Foreign Office advises British people living in EU to give up their UK driving licences to prepare for Brexit
Embassies suggest people exchange British licences for local version before deadline
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Your support makes all the difference.The Foreign Office is advising British people living in EU countries to give up their UK driving licences in order to prepare for a no-deal Brexit.
British embassies in a number of member states have said that “holders of UK driving licences who are resident in an EU country should exchange their UK licences for a driving licence from the EU country you are living in before 29 March 2019”.
The advice is being issued because in the event of a no-deal Brexit it will become impossible to exchange your UK driving licence for a local one without re-taking your driving test – a potentially expensive and difficult experience.
The advice has been issued by British embassies including those in Italy, Belgium, and Finland. Driving regulations vary somewhat between EU member states, meaning one piece of advice is not necessarily valid for all states.
After a no-deal Brexit all UK drivers may have to apply for a “green card” annex to drive abroad on a British licence. These are not intended for long-term residents, however.
A waiver for British drivers on the green card system was agreed by the UK and European insurance companies last year, but has not been ratified by the European Commission – meaning the situation is uncertain.
The advice on the Government’s website states: “If the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 29 March 2019, you will not be able to exchange your driving licence without taking another driving test.
“Apply to exchange your driving licence as soon as you can to make sure you get one before 29 March 2019.”
The driving licence situation is just one of many areas of disruption expected to be caused by a no-deal.
Apart from a disruption to trade and economic damage to the UK, British people living abroad are being left at the mercy of local authorities – who are dealing with the situation in varying ways.
Around 1.3 million British-born people living in the 27 other EU countries. Most countries are asking their UK residents to register if they want to stay. Rules and deadlines vary by countries, however.
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