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Australian driving licence in UK

If you have a valid Australian driving licence and intend on becoming a UK resident or intend on visiting the UK, detailed is whether an Australian driving licence is valid in the UK and if it can be exchanged for a UK licence if you intend on becoming a resident.

Australia is one of the UK’s designated countries. A valid driving licence from a designated country permits driving on UK roads.

Great Britain residents
An individual with a full and valid Australian driving licence who has become a UK resident can drive in Great Britain for up to 12 months from becoming a resident.

The Australian driving licence must be exchanged for a UK licence after 12 months. The Australian licence must be exchanged within five years of becoming a UK resident.

UK Driving Licence. Note: This UK driving licence contains fictional information

UK Driving Licence. Note: This UK driving licence contains fictional information

Great Britain visitors
A Great Britain visitor can use their full, and valid Australian driving licence to drive small vehicles such as a car or motorcycle for 12 months from when you last entered Great Britain.

Foreigners studying in Great Britain
As Australia is a designated country, an individual studying in Great Britain may drive on a full and valid Australian driving licence for 12 months. You can also apply to exchange it for a Great Britain driving licence up to five years after becoming a GB resident.

If you do not have a driving licence, you will first need to apply for a GB provisional driving licence. You can then take a driving test and if passed, receive a full driving licence once you have been in Great Britain for a minimum of six months.



Driving in the UK

Just as Australia, motorists in the UK drive on the left with the steering wheel situated on the right inside vehicles. Driving in the UK compared to Australia is similar. Whilst driving in the UK however, you may notice some differences. Speed limit signage in Australia is displayed in kilometres per hour (km/h) compared to UK speed limit signs that are displayed as miles per hour (mph). Actual speed limits compared to those in the UK also differ depending on the territory. In the UK however, the same system is used throughout.

Undertaking in most circumstances is legal in Australia, although in the UK it is generally prohibited except on a few situations. If you feel uncertain or nervous in regards to driving on UK roads, driving instructors often help foreign drivers by use of a short refresher driving lesson. There are many driving instructors in the UK and a short driving course will aid in improving your confidence and become accustomed to UK roads.


Exchanging Australian driving licence for UK driving licence

Providing you are a UK resident and hold a valid and full Australian driving licence, you can exchange your licence for a GB licence for up to five years since you became a resident. A fee will apply.

Driving licence foreign country codes

If you have exchanged your Australian driving licence for a GB driving licence, the foreign country code AUS will appear in the information section of your new licence. For further information on the various codes and categories and their meanings, see driving licence explained for further information.





Driving Test Tips
Comments: 38
  1. Zara Jes
    at

    I am a holder of an Australian Driving Licence and have resided in the UK for 6 years. I am not a UK resident and will not be in the future. Am I still able to drive using my Australian Driving Licence. If not, am I allowed to apply for a UK driving licence despite not being a resident?

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  2. at

    Hello Zara,
    The DVLA states that you’re usually defined as a UK resident if you have a permanent address in Great Britain that you’ve lived in for at least 185 days. If you are a UK resident, then you can drive on your valid Australian licence for 12 months after becoming resident. From becoming resident, you can exchange it from up to 5 years of the date you became a UK resident. If you are confident that you’re not a UK resident, then you can drive in the UK for 12 months only.

    Either way, based on your situation, you’ll need to apply for a provisional driving licence, then pass both the theory and practical driving test in order to drive in the UK.

    You can discuss your situation with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) on 0300 790 6801. Their opening times are Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm and Saturday, 8am to 2pm.

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  3. Zara Jes
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    Thank you, that was very helpful.

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  4. Debbie
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    I have an automatic driving licence in Australia. I am moving to the uk. Can I have a full driving licence and be able to drive a manual car in the uk?

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  5. at

    Hello Debbie,
    You’ll be able to exchange it for a full automatic licence. If you want a manual licence, you’ll need to retake the practical test in a manual car.

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  6. Maria
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    Hello,
    Can we use a temporary Australian driving licence to drive in the UK?

