shqiptarëtAlbanian or Kosovo driving licence in Great Britain
Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) exchanges a foreign licence without a test only for some countries: the EU/EEA and the 'designated countries'. Albania and Kosovo are not on that list. This page follows the official GOV.UK tools for car and motorcycle licences.
This is general information from the official GOV.UK pages below, not legal advice. Check your own case with the official GOV.UK tool.
- Exchange without a test
- No. Albania and Kosovo are not on the GOV.UK designated countries list, so the licence cannot be exchanged.
- How long you can drive
- Up to 12 months from the day you become resident in Great Britain, on your full car or motorcycle licence.
- After 12 months
- You need a GB provisional licence, then you must pass the theory test and the practical test.
- Fees (DVLA/DVSA)
- Provisional licence: £34 online or £43 by post. Theory test: £23. Car driving test: £62 on weekdays, £75 on evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
Steps
- Drive on your licence for up to 12 months
Counted from the day you become resident. It must be a full (not provisional) and valid licence. - Apply for a provisional licence
Online with DVLA (£34) or with form D1 by post (£43). You must have been given permission to live in Great Britain for at least 185 days. - Pass the theory test
Book it once you have the provisional licence. It costs £23. - Pass the practical test
Book it after passing the theory test. It costs £62 or £75. When you pass, you get a full GB licence.
Be careful
- Book tests only on GOV.UK. GOV.UK says unofficial websites usually charge more.
- Do not leave it to the last month: if you want to keep driving, the tests need to be booked and passed within the 12 months.
Northern Ireland (DVA)
- Northern Ireland does not exchange Albanian or Kosovo licences without a test either: neither country is on its list of designated countries.
- As a resident you can drive small vehicles on your valid licence for up to 12 months from when you became resident. To keep driving without a break, get a Northern Ireland provisional licence and pass the test(s) before the 12 months end.
Kosovo citizens: the same route as for Albania. Kosovo is not on the GOV.UK designated countries list. United Kingdom: the essentials
Sources
- GOV.UK: Driving in GB on a non-GB licence (tool)
- GOV.UK: Exchange a non-GB driving licence (designated countries list)
- GOV.UK: Apply for your first provisional driving licence
- GOV.UK: Driving test costs
- nidirect: Advice on foreign driving licences in Northern Ireland (12 months)
- nidirect: Exchanging your foreign driving licence (designated countries)