Certified Driving Licence Translation
If your driving licence is not in English, insurers, car hire companies, employers and solicitors in the UK may ask for an English translation before they accept it. A certified translation is the standard way to provide one: a complete English version of your licence with a signed statement confirming it is accurate.
We translate both sides of the card — your details, licence categories, issue and expiry dates, restrictions and codes, and the issuing authority — so whoever checks it can read every entry.
Often requested by
- Car insurance providers
- Car hire companies
- Employers, for driving roles
- Solicitors, courts and tribunals
What you receive
- Certified translation on company letterhead with a signed and stamped certification statement
- Translator and company details with the date of translation, as required by UK Home Office guidance
- Original layout preserved (stamps, seals and signatures noted in the translation)
- Digital delivery as a PDF, ready to submit online or print
Exchanging a foreign licence with DVLA
Only licences from the EU or EEA and from 23 'designated' countries and territories can be exchanged for a British one. The designated list is: Andorra, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Republic of North Macedonia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe.
A licence from anywhere else, Turkey for example, cannot be exchanged. You can normally drive on it for up to 12 months after you become resident, and then you need to pass the British theory and practical tests.
DVLA does not normally ask for a translation when it exchanges a licence. Where a document sent with the application is not in English, the government's guidance for Ukrainian licence holders says a translation must be sent with it, issued in the UK and signed by an official translator: a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists or the Institute of Translation & Interpreting, a translator employed by a recognised translation company, or a member of the Association of Translation Companies. Japanese and South Korean licences are the exception: DVLA asks for a translation from the embassy or consulate.
What a certified driving licence translation covers
A driving licence is short, but every field matters to the person checking it. Our translation reproduces both sides of the card:
- Your name, date and place of birth, and licence number
- Each category with the date it was obtained and the date it expires
- Issue and expiry dates of the licence itself
- Restrictions, endorsements and numeric codes
- The issuing authority, with stamps and security wording described
Categories are translated, not converted
We translate the categories exactly as your licence shows them. We do not convert them into British categories: deciding which vehicles a foreign licence covers in Great Britain is a matter for DVLA or your insurer, and a translation that claims otherwise is no longer a faithful copy of the document.
How it works
- 1
Upload a clear photo or scan of your document — no need to post the original
- 2
Receive your quote by email (standard single documents start from £30)
- 3
Pay securely online and we start straight away
- 4
Receive your certified PDF by email, ready to submit
Get a Free Quote
Upload both sides of your driving licence and receive a free quote by email.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a translation to exchange my licence with the DVLA?
Usually not. DVLA does not normally ask for a translation when it exchanges a licence from a designated country. Where a document sent with the application is not in English, the government's guidance for Ukrainian licence holders says a translation must be sent with it, issued in the UK and signed by an official translator: a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists or the Institute of Translation & Interpreting, a translator employed by a recognised translation company, or a member of the Association of Translation Companies. Japan and South Korea are the exception: DVLA asks for a translation from the embassy or consulate, which a translation company cannot provide. Licences from countries outside the EU, the EEA and the designated list cannot be exchanged at all. Rules change, so check GOV.UK for your country before you order.
Can I drive in the UK on my foreign licence?
Visitors and new residents can usually drive small vehicles on a valid full licence from their home country for up to 12 months; after that, residents need a GB licence. DVLA's guidance does not require a translation for this, but insurers, hire companies and employers often ask for one so they can read your licence.
Do you translate both sides of the licence?
Yes. Send clear photos of the front and back; the translation covers every entry, including categories, dates, restrictions and codes.
Is a certified translation the same as an International Driving Permit?
No. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is issued in the country that issued your licence, usually before you travel. A certified translation is an English version of your existing licence, prepared by a professional translator. Some companies accept either — ask which one they need.