Government proposed an increase of 18 months to the period for certain Ukrainian driving licence holders so they could drive vehicles beyond the current 36-month (3 year) period in Great Britain (GB).

Vehicles included in this proposal are:

• cars (category B)
• motorcycles (category A)

This extension would allow certain Ukrainian licence holders to drive in GB for a period of up to 54 months (4 years and 6 months) after becoming resident.

This consultation also:

• considered the rationale and potential impacts of this
• asked for comments on our suggested road safety considerations
• asked for comments on any other road safety consideration
• provided the opportunity for other comments

Following the consultation, we believe there is a case for the law to be changed. This means the required secondary legislation will be brought forward to make this change an urgent matter.

We received 801 responses to this consultation. 

Introduction

The UK has played a leading role in supporting Ukraine. The Department for Transport (DfT) has actively engaged in making the transition to life in the UK as seamless as possible for those who arrived here under difficult circumstances.

As part of this, the government proposed to extend the period during which those who successfully applied to the:

• Homes for Ukraine Scheme (HFU) before 3pm on 19 February 2024
• Ukraine Family Scheme (UFS) before 3pm on 19 February 2024
• Ukraine Extension Scheme (UES) before 11:59pm on 16 May 2024

Applicants would need to hold a Ukrainian driving licence authorising driving of cars (category B) and motorcycles so they can drive such vehicles in GB for a further 18 months after becoming resident (relevant cohort).

The reason for this proposed extension was due to the new Ukrainian Permission Extension Scheme (UPE), which will give individuals falling within the relevant cohort a total of 54 months stay in the UK provided they successfully apply to UPE. 

This will continue to support Ukrainian licence holders’ ability to get around and adapt to living in GB.

In GB, we allow all those driving on non-UK, non-European Economic Area (EEA) driving licences who become resident, to continue using these for 12 months before we require them either to exchange their licences if eligible or to take a driving test in order to continue driving here. As with some other countries, GB has a driving licence exchange agreement with Ukraine and Ukrainian driving licences can be exchanged for GB licences.

However, only Ukrainian licences issued after 28 December 2021 specify the type of vehicle transmission that a driver passed their test in. Therefore, licences that were issued prior to this date can only be exchanged for a GB licence which restricts the driver to driving automatic vehicles. Those with a Ukrainian licence issued before this date must take a GB manual test to obtain a GB manual licence.

This is a particular issue for those who have brought manual vehicles with them to GB and may lose the right to drive them, despite planning to return home to Ukraine when it is safe to do so. Our consultation sought views on this proposed extension and provided the opportunity for other comments. This change can be made by secondary legislation.

Responses to the consultation

The proposals for extending driving licence exchange requirements for Ukrainians arriving in GB from the conflict with Russia consultation received 801 responses.

Of these responses:

• 794 consultation responses were received via the online survey
• 752 responses were from individuals
• 42 responses were from organisations
• 7 emailed responses were received that could be put into the online survey format - 7 from individuals and none from organisations

The responses overwhelmingly supported the proposal to extend the Ukraine driving licence exchange by an additional 18 months in respect of the relevant cohort, increasing the time of use to 54 months after the holder becomes a resident.

Views on the proposed change in law

We asked if people agreed with the government’s proposal of further extending the period during which the relevant cohort can drive vehicles in Great Britain.

Overall, 98% of those who answered (781) responded ‘yes’ and 2% (17) responded ‘no’.

Of the 2% who did not agree with the proposal, some respondents cited the road safety risk of not passing a UK driving test and others that it is unfair to other nationalities who must exchange for a GB licence at 12 months.

Views on road safety

We asked: are there any comments on road safety considerations with the proposed extension?

Of the 68 responses, the most common theme was that Ukrainian drivers have been driving safely in the last 36 months (3 years) and that the greater risk to road safety would be adapting to our roads when first entering and driving in GB – 39 respondents raised this theme.

We asked if there were any other safety considerations. Of the 750 who responded to this question, 67 stated ‘yes’.

Of these, the most common theme was the requirement to exchange a licence (in the case of Ukrainian licences issued before 28 December 2021) for a GB licence that restricts the driver from driving automatic vehicles would be a disadvantage – 20 respondents highlighted this was a concern without a further extension.

The consultation concluded with the opportunity for responders to provide any other comments that mostly consisted of support for the change and thanks from Ukrainian nationals.

Next steps

Government will introduce secondary legislation to allow Ukrainian driving licence holders who successfully applied for entry clearance or permission to stay in the UK under:

• HFU or UFS before 3:00pm on 19 February 2024
• UES on or before 16 May 2024, provided they became resident in GB on or after 3 March 2022

And then proceed to apply to the UPE ahead of the expiry of their existing leave to drive in GB motor bicycles, mopeds and cars (category B) (as permitted by their Ukrainian driving licence) for up to 4 years and 6 months (54 months) after the day on which they became a resident (eligible Ukrainian driving licence holders).

Eligible Ukrainian driving licence holders will be able to continue to drive in GB while their application to UPE is pending. However, if an individual’s application is rejected, refused or withdrawn the eligibility to drive in GB will cease at that time.

Likewise, in the event that an individual’s application to UPE is not processed after 18 months the period for which they can drive in GB after becoming a resident will be capped at 4 years and 6 months (54 months).

Ukrainian driving licence holders who successfully applied to the UES on or before 16 May 2024 and became resident in GB before 3 March 2022 will need to exchange their licence for a GB one or pass a GB driving test before the expiry of the 3 year (36-month) period driving eligibility period (after becoming resident) that applies to them if they wish to continue driving in GB.

Ukrainian driving licence holders who have successfully applied under HFU at or after 3:00pm on 19 February 2024 can drive a motor bicycle, moped and category B (car) (as permitted by their Ukrainian licence) in GB for up to 3 years (36 months) after becoming resident.

Any Ukrainian licence holder who wishes to continue to drive in GB beyond the extended driving eligibility period which applies to them will need to exchange their Ukrainian licence for a GB one before the expiry of the extended driving eligibility period.

Those who passed their test in Ukraine before 28 December 2021 would be expected to then undergo a manual practical test should they want a manual entitlement licence as only Ukrainian licences issued after 28 December 2021 specify the type of vehicle transmission that a driver passed their test in.