Destinations / United Kingdom
Driving in United Kingdom as a visitor
Often optional, depending on your licence and rental company. Most visitors can drive in the UK on a valid foreign licence for up to 12 months; an IDP helps if your licence is not in English.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What United Kingdom expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Left |
| Emergency number | 999 or 112 |
| Top speed limit | 70 mph (113 km/h) motorways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 17. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in GBP. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Seatbelts | Seatbelts mandatory for all occupants. |
|---|---|
| Phones | Mobile-phone use while driving is heavily penalised. |
| Alcohol | 0.08% alcohol limit in England/Wales; lower in Scotland. |
On the road in United Kingdom
At the pump
Stations sell unleaded petrol (95 E10 standard, 97/99 super) and diesel, all self-service and paid at the kiosk or pay-at-pump card terminal; LPG is rare. Prices in mid-2026 run roughly GBP 1.35-1.45 per litre, with motorway services markedly dearer.
After a crash
Call 999 (or 112) for injuries; police attendance is only required where someone is hurt, the road is blocked, or a driver fails to stop or give details. You must stop, exchange names, addresses and insurance details, and report to police within 24 hours if details could not be exchanged at the scene.
Sources: gov.uk · visitlondon.com · autoeurope.com · carwow.co.uk
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in United Kingdom?
Often optional, depending on your licence and rental company. Most visitors can drive in the UK on a valid foreign licence for up to 12 months; an IDP helps if your licence is not in English.
Which translation format is used for United Kingdom?
United Kingdom uses the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in United Kingdom ask for a translation?
An IDP is recommended for licences not printed in the Roman alphabet.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for United Kingdom?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Europe
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.