101 UK Brexit Notes

Connemara Programme October 16 2018 pg. 23 Transport: Road: Driving in the UK Purpose This guidance explains the additional documents you would need, as well as your driving licence, to drive in the EU after 29 March 2019 if the UK leaves with no withdrawal agreement. Before 29 March 2019 Your driving licence is valid in the EU. As long as you hold a UK licence, you can drive for both work and leisure purposes throughout the EU without other documents. If you move to another EU country to live you can exchange UK licences issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) or the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland, for a driving licence from your new home country. You do not need to re-sit your driving test. After March 2019 if there’s no deal Your driving licence may no longer be valid by itself when driving in the EU. If you move to another EU country to live, you may not be able to exchange your licence after the UK has left the EU. What you would need to do Driving in the EU If there is no deal with the EU, you may need to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in the EU. An IDP is a document which when carried with your driving licence means you would be able to drive outside of the UK including in EU countries. There are different types of IDP. Which one you need depends on which country you are driving in. If you currently drive outside the EU, for example in some states of the USA and countries including Japan, you may already be used to obtaining an IDP. You may be turned away at the border or face other enforcement action, for example fines, if you don’t have the correct IDP. You may also need an IDP to hire a vehicle when you are abroad. There are 2 types of IDP required by EU countries. Each is governed by a separate United Nations convention. One type is governed by th e 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic . The other type is governed by th e 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic . The version of the IDP you would require depends on which EU country you are visiting and whether it is party to the 1949 or the 1968 convention. Each type of IDP is valid for a different period. The 1949 convention IDP lasts for 12 months. After 28 March 2019 in the EU, a UK issued 1949 IDP would be recognised in Ireland, Spain, Malta and Cyprus. The 1968 convention IDP is valid for 3 years, or for however long your driving licence is valid, if that date is earlier. The UK ratified the 1968 convention on 28 March 2018, as a part of our EU exit preparations. The 1968 convention will come into force for the UK on 28 March 2019. After 28 March 2019, a UK issued 1968 convention IDP would be recognised in all other EU countries, plus Norway and Switzerland. Visiting the EU After March 2019, if you visit and drive in an EU country, for example on holiday, you would need both:  your UK driving licence  the appropriate IDP You would need both types of IDP if you are visiting EU countries covered by different conventions, for example France and Spain. You would need both a driving licence and an IDP whether you’re driving in a private or professional capacity. Obtaining an IDP The IDP will cost £5.50. You can currently get the 1949 type IDP over the counter at around 90 Post Offices or by mail order from 2 private companies. This mail order service will cease on 31 January 2019.