You cannot usually drive a lorry, minibus or bus in Great Britain on your licence
You can only drive a lorry, minibus or bus in Great Britain if your current licence is from Switzerland and you passed your test there.
If your licence is from any other country and you want to drive a large vehicle, you’ll need to apply for a GB provisional licence and pass the theory driving test and practical driving test. You’ll then need to qualify as a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) or bus driver.
If you want to drive a small vehicle
What you can do depends on where your current licence is from.
If your current licence is from the EU, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man or a designated country or territory
You can drive any type of small vehicle (for example cars or motorcycles) listed on your full and valid licence for 12 months after becoming resident in Great Britain.
You’ll then need to exchange your car or motorcycle licence for a GB licence. You have 5 years to exchange your licence after becoming resident.
If you do not exchange it within 5 years, you’ll need to apply for a GB provisional licence and pass the theory driving test and practical driving test to drive in Great Britain.
If your current licence is from Ukraine
You can drive any type of small vehicle (for example cars or motorcycles) for at least 3 years after becoming resident if you came to the UK on a Ukraine visa scheme. This still applies if you then switched to a different type of visa.
How long you can use it after that depends on when you successfully applied for entry clearance or permission to stay in the UK. You may be able to continue to use it for a further 1 year and 6 months.
If your current licence is from any other country
You can drive any type of small vehicle (for example cars or motorcycles) listed on your full and valid licence for 12 months after becoming resident in Great Britain.
After 12 months, you’ll need to apply for a GB provisional licence and pass the theory driving test and practical driving test to drive in Great Britain.
Your answers
- 2. What kind of driving licence do you have?
- Full lorry, minibus and bus
- Change 2. What kind of driving licence do you have?
- 3. Where did you pass your test?
- A 'designated country or territory'*
- Change 3. Where did you pass your test?