Legal Requirements

The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) section of the Department for Transport (DfT) website contains an enormous amount of information relating to driving in the UK. 

This page provides a summary of what you as a driver will need to do to obtain a UK Driving Licence for the period that you will be living and working in the UK, as well as essential information on the documentation required for owning a vehicle. Click here to visit the "Driver information" section provided by the DVLA.

Drivers

Drivers must comply with British minimum age requirements. 
Generally, these are:-

17 years for cars and motorcycles
18 years for medium sized vehicles
21 years for large lorries and buses

UK Driving Licence

Within your first year in the UK you may have to take a UK driving test before a full UK licence can be issued. You may, however, only need to exchange your current licence within 3 years. The rules vary according to your country of residence where your current licence was issued. 

Our page UK Driving Licence provides a summary of the procedures.

In some cases you will be required to take a UK Driving Test. 

Medical Conditions

All existing and new major medical conditions must be notified to the DVLA using form D4 obtainable from post offices and online. 

Click here for information on what conditions need to be reported and how to notify the DVLA. 

Leaflet D100 ‘What you need to know about driving licences’ (obtainable from post offices and online) also provides information on medical conditions.

Vehicles

Click here to visit the "Vehicles" section of the DVLA web site

All cars must have a Vehicle Registration Document, a current Road Tax disc (Vehicle Licence) and be insured before you can drive it. If the car is more than 3 years old you will also need an MOT certificate (certificate of road worthiness).

The V5 Vehicle Registration Document is issued by the DVLA with your name and address when you register with them as the legal owner of a vehicle. 

The registration document is also used to advise the DVLA when you sell your car and they will then re-issue it to the new owner. 

Your Road Tax disc (Vehicle Licence), which must be displayed on your windscreen, can be obtained from post offices or online and can be paid for a 6 month or 12 month period. Your car must have a valid insurance certificate and MOT certificate (if the car is over 3 years old) in order for the tax disc to be issued. Click here to find out the current road tax rates (Vehicle Excise Duty).  

The DVLA will send you a renewal form when your road tax is due specifying the tax applicable for your car. To renew your road tax at a post office you will need to present this tax renewal form with the payment (cheque or cash), a current motor insurance certificate and an MOT certificate (if necessary).  To renew your road tax online you will need either the 16 digit reference number shown on your renewal reminder, or the 11 digit reference number from your Registration Document/Certificate (also known as the Logbook) and your vehicle registration mark (numberplate), and the insurance and MOT certificates are checked electronically via the national databases.

   MOT Test

Cars over 3 years old must also be checked annually for roadworthiness, commonly known as the MOT test. Most garages carry out these extensive tests and if they can be timed to coincide with a service interval any potential problems can be fixed to ensure a pass certificate is issued.

Are you driving legally ?

  Driving without a valid Driving Licence, Vehicle Licence (Road Tax Disc), a valid MOT Certificate for vehicles more than 3 years old, or Motor Insurance is illegal.

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