Information for Ukrainians

Driving in the UK

Ukrainian Driving Licence

If you're a Ukrainian national in Great Britain on a Ukraine visa scheme (the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, the Ukraine Family Scheme, the Ukraine Extension Scheme, the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme), you can drive using your Ukrainian licence for an extended period, but it's crucial to understand the rules.

The length of time you can continue to drive on your Ukrainian licence depends on when you applied for your entry clearance or permission to stay in the UK. Recent updates have extended these periods to align more closely with visa durations, providing greater flexibility.

Key points to be aware of:

Extended driving periods: Depending on your visa scheme and application date, you may be able to drive for up to 54 months (4 years and 6 months) or 36 months (3 years) after becoming a resident in Great Britain.

Please be aware that the criteria for 36 and 54 months extensions are different:

Criteria for 54 month extension

You can drive in GB for up to 4 years and 6 months (54 months) after becoming resident, if you successfully applied for entry clearance or permission to stay under either:

the Homes for Ukraine scheme or the Ukraine Family Scheme before 3pm on 19 February 2024

the Ukraine Extension Scheme on or before 16 May 2024 – provided you became resident in GB on or after March 2022

You must also then apply to the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme before your existing leave to remain in the UK expires.

If you applied under the UPE scheme, you can continue to drive in GB while your application is being processed. If you withdraw your application or it is not successful, your eligibility to drive on a Ukraine licence ends at that time.

If your application to UPE is not processed after 18 months, the period that you can drive in GB after you become resident will be capped at 4 years and 6 months.

Criteria for 36 month extension

You can drive in GB for up to 3 years (36 months) after you became resident if you successfully applied for entry clearance or permission to stay under either:

the Ukraine Extension Scheme on or before 16 May 2024 and you became resident in GB before 3 March 2022
The Homes for Ukraine scheme at or after 3pm on 19 February 2024

No immediate exchange required: You generally do not need to exchange your Ukrainian driving licence for a GB licence within the initial permissible driving period in the UK. If you want to continue to drive in GB after the extension periods, you will need to exchange your Ukrainian licence for a GB licence. You will need to do this before the end of the extension period.

Please visit the gov.uk website if you need your Ukrainian driving licence exchanged.

Ukrainian plated vehicle

You will need to apply for your vehicle to stay in the UK longer than 6 months without paying import duties.

Ukrainian Vehicle Exemption from vehicle tax and registration

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and registration: There are extensions to the exemption for certain Ukrainians from registering and paying VED on their Ukrainian-plated and registered vehicles. This exemption is now intended to align with the length of your UK visa. You will only be eligible for the extended exemption for up to 4 years and 6 months (54 months) if you applied for UPE before the expiry of your current Ukrainian scheme leave.

Please find out more information including the eligibility criteria:

Bringing a Ukrainian vehicle into the UK - tax and registration - GOV.UK (This page explicitly states: "You must make sure that you have insurance to drive your vehicle in the UK.")

Insurance

Ukrainians driving their own vehicles in the UK must ensure they have appropriate coverage. This can be achieved in one of two ways:

MOT test

You may need to take your vehicle for an MOT test. This depends on the age of the vehicle. An MOT test makes sure that your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards. You may need to make alterations to your vehicle to pass an MOT test.

Manual vs. Automatic

If your Ukrainian licence was issued before 28 December 2021, and you later exchange it for a GB licence, it may restrict you to driving automatic vehicles only. To drive manual vehicles, you might need to take a separate GB manual driving test. Licences issued on or after 28 December 2021 that permit manual driving can generally be exchanged for a GB manual licence.

Road rules

The UK drives on the left-hand side of the road. Familiarise yourself with the Highway Code and UK road safety laws. For more information on Warwickshire Road Safety and what to do if you have an accident visit the Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership website.

Always refer to the official government guidance for full details, eligibility criteria, and how to exchange your licence.

Free Driving Theory Test preparation for Ukrainians

For those who don't have a driving licence or are considering getting a GB driving license without replacing a Ukrainian one, Warwickshire County Council offers a free ESOL course specifically designed to help you prepare for the driving theory test. This course includes 12 lessons to cover everything you need to know. This course is open to all Ukrainians who have arrived under the Homes for Ukraine scheme and have an English language level of A2 or higher. To apply, simply send an email to: migrationesol@warwickshire.gov.uk.

If you prefer to study on your own, all Ukrainians can get free access to online study materials, no matter which scheme they came here under and visiting the Theory Test Pro website. To access this option, you'll need to register at your local library first. The study materials are available in 40 languages, making it a great resource for everyone.

Getting Practical Driving Experience

After you've passed the theory test, you'll need to get some practical driving experience. You can find a certified driving instructor or school on the official UK government website.

Before you can start driving with an instructor, you must apply for a provisional driving licence. This is a legal requirement for all learner drivers in the UK.

The list of guidelines and references

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