands
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
Norway
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.
Poland
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
Portugal
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
Romania
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.
Slovakia
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.
Slovenia
You can exchange your licence without having to take a test. Consider doing this as soon as possible.
Spain (including the Balearic and Canary Isles)
You can continue to use your licence until 1 July 2021. From 1 July 2021, you may need to take a test to exchange your licence. If you hold a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need to take a test.
Sweden
If you are resident in Sweden you should exchange your licence. If your licence is valid in the UK, it will be recognised in Sweden.
Switzerland
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.
Links to further information concerning driving licence exchanges for those living in Europe:
UK Government advice on exchanging driving licences in EU countries can be found here: Deadlines and rules
Specific country-related UK government pages on driving licence rules, covering 31 European countries (and much more concerning living in the EU after Brexit) are accessible from here: Living in Europe guidance.
Amongst a wide range of information on living in Europe, the Your Europe website offers much helpful advice on driving licence validity in the EU, with links to national authority websites for further detailed information on a country by country basis.
Start here: Driving licence exchange/recognition
