A planned change to UK driving rules could let thousands of Ukrainian licence holders keep driving in Great Britain for longer. Labour has signalled it will press ahead with new secondary legislation after a government consultation. The move aims to add two years to existing time limits for some people who came to the UK from Ukraine.
What the proposal would change for Ukrainian licence holders
The consultation looked at extending the period during which certain Ukrainian driving licences remain valid in Great Britain. The aim is to increase current entitlements by 24 months for eligible drivers.
- One option would extend some entitlements from 36 months to 60 months.
- Another would extend other entitlements from 54 months to 78 months.
- “Relevant vehicles” covers cars, motorcycles and mopeds.
Who stands to benefit: visas and eligibility explained
Not every Ukrainian licence holder will automatically get the extra time. The change depends on the visa route and application dates.
Routes that determine entitlement lengths
- Houses for Ukraine Sponsorship (HFUS): people who applied after 3pm on 19 February 2024 would be eligible for five years (60 months).
- Those with HFUS leave who applied before 3pm on 19 February 2024 can qualify for 78 months, if they successfully move onto UPE scheme leave before their HFUS ends and then extend that UPE leave in time.
- People who held UES leave, applied on or before 16 May 2024, and who became GB residents on or after 3 March 2022 may get 78 months under similar UPE transition rules.
- Holders of UFS leave who moved to UPE before their UFS expired, and then extend UPE appropriately, are also among those who could reach 78 months.
Consultation response and road safety concerns
The public consultation received a limited number of formal replies. Respondents split between reassurance and caution.
- 128 official responses were recorded during the consultation period.
- Most responses said Ukrainian drivers have been operating safely on British roads.
- Critics warned that drivers had time to take a practical GB driving test and that foreign licences can present safety issues.
The Department for Transport (DfT) acknowledged there is a potential road safety risk. Officials noted drivers without a GB test may be unfamiliar with driving on the left, using right-hand drive vehicles and reading English-language signage.
At the same time, the DfT advised that Ukraine’s licensing standards have been assessed as equivalent to those in Great Britain.
Numbers and the scale of licence exchanges
Official records show a significant number of Ukrainian licences have already been exchanged.
- 30,293 Ukrainian driving licences were exchanged for Great Britain licences between May 2021 and November 2025, according to DVLA figures.
- The volume of exchanges underscores why the government is considering legislative adjustments.
How ministers plan to deliver the change
Labour has said it will introduce secondary legislation to implement the extension. That route allows ministers to alter time limits without a full primary bill.
- The extension would add 24 months to current entitlement periods for qualifying licence holders.
- Timing and exact application rules hinge on the specific visa scheme a person used to enter the UK.
- Drivers must apply for or extend UPE scheme leave before existing leave expires, in many cases, to secure the longer entitlement.
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