Driving in the UK: Rules for Foreign Drivers

Published 18 September 2026 · By the Guide to London editorial team · Editor: Terje Moy

Most visitors can drive in Great Britain on their own full, valid licence for up to 12 months after they arrive. The big differences from home are driving on the left, speed limits in miles per hour, roundabouts where traffic from the right has priority, and strict rules on phones, alcohol and seat belts. London adds its own daily charges and camera-enforced bus lanes.

British roads are generally well signed and drivers tend to follow the rules, so a careful visitor usually adapts within a day or two. The rules are set out in the Highway Code, the official guide published by the UK government. Where a rule uses the word "must", breaking it is a criminal offence that can lead to a fine, penalty points or a driving ban.

This guide covers what a foreign driver needs to know before setting off: licences and insurance, the habits of driving on the left, speed limits, signs and road markings, pedestrian and cyclist priority, motorways, and what to do after an accident. It applies to England; Scotland and Wales share most rules, but not all.

Can you drive in the UK on your own licence?

According to gov.uk, a visitor with a full, valid licence from any other country can drive a small vehicle, such as a car or a motorcycle, for 12 months from when they last entered Great Britain. The same 12-month rule applies to licences from the EU and EEA. Check your own case with the government's tool for non-GB licence holders, which asks where your licence was issued and why you are in the country.

Whether you also need an International Driving Permit is less clear-cut. The gov.uk visitor tool does not mention one for driving in Great Britain, but car hire companies set their own conditions and some may ask for one, especially if your licence is not in English or does not use the Latin alphabet. Read the rental terms before you book, and if in doubt, ask the hire company in writing.

Hire companies also set their own minimum ages and may require you to have held your licence for a certain time. Those conditions vary a lot between companies and are not the law. Our guide to hiring a car in London covers booking, collecting and returning a car.

Bringing your own car

If you drive your own car over from the EU, gov.uk says you should carry a green card or other proof of insurance. Check with your insurer that your policy covers driving in the UK, and for how long. Your car will also need to meet London's emissions rules or pay the daily ULEZ charge, and TfL asks owners of foreign vehicles to register them; see our guide to the Congestion Charge and ULEZ for the steps. Many ferries from France arrive at Dover, so if you are coming that way, our guide to Dover and the White Cliffs is worth a look before you set off towards London.

Driving on the left: habits to build in the first hour

The rule is simple: keep to the left and overtake on the right. The hard part is that every reflex you have from home works the other way round. These points help most:

• Keep your body towards the centre of the road. In a UK car the driver sits on the right. If you keep your own shoulder close to the centre line, the car stays in the correct lane.
• Turning right is the long turn. When you turn right you cross the oncoming traffic, like a left turn at home. When you turn left you stay close to the kerb.
• After every turn, say "left" to yourself. The most common mistake is pulling out of a quiet junction, car park or petrol station onto the right-hand side of the road.
• Look right first when you pull out. Traffic on the near side of the road comes from your right.
• Choose an automatic. In a manual UK car you change gear with your left hand. An automatic removes one thing to think about.

Your first drive should be on quiet roads in daylight, not in central London during the rush hour. If you are collecting a car in London and heading out on a touring trip, collect it on the day you leave the city, so you drive out of London rather than into it.

Roundabouts

Roundabouts are very common in Britain. You go round them clockwise and normally give way to traffic already on the roundabout, coming from your right. Choose your lane on the approach: as a rule, the left lane for the first exit, and the right lane for exits more than halfway round, but road markings and signs on the approach override this. Signal left just after you pass the exit before the one you want. Large roundabouts often have traffic lights, and mini-roundabouts are just a painted white circle, but the same priority applies.

Speed limits in miles per hour

All UK speed limits and distances are in miles. Your hire car's speedometer will show mph in large figures. These are the default limits for cars and motorcycles in England, when no other limit is signed:

A white circular sign with a black diagonal stripe means the national speed limit applies, which is the default for that type of road in the table above. Any number in a red circle is the maximum. Many streets in London have lower signed limits than 30 mph, so look for the signs rather than assuming the default. Full details are on the gov.uk speed limits page.

Road signs: how to read them at a glance

British signs follow a system based on shape and colour, similar to much of Europe. The Highway Code explains it like this:

• Red circles mostly tell you what you must not do: no entry, no right turn, maximum speed, no stopping.
• Blue circles without a red border mostly give a positive instruction: turn left ahead, keep left, a route for buses and cycles only.
• Triangles with a red border warn of a hazard ahead, such as a bend, a junction or children crossing.
• Rectangles give directions and information.

Direction signs are colour-coded by the type of road. Motorway signs have a blue background. Signs on the main "primary" routes have a green background with yellow road numbers. Local and minor roads have white signs with a black border. Road numbers starting with M are motorways, and A roads are the main roads below them.

The Highway Code's traffic signs section shows every common sign with its meaning, and is worth ten minutes before your first drive.

Road markings London drivers must respect

In London, many rules are enforced by cameras rather than by police officers, and the penalty arrives in the post, or at your hire company, weeks later.

• Bus lanes. Lanes marked "BUS LANE" are reserved for buses (and often cycles and taxis) during the hours on the blue sign. Driving or parking in one during those hours can cost £160 in London.
• Yellow box junctions. These are criss-cross yellow lines at busy junctions. You must not enter the box until your exit is clear. The one exception is when you are turning right and are only waiting for oncoming traffic.
• Red routes. Red lines along the kerb mean strict no-stopping rules on TfL's main roads. A penalty costs £160, or £80 if paid within 14 days.
• Yellow lines. Single and double yellow lines control parking. Our guide to parking in London explains what they mean.

