Drive in London with Foreign Licence

When you drive in London with a foreign licence, a valid driver’s licence issued outside the UK that lets you operate a vehicle legally for a limited time. Also known as international driving permit, it’s your ticket to getting around without renting a car with a driver—but only if you follow the rules. Most visitors can drive in London for up to 12 months using their home country’s licence, as long as it’s valid and in English—or accompanied by an official translation. If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, your licence works the same way. But if you’re from the US, Australia, Canada, or Japan, you’re still covered under the same 12-month window. After that? You’ll need to apply for a UK licence. No shortcuts. No exceptions.

It’s not just about the licence itself. UK driving rules, the set of traffic laws and road signs enforced across England, including London. Also known as highway code, it’s what keeps everyone safe on the roads are different from what you might be used to. You drive on the left. Roundabouts are everywhere—and you must give way to traffic coming from the right. Speed limits are in miles per hour, not kilometres. And speed cameras? They’re not suggestions. They’re everywhere: on bridges, near schools, on the M25. One wrong turn into a bus lane, and you’re looking at a £130 fine. No warning. No grace period. The system doesn’t care if you’re just visiting.

Then there’s the London congestion charge, a daily fee for driving in central London during weekday hours. Also known as ULEZ, it’s part of a broader effort to cut pollution and traffic. If you drive in the zone between 7am and 10pm, every day except Christmas Day, you pay £15. And if you don’t pay? You get a £160 penalty. It’s automatic. Cameras read your licence plate. No notice. No second chance. You can pay online, by phone, or at a shop—but most people forget. Don’t be one of them. Also, if your car doesn’t meet ULEZ emissions standards, you pay an extra £12.50 on top. That’s £27.50 a day. For a short visit? Maybe worth it. For a month? You’re better off taking the Tube.

Insurance is another hidden trap. Your home country’s policy likely won’t cover you in the UK. You need UK-compliant insurance. Many rental companies offer it, but they charge a premium. If you’re borrowing a car from a friend or family member, make sure their policy lists you as a named driver. Otherwise, you’re driving illegally—and your insurance won’t pay out if something goes wrong.

And don’t assume parking is easy. Even if you have a foreign licence, you still need to follow London’s parking rules. Pay-and-display, permit zones, double yellow lines—none of it changes for visitors. Ticket machines don’t care where you’re from. And if you park on a pavement? That’s a £130 fine. In London, even the sidewalks are off-limits.

If you’re planning to stay longer than a year, you’ll need to apply for a UK driving licence. The process isn’t hard, but it takes time. You’ll need to pass a theory test and a practical driving test. And yes, you’ll be tested on the same rules everyone else is. No special treatment. No exemptions. The system treats everyone the same.

What you’ll find below are real, practical guides from people who’ve done it—whether they drove in London for a week, a month, or a year. You’ll learn how to avoid the most common mistakes, where the traps are, and how to stay legal without overpaying. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what works.