Photo: Rhonda Temple Eva, Pexels
If you move to the US with a UK driving license, expect to take a US state’s tests. The UK is not on the published reciprocity lists of the states covered below, so you can’t simply swap it there. As a visitor you can usually drive on your UK license for a while. Once you become a resident, you need a license from your new state. This guide explains the difference, the test route and how to keep costs down, as of November 2026.
Key facts
- There is no national US license. Each state decides how it treats a UK license.
- The published reciprocity lists of Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan and Texas cover countries such as Germany, France, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. None lists the UK.
- New York and California both make UK license holders take tests. New York adds a 5-hour pre-licensing course.
- The UK government lists the USA under the 1949 International Driving Permit (IDP) and says to check each state’s rules.
Visitor or resident: which are you?
| Visitor | New resident | |
|---|---|---|
| Can you drive on your UK license? | Usually yes, for a limited time | Only until your state’s deadline |
| Do you need a state license? | No | Yes |
| Examples | Pennsylvania: up to one year from entering the US, or until the license expires. New Jersey: up to 1 year. New York: any valid foreign license works for visitors | Deadlines vary. For US-licensed movers: 10 days in California, 30 days in New York, 60 days in New Jersey |
Residency is defined by each state, for example by taking a job, enrolling children in school or signing a lease. Check your state’s definition. Visitors should read driving in the US on a foreign license.
Can you exchange a UK license without tests?
Not in the states listed below. Their published agreements cover other countries, so check with your own state:
| State | Countries with test waivers (as published) |
|---|---|
| Arkansas | Germany, France, Taiwan, South Korea, and the Canadian province of Manitoba |
| Connecticut | Canada, Germany and France |
| Delaware | Germany, Taiwan and France (Class D only) |
| Florida | Canada, France, Germany (skills test only), South Korea and Taiwan |
| Hawaii | Japan, Korea and Taiwan |
| Idaho | Germany, Korea and Taiwan (skills test waived) |
| Michigan | Canada, Germany and the Republic of Korea |
| Texas | France, Germany, South Korea, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates |
Agreements can change. If you’ve heard your state accepts UK licenses, ask its DMV before booking anything. Full state list: foreign license reciprocity by state.
The test route for UK drivers
- Gather documents: passport, visa and I-94, Social Security number (or the SSA ineligibility letter), and proof of your US address. See the documents checklist.
- Study the state handbook. US rules differ from the Highway Code in ways that cost marks: right on red, four-way stops, school buses and the basic speed law.
- Pass the vision and knowledge tests. Formats: permit test by state.
- Complete any required course. New York, for example, requires a 5-hour pre-licensing course.
- Take the road test. Bring a car that passes the vehicle check and, in most states, a licensed driver. See road test day checklist.
In New Jersey, a foreign photo license can count toward the 6 Points of ID, but only with another government-issued document. In Massachusetts you still need a sponsor for the road test, and a foreign license doesn’t qualify someone as a sponsor.
US rules that catch out UK drivers
- You drive on the right, and most US cars are automatic.
- Right on red is allowed after a full stop unless a sign forbids it (not in New York City). See right on red.
- Four-way stops: first to arrive goes first. See four-way stops.
- School buses: on an undivided road, traffic in both directions stops for flashing red lights. See school bus laws.
- Roundabouts run counterclockwise, and you yield to traffic already in them. See roundabouts in the US.
- Under 21: zero tolerance alcohol limits apply. See zero tolerance laws.
Insurance and your UK driving record
US insurers often treat a new state license as no driving history, which can raise premiums. GOV.UK’s “View or share your driving license information” service lets license holders from England, Wales or Scotland create a check code to share their record, valid for 21 days. Ask your insurer whether it will consider your UK record. See car insurance for new drivers.
How licensing works in each state: learning to drive in the USA. Costs by state: license costs by state.
Common questions
Do I need an International Driving Permit in the US?
GOV.UK lists the USA under the 1949 IDP and says to check whether the individual state requires one. It also says you may need both your license and an IDP to hire a car. New York says an IDP is not required but helpful.
Can I keep my UK license after getting a US one?
It depends on the state. Some states take your old license when they issue theirs, and Idaho bans showing or using a foreign license to drive once you hold an Idaho license. Check before you hand anything over.
How long does the US test route take?
Often a few weeks, depending on test bookings. Adults rarely face the long teen permit hold. See learning to drive as an adult in the US.
Is the US road test harder than the UK test?
It is usually shorter. New Jersey’s road test takes 10 to 15 minutes and Texas’s about 20, and some states test set maneuvers such as parallel parking. Experienced UK drivers mostly lose marks on US-specific rules, such as full stops at stop signs and four-way stop order. See US road test by state and why people fail the US driving test.
Sources
- GOV.UK, “International driving permits for UK drivers” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “View or share your driving license information” (gov.uk)
- New York DMV, “Driver licenses from other countries” and “Moving to New York” (dmv.ny.gov)
- California DMV, “California Driver’s Handbook” (dmv.ca.gov)
- PennDOT, “Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual (PUB 95)” (pa.gov)
- New Jersey MVC, “New Jersey Driver Manual” and “6 Points of ID” (nj.gov)
- Massachusetts RMV, “Road Test” (mass.gov)
- Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, “Arkansas Driver License Study Guide” (dfa.arkansas.gov)
- Connecticut DMV, “Driver’s Manual” (portal.ct.gov)
- Delaware DMV, “Transferring a License” (dmv.de.gov)
- Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, “Official Florida Class E Driver License Handbook” (flhsmv.gov)
- Hawaii Department of Transportation, “Hawaii Driver’s Manual” (hidot.hawaii.gov)
- Idaho Transportation Department, “New Idaho Residents” (itd.idaho.gov)
- Michigan Department of State, “New Michigan Residents” (michigan.gov)
- Texas Department of Public Safety, “DL-60 Driving Test” and “New Texas Residents” and Transportation Code section 521.0305 (dps.texas.gov; statutes.capitol.texas.gov)