TfL also uses cameras to enforce banned turns and cycle lanes on its roads. If a sign shows a turn is banned, do not take it, even if your sat nav tells you to.

Pedestrians and cyclists come first

The Highway Code puts the people most at risk at the top of a "hierarchy of road users". For drivers, that brings two rules visitors often don't expect.

First, at a junction you should give way to pedestrians who are crossing or waiting to cross the road you are turning into or out of. Second, you must give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing, the black and white stripes marked by flashing yellow globes. At light-controlled crossings, pedestrians have priority when they have a green signal.

London has a large number of cyclists, and many main roads have cycle lanes separated from traffic. When you turn left, do not cut across a cyclist going straight ahead; stay behind them. Check your left mirror and blind spot before every left turn. Our guide to cycling in London shows the city from the cyclist's side, which helps you predict what they will do.

Motorways and smart motorways

Motorways such as the M25 orbital road around London and the M4 towards Heathrow and the west are the fastest routes between cities. Keep in the left lane unless you are overtaking, and move back when it is safe. Do not overtake on the left. In heavy traffic, when all lanes are moving at similar speeds, the left lane may sometimes move a little faster than the lanes to its right, and that is allowed.

Some motorways use electronic signs above each lane to set variable speed limits and close lanes. A speed limit shown in a red circle on these signs is the legal maximum. A red "X" means the lane is closed, and you must not drive in it. On some stretches the hard shoulder is used as a normal lane at busy times; only drive in it when a speed limit is shown above it.

If you are leaving London to the east, you may cross the Thames at Dartford on the M25. There are no toll booths: you pay the Dart Charge online by midnight the day after you cross, on the official gov.uk Dart Charge page. It applies between 06:00 and 22:00, including weekends. It is a separate charge from the Congestion Charge and ULEZ.

Seat belts, children and alcohol

Everyone must wear a seat belt where one is fitted, and only one person may use each belted seat. The fine is up to £500. As the driver, you are responsible for children: they must use a suitable child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first. Height-based seats must carry an "R129" label and weight-based seats an "ECE R44" label. If you need a seat from the hire company, book it with the car.

The drink-drive limit in England is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, 80 mg per 100 ml of blood, or 107 mg per 100 ml of urine. Scotland's limit is lower (22 micrograms of breath). There is no reliable way to know how much you can drink and stay below the limit, so the only safe choice is not to drink at all if you are driving.

It is illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav or similar device while driving, including when you are stopped at traffic lights or in a queue. The penalty is 6 penalty points and a £200 fine. Hands-free use, for example with the phone in a holder, is allowed.

If something goes wrong on the road

If you are involved in a collision that causes damage or injury to another person, vehicle, animal or property, the Highway Code says you must stop. You must give your name and address, the vehicle owner's name and address, and the registration number to anyone with good reason to ask. If you do not give these details at the scene, you must report the collision to the police as soon as possible, and within 24 hours at the latest.

In an emergency, or if anyone is hurt, call 999 (112 also works). For a breakdown in a hire car, call the hire company's breakdown number, which you should save in your phone before you set off. Our page on emergency numbers and what to do lists the other useful numbers, and if you need medical care afterwards, see our guide to healthcare for visitors.

Is it worth driving at all?

For sightseeing in London itself, we would not drive. Public transport is faster in the centre, and a car brings daily charges and expensive parking. Where a car really helps is outside the city: touring the Cotswolds, where villages are far apart and buses are infrequent, or combining several stops in one day. For single destinations with fast trains, such as Oxford, Bath or Windsor Castle, the train is usually easier; our guide to buying UK train tickets explains how to find cheaper fares. In the city, a licensed taxi or booked minicab is often the better door-to-door choice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive in the UK with a US or Canadian licence?

Yes. According to gov.uk, visitors with a full, valid licence from any country can drive a car or motorcycle in Great Britain for 12 months from when they last entered. Car hire companies may add their own conditions, such as a minimum age or an International Driving Permit.

Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive in the UK?

The gov.uk tool for visitors does not list one as a legal requirement for driving in Great Britain. However, some car hire companies may ask for one, particularly for licences not written in English. Check the rental terms, and ask the company directly before you travel.

What is the speed limit in London?

The default limit on roads with street lights is 30 mph (48 km/h), but many London streets have lower signed limits. Always follow the number in the red circle on the signs. Motorways and dual carriageways outside the city have a 70 mph limit for cars.

How do roundabouts work in the UK?

You drive round them clockwise and normally give way to traffic coming from your right, which is already on the roundabout. Pick your lane on the approach using the road markings and signs, and signal left as you pass the exit before the one you want to take.

What happens if I get a speeding or camera fine in a hire car?

The notice is sent to the hire company as the registered keeper. Your hire agreement says how penalties are passed on to you and whether the company adds an admin fee, so read it, and ask about the policy when you collect the car.

Sources

• GOV.UK - Driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence (checked September 2026)
• GOV.UK - Speed limits (checked September 2026)
• GOV.UK - The Highway Code: traffic signs (checked September 2026)
• GOV.UK - The Highway Code: motorways (checked September 2026)
• GOV.UK - The Highway Code: breakdowns and incidents (checked September 2026)
• GOV.UK - Seat belts: the law (checked September 2026)
• GOV.UK - The drink drive limit (checked September 2026)
• GOV.UK - Pay the Dartford Crossing charge (checked September 2026)