From 25th March 2024, Ukrainian driving licences may be used for up to a period of three years from the date you became resident in Northern Ireland, provided your licence remains valid.
Ukrainian driving licences issued before 28 December 2021 do not show whether the driving test was taken in a car with manual transmission or automatic transmission
If you are issued a Northern Ireland driving licence in exchange for a licence from Ukraine it will restrict you to driving vehicles with automatic transmission only. That is unless you can give documentary evidence to prove that the driving test was taken in a vehicle with manual transmission.
If you are able to provide proof of your test pass after you have been issued with a Northern Ireland licence, you can apply to have the automatic transmission restriction removed free of charge.
You can find out how to do this on the following page:
ENG: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/exchanging-your-foreign-driving-licence#toc-3
Cars need to be insured, taxed, and tested regularly (MOT) as it is an offence to drive or keep a vehicle of MOT test age on the public road without a valid vehicle test certificate if your vehicle needs one.
Find out more about vehicle testing on the following page:
ENG: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/arrival-and-transport-your-accommodation#toc-3
ENG: https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence
Check what requirements your vehicle needs to meet in the UK:
* NB: information valid as of 31.12.2024
