foreign license

[DBSV8]

My wife and I will shortly arrive back to UK

She has a Russian driving license , ( checking to see if is international )a couple of questions
I want to add her to my insurance to allow her to legally drive in the UK.

1. Does she need to sit a UK test for this ?
2. can she drive on her Russian license ?

thanks

[gozomark]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensi...

[DBSV8]

gozomark said:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensi...

only one problem with this section
Exchanging your foreign driving licence

gov uk said:

you must surrender your foreign licence which will be returned to the issuing authority

[b]missus will still need her license when driving in Russia ![b]
looking atrequirement for visitors

You may drive vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes and with up to eight passenger seats, provided your full licence or driving permit remains valid for up to 12 months from the date of coming to GB.
Residents
If you are the holder of an ordinary driving licence (car, moped, motorcycle entitlement) and provided your licence remains valid, you can drive any category of small vehicle shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the time you became resident. To ensure continuous driving entitlement a provisional GB licence must have been obtained and a driving test(s) passed before the 12-month period elapses. If you obtain a provisional licence during this period, you are not subject to provisional licence conditions eg displaying 'L' plates or being supervised by a qualified driver or being precluded from motorways.

However, if you do not pass a test within the 12-month concessionary period you will not be allowed to drive as a full licence holder and provisional licence conditions will apply. If you do not apply for a provisional licence within the first 12 months you must stop driving and obtain a British provisional licence with a view to passing a driving test. Provisional licence conditions will then apply.

so theoretically the wife can drive legally in the UK on her present Russian drivers license.

apply for a UK provisional license
stick L plates on the car
take test
fail
remove L plates
and legally drive away from test station on Russian license !!

up to 12 months !!................

I take it she would then have to obtain a UK international license to drive in Russia

[gozomark]

my wife is Japanese, and needed to keep her Japanese licence - explained this to DVLA and they returned it to her

[DBSV8]

gozomark said:

my wife is Japanese, and needed to keep her Japanese licence - explained this to DVLA and they returned it to her

thanks mate