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  7. at

    Hello Maria,
    Providing your Australian driving licence is full, you can drive in the UK for as long as your licence is valid, up to a maximum of 12 months.

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  8. Darcy
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    I have a provisional Australian drivers license and I am on a 2 year working visa.
    Am I allowed to drive over here?

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  9. at

    Hello Darcy,
    Not on a provisional. You’ll need to apply for a provisional UK licence and pass the UK driving test.

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  10. Lauren
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    If I exchange my Australian licence for a UK one, I have to physically hand it in, right? So then if I travel to Australia, can I use the UK licence to drive there? Otherwise I’m forfeiting my right to drive there?!?
    When I leave the UK permanently, can I get my Australian licence back from the DVLA?

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  11. at

    Hi Lauren.
    As part of the exchange application you’d need to send the DVLA your Australian licence. This is returned to the Australian licensing authorities notifying them of the exchange. If you need advice on driving in Australia using a UK licence you’d need to speak to the Australian licensing authorities.

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  12. Jenna
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    Hi I am I uk resident but lived in Australia for 2years in that time there I passes my automatic driving test I am now back living in the uk how long do I have to swap it over to a uk licence and can I only drive on the Australian one for 12 months?

    Many Thanks

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  13. at

    Hello Jenna,
    You have 12 months to both swap it over and to drive on your Australian licence.

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  14. Jason
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    I drive large roadtrains here in Australia ( 4 trailers ) and been doimg it for many years .can I get hgv license straight away in uk

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  15. at

    Hello Jason,
    No, I’m afraid not – you’ll need to go in for your test. You can drive a car or motorcycle for up to 12 months on your HGV licence though.

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  16. hannah
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    Hi.. my boyfriend has been in the UK on a working visa for two years now. He was insured on the car for a year. He’s now back in the UK on a tourist visa..can I still insure him on the car or is the only way by swapping his license to a UK one?

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  17. at

    Hello Hannah,
    It depends on your insurance company, they may or may not insure him as he doesn’t have a UK licence – you should ask them, or conduct a search to find temporary insurance for him that covers tourists. Another option may be international car insurance. These are likely to be quite expensive, so if he was to become UK resident, swapping his licence for a GB one would be the most cost-effective.

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  18. Erin
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    Hi I am an Australian resident going over to study in the UK for 9 months, but I’m still on my green p plates (Victorian). Does this mean I don’t have my full license? What do I do in this situation?

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  19. at

    Hi Erin,
    Probationary licences are not eligible for exchange, so you would need to take a UK driving test.

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  20. Mk
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    Hi I am British have a British passport etc I am going to Australia for a year and I want to pass my driving test there as i have failed my U.K. Test and have no time to book another one. Can I use my Australian license when I return back ?

    Thanks

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  21. at

    Hello MK,
    Yes you can. Once you return to the UK, you can use your Australian driving licence to drive for up to 12 months. If you wish to drive for longer than 12 months, you will need to exchange it for GB licence. You will not need to take a UK driving test.

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  22. Andrew
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    Hi. I have an Australian drivers licence that doesn’t include provision to ride a motorcycle. I am recently in the UK and want to ride a moped. Can I do this on my Australian licence or do I need to change my Australia licence to a UK licence and go through the motorcycle/moped provisional licence process? Regards

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  23. at

    Hi Andrew, you’d only be able to drive any full entitlements you hold on your current Australian licence for 12 months after the date of your residency. If you wish to drive motorcycles/mopeds then you would need to hold the relevant GB licence.

