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You need to take your Great Britain or Northern Ireland driving licence with you to drive abroad. Check yours is still valid and renew your driving licence online if it鈥檚 expired or about to expire.

If your driving licence has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, you鈥檒l need to get a new one before you can drive abroad.

If you apply online, you should receive your new driving licence within 5 days. If you apply by post, it will take longer.

If you鈥檙e taking your own vehicle, you also need to take your log book (V5C) and your insurance certificate.

If you鈥檙e taking a vehicle abroad that you鈥檝e hired or leased in the UK, you鈥檒l need a VE103 certificate.

Check if you need an international driving permit (IDP)

You might need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in some countries. Check if you need an international driving permit (IDP).

You can . You might need one for each country you鈥檙e visiting.

Do not apply for an IDP if you鈥檙e moving abroad. You鈥檒l need to either exchange your UK licence or apply for a new one in the country you鈥檙e moving to.

Check the overseas driving rules

Make sure you follow overseas driving rules, including local speed limits and drink driving laws. You may be breaking the law and get a fine if you do not.

Depending on the country you鈥檙e visiting you may need:

• extra equipment - for example, you need a reflective jacket and a warning triangle in many countries
• emission stickers (permits) in some European cities - you may need to buy these weeks before you go abroad
• headlight converter stickers
• a UK sticker

If you鈥檙e hiring a car, it鈥檚 your responsibility to check you have the equipment you need.

Check what you need to do if you鈥檙e driving in the EU.

Check the travel advice for all countries.

If you鈥檙e taking your own vehicle

You鈥檒l need to check if you have the right vehicle insurance for the countries you鈥檙e driving through and what proof you need to carry.

Find out more about vehicle insurance when you鈥檙e driving abroad.

Towing your trailer or caravan abroad

Before towing your trailer abroad, check if you need to:

• get category BE added to your driving licence
• register your trailer
• carry a green card or additional insurance

Get category BE added to your driving licence

If you want to tow a trailer over 750kg abroad, update your licence to show that you can drive category BE. You do not need to do this if your licence already shows you can drive category BE.

You need to complete form D1 鈥楢pplication for a driving licence鈥� and send it to DVLA with:

• a letter to say you are travelling abroad and you need BE added to your licence
• your driving licence

You can get form D1 from most .

It鈥檚 free to do this.

Check if you need to register your trailer

Check if you need to register your trailer before you can take it abroad.

Check if you need a green card or additional insurance

Before driving your vehicle, trailer or caravan abroad, check if you need a green card or additional insurance for the country you鈥檙e going to.

Hiring a car abroad

Your hire company may ask to see your driving licence information when you pick up the car. You can share this by getting a licence 鈥榗heck code鈥�. You can do this up to 21 days before your trip.

If you鈥檙e hiring a car, insurance is included. Check what you鈥檙e covered for with the hire company.

You may need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in some countries. The permit you may need depends on:

• which country you鈥檙e visiting
• how long you鈥檙e staying

You need to have a valid Great Britain (GB) or Northern Ireland driving licence to get an IDP.

If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. You must always have your driving licence with you, as well as your IDP.

Driving in Europe

You do not need an IDP to drive in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein if you have a photocard driving licence issued in the UK.

You might need an IDP to drive in some EU countries and Norway if you have either:

• a paper driving licence
• a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

Check with the embassy of the country you will be driving in.

Check which IDP you need

Check the table to find out if you need an IDP. There are 3 types of IDP:

• 1926
• 1949
• 1968

The IDP you need depends on what country you鈥檙e visiting.

If you鈥檙e travelling through more than one country, you might need more than one type of IDP.

If the country you鈥檙e visiting is not included in the table, check with the embassy of the country you鈥檙e travelling to.

If you鈥檙e hiring a car, check with your car hire company.

