Moved to the UK from Nigeria? Ready to get on the road? You’re in the right place. Here’s everything you need to know as a Nigerian driver in the UK, from the licence you need, to essential car insurance know-how.
Can I use my Nigerian international driving licence in the UK?
Good news – you can drive with your Nigerian driving licence in the UK for up to 12 months. After that, you’ll need a UK driving licence.
To start the process of getting your UK licence you need to be a resident in the country. So, you’ll need to prove you’ve been living here for 185 days (roughly 6 months) within the past 12 months when applying for your licence.
Find out how to get your UK driving licence
Can I exchange my Nigerian driver’s licence for a UK one?
Lots of newcomers to the UK want to know how to exchange an international driving licence for a UK one. Sadly, Nigeria isn’t on the UK government’s list of countries that can just swap licences. This means after your first 12 months in the UK you’ll need to apply for a UK licence to keep driving.
Here’s how Nigerians can apply for a UK driving licence.
1. Get a provisional licence
Get a provisional UK driving licence: This type of licence allows you to drive accompanied by a driving instructor or anyone who has held a UK driving licence for 3 or more years.
2. Gather your documents
Along with your application, you'll need to provide:
- A form of identification (e.g. a valid passport)
- Proof of address for the past 185 days
- Your Nigerian driving licence
3. Pass your driving tests: You’ll need to pass both the theory and practical driving tests to get your UK licence. Taking a few lessons with a qualified instructor can really help you prepare.
4. Exchange your licence: Congratulations! You’ve passed your UK driving test and are now a UK driver. All that’s left is to exchange your provisional licence for a full UK driving licence for free. You can do this by post.
5. Tell your insurer: It’s important to tell your insurer about changes to your licence. So as soon as you have your new UK licence, make sure you update the licence on your account. If you’re with us, you can do this via the Marshmallow app.
Do I have to get car insurance as a Nigerian driver in the UK?
Yes, 100%. Car insurance is a legal must-have in the UK so it’s essential to have this in place before you start driving.
Find out more about different levels of cover
How is UK car insurance different from Nigerian car insurance?
Here are a few differences you might come across:
1. Who can drive your car?
Your policy only covers you and any named drivers. Others can only drive if they’re added to your policy or have their own insurance that covers other cars.
2. Road tax
All UK car owners must pay annual road tax unless the car is declared off-road (SORN) and kept on private property. This means even if you’re not using your car, it still needs to be insured and taxed.
3. Proof of your claim-free driving discount
The No Claims Bonus is known as a No Claims Discount (NCD) in the UK. While most insurers don’t accept your Nigerian driving experience, at Marshmallow, we do. You may be able to use proof from your previous insurer abroad, and Marshmallow can help verify it.
4. Buying car insurance
In the UK, car insurance is usually purchased directly from an insurance provider. It’s less common to use a broker, or to pay someone for this service. So, when you’ve found car insurance that’s right for you, always check you’re buying it via an official source.
For example, we don’t work with brokers at Marshmallow. So if a person wants you to pay them for getting one of our policies, you can be sure that it’s a fake.
5. Price
Car insurance is often more expensive in the UK, especially for new or international drivers — but Marshmallow helps expats save by recognising overseas driving experience.
6. Telematics Insurers in the UK are starting to use more telematics. This is a black box in your car that measures your driving and can be used to help bring down the cost of insurance.
What’s the best car insurance for Nigerian drivers in the UK?
Okay, we’ll admit it – we’re a little biased. But our car insurance is designed for newcomers to the UK. That means:
- Nigerians save an average of £337 with Marshmallow*
- We consider all your driving experience to give you a fairer price – in Nigeria and anywhere else in the world.
- You can pay monthly for your cover, which not all providers allow.
Get a quick quote today and see what you can save.
*Newcomers from Nigeria save an average of £337: Based on internal data for 370 policies sold via Confused.com from January 2025 to June 2025 to those of Nigerian nationality living in the UK less than 3 years. The average difference between Marshmallow’s price and the second cheapest price was £337.
