Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the validity of foreign driving licences beyond 12 months in the context of delays in obtaining practical driving test appointments.

Holders of a valid driving licence issued by a country outside of the EU/EEA can drive small vehicles (cars up to 3,500kg and motorcycles), provided entitlement is shown on their licence, for 12 months from the date they become resident in GB. After this time, unless they have a licence from a country designated for driving licence exchange purposes, they are required to take a GB driving test.

The 12-month period is a concession that allows drivers who live and regularly drive in GB to continue to do so before having to demonstrate that they comply with the standards that apply to GB licence holders. There are no plans to change this requirement.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is working hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as it can, with several measures in place to do this. The DVSA is recruiting more driving examiners to help increase driving test availability.