Driving
In the UK, you must be at least 17 years old to drive a car or motor cycle and you must have a driving licence to drive on public roads. To get a UK driving licence you must pass a driving test, which tests both your knowledge and your practical skills. You need to be at least 16 years old to ride a moped, and there are other age requirements and special tests for driving large vehicles.
Drivers can use their driving licence until they are 70 years old. After that, the licence is valid for three years at a time.
In Northern Ireland, a newly qualified driver must display an ‘R’ plate (for restricted driver) for one year after passing the test.
If your driving licence is from a country in the European Union (EU), Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, you can drive in the UK for as long as your licence is valid. If you have a licence from any other country, you may use it in the UK for up to 12 months. To continue driving after that, you must get a UK full driving licence.
If you are resident in the UK, your car or motor cycle must be registered at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You must pay an annual road tax and display the tax disc, which shows that the tax has been paid, on the windscreen. You must also have valid motor insurance. It is a serious criminal offence to drive without insurance. If your vehicle is over three years old, you must take it for a Ministry of Transport (MOT) test every year. It is an offence not to have an MOT certificate if your vehicle is more than three years old. You can find out more about vehicle tax and MOT requirements from www.gov.uk
In the UK you must be at least 17 to drive a car or motor cycle, and you need a driving licence for public roads. To get a UK licence you must pass a driving test covering knowledge and practical skills. You must be at least 16 to ride a moped, and there are other age requirements and special tests for large vehicles. A licence can be used until age 70; after that it is valid for three years. In Northern Ireland a newly qualified driver must display an R plate for one year after passing the test. A licence from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway can be used for as long as it is valid. A licence from any other country can be used for up to 12 months; after that you need UK full licence. If you are resident, your car or motor cycle must be registered with the DVLA. You must pay annual road tax, display the tax disc, and have valid motor insurance; driving without insurance is a serious criminal offence. If the vehicle is over three years old, it needs an MOT test every year, and not having an MOT certificate is an offence.
The handbook text is reproduced under the terms printed in Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents, 3rd edition: © Crown copyright 2013. It is reproduced accurately, the title is given, and this site does not use the Home Office crest or imitate the official edition. We are not an official publication. The reproduced text is the 3rd edition (2013). Later official impressions changed some references from the Queen to King Charles III and renamed some institutions. Where something looks dated, check the current official handbook on GOV.UK.
Practice questions
Progress is saved in this browser only. There are no accounts.
What is the minimum age for driving a car or motor cycle on public roads in the UK?
The handbook states that you must be at least 17 to drive a car or motor cycle.After a driver reaches 70, for how long is a UK driving licence valid at a time?
Once a driver is 70, the licence is valid for three years at a time.In Northern Ireland, what must a newly qualified driver display for one year after passing the test?
Newly qualified drivers in Northern Ireland must show an R plate for one year.What must you do every year if your vehicle is more than three years old?
Vehicles over three years old require an annual MOT test.