more than one million motorists have converted foreign driving permits to a British licence over the past 15 years, without needing any type of training on British roads.
The fantastic figure was acquired via a flexibility of info request by insurer Swiftcover.com, as well as prompted the cover service provider to phone call for mandatory formal training for these motorists, who might have discovered to drive in countries as far flung as Zimbabwe.
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Chief declares policeman Robin Reames said: “UK roads are extremely different to those overseas, so it’s vital new motorists discover as much as they can, which might include a few lessons from an instructor.”
But auto reveal has discovered that not all insurers can judge whether these drivers present a higher danger on UK roads, as they don’t gather data on where their policyholders acquired their licence – as well as this includes Swiftcover.com. Plus, the motor insurance coverage Bureau admitted this data isn’t currently offered on the motor insurance coverage Database, which insurers utilize to share data.
The DVLA explained motorists acquiring their licence in some countries outside the EU can legitimately drive right here for as much as 12 months, before converting to a UK licence without additional lessons or a retest, as their training is seen to be equivalent to ours. however it admitted the system was available to abuse.
A spokesperson said: “We’ve heard of drivers exchanging a licence from a country we don’t recognise, state India, for a Hong Kong licence, then converting this licence to a UK one. We plan to close this loophole with a new legislation that might are available in this year.”
Top licence switchers
Below are the top 10 countries with the greatest number of drivers converting to a GB licence in the past 15 years.
PositionCountryNumber
1South Africa149,897
2Poland*135,079
3Australia103,052
4New Zealand56,478
5Hong Kong46,312
6Northern Ireland43,570
7Zimbabwe37,839
8Japan37,348
9Lithuania*32,546
10Italy30,890

Source: Swiftcover.com* since 2004