International Driving Permit UK

GOV.UK doesn't require an International Driving Permit for visitors driving in Great Britain for up to 12 months on a valid foreign licence, though many rental companies request one anyway.

• Visitors can drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 12 months from when they last entered Great Britain, with no IDP legally required.Commonly reported
• An International Driving Permit is recommended if your licence isn't in English or uses a non-Latin script, since it acts as an official translation.Commonly reported
• Rental companies and insurers may require an IDP even where UK law doesn't — confirm with your provider before you travel.Commonly reported
• A standard IDP application typically covers the convention format most UK rental counters expect to see.Commonly reported
• The UK drives on the left, with the driver's seat on the right side of the vehicle.Commonly reported

The UK's motorway network is extensive and well maintained, with several city driving charges, an all-electronic toll crossing, and speed enforcement that's among the most consistently applied in Europe.

• London's Congestion Charge is £18 per day (Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, weekends and bank holidays 12pm-6pm), and applies to rental cars the same as any other private vehicle.Commonly reported
• London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges £12.50 per day, 24 hours a day, for vehicles that don't meet emissions standards.Commonly reported
• The Dartford Crossing (Dart Charge) has no barrier or on-site cash payment — it's camera-based, and you must pay online by midnight the day after you cross to avoid a penalty.Commonly reported
• The M6 Toll near Birmingham is the UK's only toll motorway, with a car toll of around £10.Commonly reported
• Smart motorways use variable speed limits shown on overhead gantries, enforced by average-speed cameras — treat the displayed limit as the real limit, not a suggestion.Commonly reported

Manual transmission is the standard rental car across the UK, so if you want an automatic, it's worth booking well ahead, especially at busy airports.

• Automatic cars are less common than manual and often sell out first in peak season at major airports like Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester.Commonly reported
• Rental companies commonly require drivers to be at least 21, with many charging a young-driver surcharge under 25, even though the legal minimum driving age is 17.Commonly reported
• Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester all have rental counters reachable from the arrivals area, either on-site or via a short transfer.Commonly reported
• Typical documents requested at pickup include your original licence, an IDP if applicable, your passport, and a credit card for the deposit.Commonly reported
• Confirm whether your rental agreement covers driving in Scotland and Wales as standard — most do, but it's worth checking before a longer road trip.Commonly reported

Keep your original driving licence, and your IDP if you're carrying one, together as your standard document set any time you're driving in the UK.

• Your original licence, and your IDP if your licence needs one, should be kept together and accessible.Commonly reported
• Speed and average-speed cameras are widespread and consistently enforced — treat every posted limit as strictly monitored.Commonly reported
• Police, fire, and ambulance can be reached on 999, with 112 working equally as an alternative.Commonly reported