Each rental car provider has their own rules regarding driver licence requirements, but there are some general rules to keep in mind.
Did you know that you can drive in the UK for up to 12 months if you have a valid driver’s licence from your own country? Getting an International Driving Permit (IDP) might be a good idea as well since they are easy to obtain. To learn if you will need an IDP or if your licence is accepted, VroomVroomVroom has put together a quick guide to ensure you have a smooth and hassle-free booking experience.
A valid and up to date DVLA licence check code or a printed DVLA endorsement record must be provided for all approved drivers
Drivers under 23 years of age must not have any endorsements on their licence.
For drivers 23 years of age and older, the maximum number of points on the licence is 6. However, some endorsements on your licence may restrict your ability to drive the vehicle, even if you have 6 or less points on your licence.
Valid driving licences of all EU countries may be accepted in the UK without further preconditions.
Driving licences printed with non-Roman Alphabet (Arabic, Japanese, and Cyrillic) must be accompanied by a valid International Driving Permit.
For other licences, an International Driving Permit is not required, however you must possess a valid translation form for the licence. For all non-European licence holders, it is the responsibility of the renter to check whether an international Driving Permit is required—there is a simple licence test you can do online to find out.
If you hold a non-EU licence but you reside in the UK, you may be permitted to drive for up to 12 months from the time you become a resident. Note that after 12 months, your overseas licence will be deemed illegal in the UK and it must be exchanged for the UK equivalent. Those with a non-EU licence must produce a full and valid passport at the time of rental and the reservation name must match the name on the driving licence.
Generally, if you hold a valid Community Driving Licence and you are visiting Great Britain, you may be allowed to drive any vehicle for as long as your licence remains valid. Please note that the appropriate full entitlement for the vehicle you wish to drive must be shown on your licence.
You will need to provide an International Driving Permit (IDP) if your own drivers licence is not printed fully in English. In most cases, those with a drivers licence issued from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the USA do not require an IDP to be able to rent a car in the UK. Learn more about International Driving Permits
You will need to provide documentation that is less than three months old to prove where you live. This can be utility bills or a bank statement for example. As long as the paperwork has your address on it for the car rental company to see. Keep in mind that the document that you share with the car rental company needs to be an original and not a copy.
