• Travel, Traffic and Transport
• Motoring
• Driving in Guernsey is different
• New Guernsey Residents
• Learning to Drive
  • Compulsory Basic Training for Motorcyclists
    
  • Theory Driving Tests
    
  • Practical Driving Test
    
• Driving Licences
  • Your Driving Licence
    
  • Licence Categories
    
  • Licence Fees
    
  • Motorists with illnesses and disabilities
    
  • International Driving Permits
    
• Buying or Selling a Vehicle
  • Importing a vehicle
    
  • Buying a vehicle
    
  • Selling a vehicle
    
  • Registering a vehicle
    
  • Registration Numbers
    
• Parking
  • Park and Ride
    
  • Small Car parking
    
  • Airport Parking
    
  • Resident Parking Permits
    
  • Disabled Parking Permits
    

New Guernsey Residents

New residents to the Island, who already have a driving licence issued in another jurisdiction, need to apply to exchange their licence once they have moved permanently to the Island and re-register any vehicle previously registered in another jurisdiction.

Normal residence

Normal residence means the place where a person usually lives, that is for at least 185 days in each calendar year, because of personal and occupational ties, or, in the case of a person with no occupational ties, because of personal ties which show close links between that person and the place where he/she is living.

However, the normal residence of a person whose occupational ties are in a different place from his/her personal ties and who consequently lives in turn in different places situated in two or more countries shall be regarded as being in the place of his personal ties, provided that such person returns regularly.  This last condition need not be met where the person is living in a country in order to carry out a task for a definitive duration.  Attendance at a university or school shall not imply transfer of normal residence.

Re-registering your vehicle

If you are bringing a car with you into the island, that has previously been registered in another jurisdiction, then you will need to re-register it in Guernsey within 14 days of your arrival.

You will need to provide a current registration documentation for the vehicle from the country in which it is currently registered.  (In the UK, this document is known as a 'V5' and in France as the 'Certificat d'immatriculation').  If your vehicle is being imported from another country, the Department's staff will be pleased to advise you on the documents required.  If you do not have the registration documents, then as an alternative, a Certificate of Permanent Export from the vehicle's country of origin will suffice.  The Department is generally only able to accept original copies of the above paperwork.

When you visit our offices to register your vehicle, you will be asked to complete an application form and pay a one-off first registration free of £40.00 to register your vehicle in Guernsey.

In the event that you are registering a new vehicle that is unused and has not previously been registered elsewhere, then please contact the Department's staff who will be pleased to advise you on the associated requirements.

Where to find us

The Department's offices are located at Bulwer Avenue in St Sampson's.  If you would like any further information or assistance on vehicle registrations, driving licences or any other aspect of motoring in Guernsey, then please feel free to telephone us on (+44) 01481 243400.

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