Compared to some other countries, getting a driver's license in Ukraine seems quite easy. Here's how to pass the driving test in different countries and what a Ukrainian needs to do to get a driver's license abroad

Issuing a Green Card policy for traveling abroad by car

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Obtaining a driver's license in Ukraine is a fairly straightforward and simple procedure, especially after recent changes in legislation. However, different countries have their own specific rules, and sometimes it can be much more difficult to get a license abroad. Poland, for example, is an exception to the list of countries, as it has simplified the conditions for Ukrainians to take the driving test as much as possible. What are the rules in other countries and where else can Ukrainians get a driver's license abroad?

You can learn how to order and exchange a driver's license with delivery abroad by following this link.

We have described in detail how to pass the theory test in Ukraine without a driving school here.

Obtaining a driver's license abroad: conditions for passing the test and peculiarities of training in different countries

The rules for submitting documents and passing the training and exam may differ from country to country. We will tell you about the main conditions and differences further in the article.

Czech Republic

1. Mandatory conditions:

– Be an adult (18 years of age or older)

– Have proof of legal residence in the Czech Republic (refugee status, permanent or temporary residence permit, student or work visa, etc.)

– Know the Czech language at a level sufficient to pass the exam.

2. Features of training and examination (the algorithm is similar to the one in Ukraine):

– obtain a medical certificate and submit it to the driving school for enrollment;

– pass a theoretical exam in Czech;

– undergo practical training at a driving school (5 theoretical lessons and 14 driving lessons of 1.5 hours each);

– pass a practical exam and, if successful, receive a certificate of completion, which is used to issue a permanent driver's license within a week.

Germany

1. Mandatory conditions:

– Age 18 years or older.

– Legally reside in the country

– Pass an eye test and first aid course

– Know a basic set of words in German for the practical part of the exam (or be able to invite a simultaneous interpreter) and one of the available languages for the theory (the theory exam can be taken in German, English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Greek, Romanian, russian, Croatian, Spanish, Turkish and Arabic) 

2. Features of training and examination:

– pass a minimum of 14 hours of theory;

– the number of attempts to pass the theory is limited: 3 attempts with an interval of 2 weeks (attendance at two additional classes is required if you fail during the first attempt), after the third attempt is unsuccessful, the next attempt is in 3 months (if after a break of 3 months you fail to pass the exam again in 3 attempts, you must undergo a medical and psychological examination by MPU, after which you are given two more attempts);

– practice begins after passing at least 50% of the theory;

– if the practical exam is unsuccessful, the student is obliged to attend 10 more practical classes, there are no restrictions on the number of attempts, but there must be a break of at least 2 weeks between them.

The Netherlands

1. Mandatory conditions:

– Have citizenship or a residence permit in the country (Ukrainians who have been granted temporary protection cannot take the Dutch driving test)

– Be over 16 years old, but can drive a car without supervision only from the age of 18

– Knowledge of the Dutch language

2. Features of training and examination:

– pass a medical examination, theory and practice in a driving school;

– the theoretical exam consists of 65 questions (25 of them belong to the "hazard recognition" section - a person has only eight seconds to evaluate a photo of a complex road environment and indicate their actions);

– the practical exam can only be initiated by a driving school.

❗️It is worth noting that in the Netherlands, 48% of examinees do not pass a written or practical exam within a year because it is very difficult and expensive to get a driver's license.

UK

1. Mandatory conditions:

– Age 17 or older

– Have no medical contraindications for driving and no visual defects (in case of violations of more than 0.5 diopters, wear glasses or lenses)

– Legally reside in the country for more than 185 days

2. Features of training and examination:

– there are no driving schools in VB, before you start practical training you need to get a temporary license (which allows you to drive with an instructor or a person over 21 years old who has a driver's license);

– after that, you can start studying theory, practicing and signing up for exams (waiting time is at least 5 weeks);

– theory: 50 questions + 14 clips modeling dangerous road situations (both parts take 57 minutes);

– after successfully passing the theory, the driver receives a certificate (valid for two years), which is necessary for the practical test;

– practice: vision test, two questions about car construction, driving for 40 minutes under instructions + 10 minutes of independent driving from point A to point B (up to 15 minor mistakes are allowed).

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Portugal

1. Mandatory conditions:

– Age from 17 years

– Legal stay in the country for more than 6 months (residence)

-– A certificate from a family doctor confirming that your eyesight and mental state are suitable for driving a vehicle

– Knowledge of Portuguese (for studying at a driving school)

2. Features of training and examination:

– to start training, you need to choose a driving school, submit documents and wait for a license from IMT (Instituto Mobilidade e Dos Transportes), which is requested by the driving school (the period of receipt is about 2 weeks);

– to be admitted to the exams: 28 compulsory hours of theory + 32 hours of practical training;

– the theory exam can be taken in your native language (an official request to IMT from the driving school for translation is required), driving is possible in Portuguese or English.

Spain

1. Mandatory conditions:

– Residency in the country (NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) - an identification number assigned to non-residents of Spain)

– Knowledge of the Spanish language

– The age of majority

– Medical certificate confirming a positive result of a psychophysiological test

2. Features of training and examination:

– attending a driving school for the theory exam is not required, you can sign up for the exam after paying the state fee at the Jefatura Provincial de Trafico at the place of registration;

– 3 mistakes are allowed in the theory exam;

– to pass the practical exam, you must take driving lessons at a driving school;

– during the practical test, 3-4 students are in the car at the same time, taking turns at the wheel.

France

1. Mandatory conditions:

– Age from 17 years.

– Confirmation of legal residence in the country and address, medical certificate

2. Features of training and examination:

– compulsory course in a driving school: 13 hours of practice + 5 hours of driving on simulators;

– failure to pass the exam entails a mandatory repeated course of study at a driving school, and the cost of the next exam will be more expensive than the previous one

USA 

1. Mandatory conditions(may vary from state to state, so you should check the rules at your place of residence):

– Age 16 or older

– Proof of legal stay in the country and residence, medical certificate of health, social security number, I-94 form

– Knowledge of the English language

2. Features of training and examination:

– to study, you need to get a free manual (at the DMV office or download it from the Internet), sometimes you need to attend a mandatory lecture or mini-course and get a certificate to register for exams, in Washington state it is mandatory to attend a training course (30 hours + 6 hours of practice);

– the theory is passed at the DMV office on a computer (15-40 questions depending on the state);

– to pass the practice, you need to get a temporary driving permit (Learner's permit) and hone your driving skills with an instructor (in some states, lessons with a professional teacher are mandatory) or a person who has had a US license for more than 3 years (for example, a relative);

– immediately after the theory exam, you can sign up for a practical test (you can take it in your own car or in a DMV office car).

Remember! That to drive a car with Ukrainian registration outside Ukraine, you must have a Green Card insurance policy. It is mandatory in 50 countries, including the EU. Without such insurance, the car will not be allowed to cross the border! In addition, the absence or delay of insurance is fraught with not only fines that are several dozen times the cost of the insurance policy for a year, but also the seizure of the car and deportation from the country with a subsequent ban on entry. You can take out insurance for the required period on our website. Read more about the amount of fines in Europe for not having a Green Card here.

We remind  you! Ukrainians can apply for a passport abroad. In some countries, the Centers of the State Enterprise "Document" or diplomatic missions will help to resolve the issue. Read how, where and at what cost you can get this document in our previous article.