March 7th, 2019.


The Department for Transport (DfT) advises that certain scenarios could arise should the UK leave the EU without a deal. It outlines that, whilst the government is confident of securing an agreement with the EU which maintains the current, liberalised access presently enjoyed, riders and drivers should be prepared for the following.

Driving Licences and International Driving Permits
In the event that there is no EU Exit deal, you will need an International Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to your UK driving licence to drive in EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. You can get an IDP from your local Post Office at a cost of £5.50.

In the event that there is no EU Exit deal and the UK and EU reach no separate agreement, drivers of UK registered vehicles will need to carry a motor insurance Green Card when driving in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Andorra, Serbia and Switzerland.

Contact your vehicle insurance provider to obtain a motor insurance Green Card.

Number plates and national identifiers
Under international conventions, GB is the distinguishing sign to display on UK-registered vehicles when driving outside of the UK, including in the EU.

You can display the distinguishing sign as either a GB sticker or a GB sign on your number plate.

From the 29th of March 2019, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you will need a GB sticker even if your vehicle has a Euro-plate; a number plate displaying both the EU flag and a GB sign.

Driving Licence Exchange for UK Nationals Living in the EU
If you are a UK licence holder living in the EU you should exchange your UK driving licence for a local EU driving licence before 29 March 2019. From that date, in the event that there is no EU Exit deal, you may have to pass a driving test in the EU country you live in to be able to carry on driving there.

You should consider exchanging your UK driving licence for an EU driving licence as soon as possible. Increased demand may lead to longer processing times and delays to exchanging driving licences the closer it is to 29 March 2019.

Stay Informed
Visit gov.uk/euexitdriving to sign up for email alerts and for the latest information.