Last week we looked at the implications of Brexit on people driving in the EU and EEA in the event that there is no deal. Finding information about IDPs can be confusing. Check out our full list of every European country’s IDP requirements.
1968 IDPs are the most commonly required International Driving Permits. The countries requiring UK licence holders to have a 1968 IDP if there is a no-deal Brexit are:
- Austria
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania (if you have a paper licence – you won’t need one if you have a photo card licence)
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway (if you have a paper licence – you won’t need one if you have a photo card licence)
- Poland (if you have a paper licence – you won’t need one if you have a photo card licence)
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Sweden.
1949 IDPs are still accepted by some countries. In the event of no deal, you will need one to drive in Andorra or Cyprus.
Liechtenstein is at this point the only country to require a 1926 IDP.
There are some countries within the EU and EEA that do not require an IDP from anyone, providing they have a full driver’s licence for their country. The UK is one of these countries, the others are:
- Belgium, for visits up to 6 months (185 days)
- Denmark for up to 3-month (90-day) visits
- Ireland for up to a 12 month stay
- Iceland for visits up to one month
- Luxembourg for up to six month stays
- Malta – up to 12 months
- Portugal - up to 185 days
- Slovenia – up to 90 days
- Spain for visits of 6 months or less.
The above countries will allow you to drive without an IDP provided you have either a photocard or paper driving licence. In addition, you can drive in the following countries if you have a UK photocard driving licence:
- Lithuania for visits of up to 185 days
- Norway up to 90 days
- Poland up to 185 days.
If you only have a paper licence, you need to get a 1968 IDP to drive in Lithuania, Norway or Poland.
If you live in the EU or EEA
At the moment, if you are a UK licence holder living in an EU or EEA country, you can swap your UK licence for a local one. This swapping arrangement will cease for some countries if there is a no-deal Brexit. If this happens, in order to drive legally, you will need to re-take your driving test in the country where you live and want to drive.
If you are planning a holiday abroad, don’t let car worries spoil it; book a full service from a local, trusted garage before you head off.
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