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Driving

Exchange Your China Driving Licence in the United Kingdom

Using a China driving licence in Great Britain. China is not a designated country, so the licence cannot be exchanged.

A full China car licence cannot be exchanged for a Great Britain licence. You may drive for 12 months after you become resident. After that you need a GB provisional licence and must pass the theory and practical tests. This covers England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland uses a different process. 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 China licence

China is not on the designated-country list for exchanging a full car licence in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland).

If you become resident and hold a full valid car licence, you can drive for 12 months from the date you became resident. GOV.UK does not state that window as a number of days.

After those 12 months you must stop driving on the foreign licence. You apply for a GB provisional licence and pass the theory test and the practical driving test. There is no exchange application for this country.

Northern Ireland is not covered by this page. The GOV.UK tool sends Northern Ireland residents to a separate nidirect process.

A visitor who is not resident follows a different rule. This page is the resident rule only.

Source: GOV.UK — Driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence, checked 31 October 2026. Designated countries are also listed in 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 China car licence for 12 months from that date.
  3. China is not designated, so the licence cannot be exchanged.
  4. After 12 months, 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

No. China is not a designated country for a full car licence. You cannot exchange it.

12 months from the date you became resident, on a full valid car licence. GOV.UK does not give this as a number of days.

Yes, after the 12 months. You need a GB provisional licence, the theory test, and the practical test.

No. This is England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland uses a different process.

GOV.UK page driving-nongb-licence, on 31 October 2026, and the schedule to The Driving Licences (Exchangeable Licences) Order 2025 (SI 2025/811).

Sources

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