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  24. Stephanie Tarrant
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    Hi there,
    I’m an Australian with a full Australian drivers license. I have moved to the UK on a 2 year tier 5 youth mobility visa so I am not a permanent resident. Am I still only allowed to drive for 12 months on my Australian license? And do they count 12 months as the date you arrived in the UK or the date you started driving? I don’t want to exchange my license for a UK one as I will only have it for a short time then I’ll need my Australian license back again. Is there any way around it?
    Thanks so much in advance for your help!
    Cheers,
    Steph

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  25. at

    Hi Steph,
    You will be allowed to drive in the UK upon arrival (not when you start driving) for 12 months. If you wish to continue to drive, you’ll need to pass the UK driving test. If you do pass the UK driving test, you’ll need to reapply for your Australian driving licence to the appropriate authorities upon arrival back in Australia.

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  26. Gary Tucker
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    Hi , I am going for an extended stay in the U.K. I hold dual Aus/U.K. Citizenship but only hold a Australian licence , I have a RE endorsement on my licence , my question is can I ride a larger capacity motorcycle than my Australian licence allows ?

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  27. at

    Hello Gary,
    If you are visiting GB you can drive on the Australian licence for a period of up to 12 months from the date you entered the country as long as it remains valid but only with the categories it shows (Car and/or motorcycle) on your licence. If you hold a full, unrestricted Australian motorcycle licence then it will allow you to ride any size motorcycle in the UK for the 12 months.

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  28. Peter Robinson
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    Hi , I currently hold a UK and Australian driving license and have lived in Australia since 1999.I intend to return to the UK for good in 2019.Will my UK license, which has an expiry date of 02-02-24 allow me to drive.

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  29. at

    Hello Peter, I would check with the DVLA in the UK to just ensure that your UK licence is still valid. There’s plenty of time however as you can drive on your Australian licence in the UK for up to 12 months, in which time you’ll need to exchange it for a UK licence.

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  30. Peter Robinson
    at

    Hi do I have to retake a driving test in the UK if I return to the UK permanently? I have been a resident in Australia for 18 years and hold driving licences for both countries.

    ReplyCancel
  31. at

    Hello Peter,
    No, you just need to exchange it.

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  32. Mervyn
    at

    G’day,

    I was born in England, grew-up there and have a UK car licence.

    I moved to Australia about 23 years ago and got an Australian car licence and an Australian heavy-vehicle licence. My heavy-vehicle licence is for heavy-rigid vehicles only, not articulated ones (ie tractor unit with trailer) and for the past 10 years I have been driving (large single-decker) buses.

    If I returned to live in the UK. Could I transfer my Australian heavy-vehicle licence to a UK heavy-vehicle licence? If not, would my Australian heavy-vehicle licence be of any help when obtaining a UK heavy-vehicle licence? What about bus driving? Are the licences &/ or tests different to those for other heavy-vehicle drivers?

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  33. Cristopher
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    Hi, I hold a Australian Lerner Driver Licence, I have already made the teorical test in Australia. CanI apply only for the practical test in the UK? Because I have one part of the Licence already done. Thanks, Crisotpher

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  34. at

    Hello Cristopher,
    An Australian theory test would not be valid in the UK and vice versa. A UK theory test will need to be taken.

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  35. Kade
    at

    Hi I’m trying to exchange my Aus licence for an English licence but the UK DVLA are saying they need a letter of entitlement from the Aus DVLA but THE Aus DVLA don’t have a clue what that is…how do I go around this so the AUS DVLA understand what Is being asked? this is the only thing standing in the way of me exchanging my licence at the min

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  36. at

    Hello Kade,
    You’d only need the letter of entitlement if your Australian licence is lost. A letter of entitlement is an official letter confirming your driving licence details. i.e entitlements held, valid from and expiry dates. So if your licence isn’t lost, then it sounds like there’s a bit of a mix up somewhere.

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  37. Kade
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    Ok so start again…as the licence is lost how do I go about this now as it’s so confusing with this so called letter of entitlement the UK DVLA is asking for and the Aus DVLA do not know what a letter of entitlement is as they say they have never heard of this.

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  38. at

    It’s an official letter From the Australian DVLA on their headed paper stating your personal details and what vehicle/s you are entitled to drive etc. Essentially the same information that is on your licence. So just ask the Australian DVLA for that and it should be sorted.

    ReplyCancel

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