Will UK Driving Licences be Valid post-Brexit?

As the date for Brexit draws nearer, the event of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit is gradually becoming more likely and ministers are preparing contingency plans in case this happens. The latest papers outlining the event of a no-deal Brexit discuss the driving situation between the UK and the EU.

Post-Brexit, UK drivers may be required to get an international driving permit if they want to drive in a Europeancountry. The government has said that after March 2019 “your driving licence may no longer be valid by itself” meaning UK licence holders may be held to the same rules as the rest of the world when it comes to driving in Europe. The precise rules about permit requirements for non-EU licence holders vary between each member state, though for Italy, Austria and Spain you must hold an International Driving Permit in addition to a drivers licence and in France it is highly recommended. This is important news for ski home owners and holidaymakers heading to the mountains.

Though not a huge cost at £5.50 and easily available in less than 5-minutes from most post offices, it will be a new process to get used to in post-Brexit life and the National Audit Office has estimated that at least 100,000 permits may be issued in the first year, but may steadily grow to 7 million permits.

The government has also stated that British passport holders may face different rules for travelling in countries which are part of the Schengen area. This includes maximum stays of up to 90 days within the Schengen area without an appropriate visa, and passports which have a minimum of three-months (which could extend up to 6 months) to go until their expiry date upon travelling.

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