Frequently Asked Questions
The Law on who has to take the theory test
If you are a learner driver you must take and pass your
theory test before you book your practical test. If you already have
a driving licence you might not have to take another theory test if
you want to start driving a different vehicle.
UK licence holders
You will need to take a theory
test if you want a licence for a new category of vehicle, for
example, if you have a car licence and you want a motorcycle licence
you will need to take a theory test.
If, however, you want to upgrade
within a vehicle category you will not normally need to take a
theory test, for example, if you have a full automatic car licence
and you want a manual car licence you will not have to take a theory
test.
It is your responsibility to make
sure you have the correct licence for the vehicle you are driving.
If you are unsure if you need to take a theory test please contact
the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) or the Driver and Vehicle
Licensing Agency (DVLA).
Foreign licence holders
If you hold a valid
Community licence and you are visiting Great Britain, you can drive
any vehicle for as long as your licence remains valid. The
appropriate full entitlement for the vehicle you wish to drive must
be shown on your licence.
The EEA countries are
as follows:
Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain,
Sweden, United Kingdom
Outside Europe
If you hold a full driving licence
issued outside the EEA it may be possible to exchange it for an
equivalent British licence. You should contact the Driver and
Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to find out if you can exchange your
foreign licence.
If you cannot exchange your
foreign licence you will have to apply for a British provisional
licence and take a theory and practical test.