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Driving

Exchange Your Canadian Driving Licence in the United Kingdom

Exchanging a Canadian driving licence in Great Britain. Canada is on the designated-country list.

Canada is a designated country. You can drive in Great Britain for 12 months after you become resident, then exchange a full car licence. You have 5 years after becoming resident to exchange it. If you do not, you need a GB provisional licence and must pass the theory and practical tests. England, Wales and Scotland only. Checked on GOV.UK on 31 October 2026. Not legal advice.

Last updated 2026-10-31

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What GOV.UK says about a Canadian licence

Canada is on the designated-country list. A resident with a full car licence can exchange it for a Great Britain licence (England, Wales and Scotland).

You can drive for 12 months from the date you became resident. After that you exchange the licence rather than retaking the tests, if you are still inside the 5-year exchange window.

You must exchange within 5 years of becoming resident. If you do not, you need a GB provisional licence and must pass the theory and practical tests.

Northern Ireland is not covered here. Ukraine has a longer special rule that does not apply to this country.

Source: GOV.UK — Driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence, checked 31 October 2026, and The Driving Licences (Exchangeable Licences) Order 2025.

How it works

  1. Become resident in England, Wales or Scotland.
  2. You may drive on a full valid Canada car licence for 12 months from that date.
  3. Exchange the licence within 5 years of becoming resident.
  4. If you miss that window, get a GB provisional licence and pass the theory and practical tests.

Who this helps

  • People who become resident in England, Wales or Scotland.
  • Holders of a full valid car licence from the country named on this page.
  • Not a guide for visitors, Northern Ireland, or other licence categories.

Examples

Resident, full car licence

The rule on this page is for someone who has become resident in Great Britain and holds a full car licence. A visitor who is not resident follows a different GOV.UK rule.

Northern Ireland

These rules are for England, Wales and Scotland. GOV.UK sends Northern Ireland residents to a separate nidirect process.

Where this was checked

Checked on 31 October 2026 against GOV.UK (driving-nongb-licence) and the schedule to SI 2025/811. This is not legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, for a full car licence. Canada is on the designated-country list. Exchange it within 5 years of becoming resident.

12 months from the date you became resident. GOV.UK does not give this as a number of days.

After 5 years as a resident you need a GB provisional licence and must pass the theory and practical tests.

No. This is England, Wales and Scotland.

GOV.UK page driving-nongb-licence, on 31 October 2026, and the schedule to SI 2025/811.

Sources

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