Exchanging South African driving licence for Jersey licence (FOI)

​​Request

A.

Why is it not possible to exchange a South African drivers' licence for a Jersey one?

B.

South Africa has an exchange programme with the UK, so it is technically possible to exchange a SA licence for a UK one and then the UK one for a Jersey one, so why is there no direct exchange in place? The road rules are the same and they also drive on the left hand side of the road.

Response

A.

It is not currently possible to exchange a South African drivers’ licence for a Jersey one, as in order to provide for the mutual exchange of drivers licences, both Jersey and the South African authorities need an agreement (which might take a number of forms) which recognises that the respective countries’ driving instruction and standards and licences conform to international requirements. 

Such an agreement must be negotiated, agreed by legal advisers for both countries and then formally signed by an appropriate representative.

Each country will then also have domestic measures, legislation etc, to implement the agreement before exchanges of licences can take place.

B.

Jersey currently has reciprocal driving licence exchange agreements with 35 national, international and other worldwide jurisdictions.

The States of Jersey External Relations Department has contacted the South African High Commission in London to discuss the possibility of an agreement on the mutual exchange of driving licences.

At this stage we are unable to confirm if an agreement is possible or give a timescale for any agreement.