At present, Ukrainian driving licences cannot be exchanged for Northern Ireland licences.

You can use your Ukrainian driving licence to drive small vehicles (such as cars and motorcycles) up to 12 months from the date you become resident in Northern Ireland.

To continue driving beyond this 12-month period, you will need to exchange your Ukrainian driving licence for a Northern Ireland issued driving licence. To do this, you must surrender your foreign licence which will then be returned to the issuing authority.

You can find out how to do this on the following page:

ENG: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/exchanging-your-foreign-driving-licence

UKR: https://www-nidirect-gov-uk.translate.goog/articles/exchanging-your-foreign-driving-licence?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=uk&_x_tr_hl=en

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

UKR: https://www-nidirect-gov-uk.translate.goog/articles/arrival-and-transport-your-accommodation?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=uk&_x_tr_hl=en

ENG: https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence

UKR: https://www-gov-uk.translate.goog/exchange-foreign-driving-licence?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=uk&_x_tr_hl=en

Check what requirements your vehicle needs to meet in the UK:

ENG: https://www.gov.uk/legal-obligations-drivers-riders

UKR: https://www-gov-uk.translate.goog/legal-obligations-drivers-riders?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=uk&_x_tr_hl=en

* NB: information valid as of 12.09.2026