Have a Valid current DRIVING LICENCE

Be covered by INSURANCE

Drive a vehicle REGISTERED in the owner’s name

Drive a vehicle with valid ROAD TAX (there are some exemptions)

The Immigration and International Student Advice team have produced a guidance sheet to help you plan to drive in the UK.  Additional information on driving in the UK is below. You can find further information on all topics, and additional areas such as riding Mopeds and Motorcycles on the UKCISA Website.

 

 

If you have a full driving licence issued in an EEA country there is no need to change it for a UK licence, provided it remains valid.

 

International students from outside the EEA

During the first year of your stay in the UK you can drive with a valid driving licence from your own country or an International Driving Permit but after one year you must take out a Provisional UK Licence and put ‘L’ plates on your car. You must then arrange to sit a full UK Driving Test. Until you pass your test, a person who has held a full UK, NI or EEA driving Licence for 3 years and is over the age of 21 must sit at your side whenever you are driving and you cannot drive on a motorway (M1, M2, M3, M4 etc.).

 

Further information is available in the guidance sheet at the top of this page.

 

To hire a car in the UK you must hold a full Driver’s licence or an International Driving Licence, and have been driving for at least twelve months. You will need to show your current licence to the hire company, or if you have a UK driving licence obtain a car hire code from the DVLA. You must have, or arrange as part of the hire process, valid insurance for the period you will be driving the car. You should check the requirements for insurance with the car hire provider.

 

There are many car hire providers in the UK, with several local companys in Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd.  You should contact different companies to find out which one will give you the best deal for your intended trip. You can also check the Yellow Pages Directory for a list of local hire car providers.

 

 

If a car which has been registered abroad (including other EU countries) is used for more than six months in the UK, it should be registered at the DVLA. Check with them for up-to-date legislation . You will probably be asked to send:

 

 

The car logbook

UK insurance certificate

MOT certificate (if car more than 3 years old)

Completed VAT form 414 (the DVLA Office can supply this) if you come from within the EU

Customs Form (the DVLA can supply this) if you come from outside the EU

 

 

You must have personal insurance to drive a car in the UK. There are three types of insurance cover available in the UK, comprehensive, Third Party, Fire & Theft or just Third Party. The compulsory Third Party insurance does not cover loss or damage to your own car caused by unknown or uninsured persons. Comprehensive insurance does, but it can be very expensive.

 

 

All cars need a road tax licence before you can drive in the UK. From October 2014 Road Tax discs do not need to be displayed in a car windscreen. Road Tax can now be purchased either online or from your local Post Office. The cost differs according to your car and is valid for 6 or for 12 months.  Please see the downloadable guide at the top of this page for further information.