Requirements on Ukrainian Drivers and Vehicles

Lilian Greenwood Excerpts

Monday 10th February 2025 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Lilian Greenwood)]

The UK is continuing to support Ukrainians following the illegal invasion by Putin.

The Government are extending by 13 months the period for which certain Ukrainian driving licence holders can drive mopeds, motor bicycles and cars—category B—in Great Britain (GB), beyond the current 36 months. This will allow certain Ukrainian licence holders to drive in GB for a period of up to 54 months—four years and six months—after becoming resident.

This will continue to support Ukrainian licence holders’ ability to get around and adapt to living in GB.

Separate to the driving licensing extension statutory instrument, the Government will extend the existing exemption for certain Ukrainians on specific visa schemes from registering and paying vehicle excise duty (VED) on their Ukrainian-plated and registered vehicles to align with the length of their UK visas. The extension is effective from 4 March 2025, to ensure that Ukrainians can continue to use their vehicles without needing to register or pay VED. Further information will be posted on www.gov.uk.

Finally, driver licensing is devolved in Northern Ireland, so the relevant regulations would need to be followed by those Ukrainian refugees resident there.

[HCWS430]