Country or territory	Type of IDP	More information
Albania	1968	听
Algeria	1949	听
Andorra	1949	听
Argentina	1949	听
Armenia	1968	听
Australia	1949	听
Austria	1968	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Azerbaijan	1968	听
Bahamas	1968	IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Bahrain	1968	IDP needed for car hire, and for stays longer than 90 days. You must get your permit certified by local authorities when you arrive.
Bangladesh	1949	听
Barbados	1949	听
Belarus	1968	听
Belgium	1968	You can use a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, or Isle of Man photocard driving licence for up to 6 months without an IDP.听 If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Benin	1968	听
Bosnia and Herzegovina	1968	听
Botswana	1949	IDP needed for car hire.
Brazil	1968	听
Bulgaria	1968	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Burkina Faso	1949	听
Cambodia	1949	听
Canada	1949	听
Cape Verde	1968	听
Central African Republic	1968	听
Chile	1949	听
Congo	1949	听
Cote d鈥橧voire (Ivory Coast)	1968	听
Croatia	1968	You can use a UK photocard driving licence without an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need an IDP. Check with the . If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Cuba	1968	听
Cyprus	1949	You can use a UK photocard driving licence for up to 30 days without an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need an IDP for any length of visit. Check with the . If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Czech Republic	1968	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a paper driving licence, or a licence from the Isle of Man, you may need an IDP. Check with the .
Democratic Republic of Congo	1968	听
Denmark	1968	You can use a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, or Isle of Man photocard licence for periods up to 90 days without an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you may need an IDP, check with the .
Dominican Republic	1949	IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Ecuador	1949	听
Egypt	1949	听
Estonia	1968	You can use a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, or Jersey photocard driving licence for periods up to 90 days in any 180-day period without an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a licence from the Isle of Man, you will need to get an IDP to drive in Estonia. If you hold a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Eswatini (previously Swaziland)	1949	If you have a paper driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you鈥檙e involved in an accident.
Fiji	1949	听
Finland	1968	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
France	1968	You do not need an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP.
French Polynesia	1968	听
Georgia	1968	IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Germany	1968	You can use a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, or Jersey photocard licence to drive for periods up to 6 months without an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a licence from the Isle of Man, you will need to get an IDP. If you hold a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Ghana	1949	听
Greece	1968	You do not need an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP.
Guam	1949	IDP needed for stays longer than 30 days. If you have a paper driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you鈥檙e involved in an accident.
Guatemala	1949	听
Guyana	1968	听
Haiti	1949	IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Hungary	1968	You can use a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, or Jersey photocard licence without an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a licence from the Isle of Man, you鈥檒l need an IDP to drive in Hungary. If you hold a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Iceland	1949	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. Check with the .
India	1949	听
Indonesia	1968	听
Iran	1968	听
Iraq	1968	听
Ireland	1949	You do not need an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP.
Israel	1968	听
Italy	1968	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a licence from the Isle of Man, you will need to get an IDP to drive in Italy. If you hold a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Jamaica	1949	听
Japan	1949	听
Jordan	1949	听
Kazakhstan	1968	听
Kenya	1968	IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Kuwait	1968	听
Kyrgyzstan	1968	听
Laos	1949	听
Latvia	1968	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a paper driving licence, or any licence from the Isle of Man, you need an IDP.
Lebanon	1949	听
Lesotho	1949	听
Liberia	1968	听
Libya	1949	听
Liechtenstein	1968	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you need to update it to a photocard licence or get a 1968 IDP.
Lithuania	1968	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you need to update it to a photocard licence or get a 1968 IDP.
Luxembourg	1968	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Macao (Macau)	1949	听
Madagascar	1949	听
Malawi	1949	IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Malaysia (Sabah)	1949	听
Mali	1949	听
Malta	1949	You can use a UK, Gibraltar, or Jersey photocard driving licence without an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you hold a licence from Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need an IDP. Check with the . If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Mexico	1926	听
Moldova	1968	听
Monaco	1968	听
Mongolia	1968	听
Montenegro	1968	听
Morocco	1968	听
Myanmar (previously Burma)	1968	听
Namibia	1949	IDP needed for car hire. If you have a paper driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you鈥檙e involved in an accident.
Nepal	1968	听
Netherlands	1968	If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP.
New Zealand	1949	听
Niger	1968	听
Nigeria	1968	听
North Macedonia	1968	听
Norway	1968	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP.
Pakistan	1968	听
Papua New Guinea	1949	IDP needed for stays longer than 30 days.
Paraguay	1949	听
Peru	1968	听
Philippines	1968	IDP needed for car hire, and for stays longer than 90 days.
Poland	1968	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP.
Portugal	1968	You can use a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, or Isle of Man photocard driving licence to drive for periods up to 185 days without an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Qatar	1968	听
Romania	1968	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Russian Federation	1968	听
Rwanda	1949	听
San Marino	1968	听
Saudi Arabia	1968	IDP needed for car hire.
Senegal	1968	听
Serbia	1968	听
Seychelles	1968	听
Sierra Leone	1949	听
Singapore	1949	IDP needed for car hire, and for stays longer than 30 days.
Slovakia	1968	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Slovenia	1968	You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. If you have a paper driving licence, you鈥檒l need to update it to a photocard licence or get an IDP.
Somalia	1926	听
South Africa	1968	If you have a paper driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you鈥檙e involved in an accident.
South Korea	1949	听
Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles)	1949	You do not need an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP.
Sri Lanka	1949	As well as the IDP, you must get a Sri Lankan recognition permit from the in Colombo.
St. Lucia	1949	Show your UK driving licence or IDP to the police to get a visitor鈥檚 licence.
St. Vincent	1949	Show your UK driving licence or IDP to the police to get a visitor鈥檚 licence.
Sweden	1968	You do not need an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP.
Switzerland	1968	You do not need an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP.
Syria	1949	听
Tajikistan	1968	听
Taiwan	1949	IDP needed for stays longer than 30 days.
Thailand	1968	听
Togo	1949	听
Trinidad & Tobago	1949	IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Tunisia	1968	听
Turkey	1968	听
Turkmenistan	1968	听
Uganda	1949	IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Ukraine	1968	听
United Arab Emirates	1968	听
United States	1949	You should check if the individual state authority says you need an IDP. If you鈥檙e hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. You may need both your driving licence and an IDP to hire a car in the US. If you have a paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you鈥檙e involved in an accident.
Uruguay	1968	听
Uzbekistan	1968	听
Vatican City	1949	听
Venezuela	1949	听
Vietnam	1968	听
Zimbabwe	1968	听

You can .

An IDP costs 拢5.50.

You must:

• live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland
• have a full UK driving licence
• be 18 or over

Check if you need an international driving permit (IDP) first.

A 1926 or 1949 permit lasts for 12 months. A 1968 permit lasts for 3 years or until your UK driving licence expires, whichever comes first.

You may need to get a local driving licence if you move abroad. Check with the driving licence authorities there to find out how to apply.

In some countries you can exchange your UK licence without taking another driving test.

If you move to an EU country, check the rules for exchanging your licence in the EU.