So long as your car is fully taxed in your home country and you have valid car insurance, you can drive it on UK roads for six months. After six months, you can carry on using it in the UK but will have to register it with the DVLA. You’ll also need to replace your registration plates.
If you only have a provisional international driving licence and want to drive in the UK, you’ll need to apply for a UK provisional licence. However, you’ll have to wait six months before taking your UK driving test and getting a full UK driving licence.
This ultimately comes down to your employer’s policy and their insurance arrangements. Insurance that covers a whole fleet may require all drivers to have UK licences.
If you can exchange your international licence for a UK one, getting a company car will likely be easier.
Thankfully, most drivers with an international driving licence can exchange it for a full UK driving licence without needing to take a driving test. This includes drivers with an EU licence or a licence from a designated country, such as Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa.
The exceptions are those with non-exchangeable driving licences, like those from the United States. In these cases, you can only use your licence for 12 months, after which you’ll need to take a driving test to get a full UK licence.
You’ll also need to take a driving test if you only have a provisional international driving licence.
If you are no longer a resident of the UK, you can still get car insurance on your return – in fact, it’s a necessity. However, what insurance you take out will depend on how long you are back for.
Similarly, the cost of your expat car insurance will in-part be informed by whether or not you still have a UK driving licence.
