Registering my licence

[pinkbabe14]

I'm now a resident of Spain and have a lease car which is renewed every 7 months. I have the new EU driving licence but want to know if I have to register with the police my licence and if so where do I need to go as I seem to be getting conflicting information from various web sites regarding driving in Spain. Any help on this would be much appreciated.

[Xose]

You need to go to the local Delegacion General de Trafico (DGT) and have it swapped to the Spanish one - which is practically identical to the UK "EU" one without the old UK green license A4 sheet - only diference is that the small lorry bit expires after about 2 years in Spain as it is a tested element unlike the UK where if you drive a car, you can drive a small lorry also for the length of the car license. I always had my doubts about that in the UK, seeing how some herberts drive their car.

Appart from that, not sure what happens if more than 6 months have passed since you arrived in Spain. You're supposed to exchange it within 6 months.

In my case, they were very helpful and friendly. Hopefully you'll have the same experience.

Good luck.

[pinkbabe14]

Originally Posted by Xose

You need to go to the local Delegacion General de Trafico (DGT) and have it swapped to the Spanish one - which is practically identical to the UK "EU" one without the old UK green license A4 sheet - only diference is that the small lorry bit expires after about 2 years in Spain as it is a tested element unlike the UK where if you drive a car, you can drive a small lorry also for the length of the car license. I always had my doubts about that in the UK, seeing how some herberts drive their car.

Appart from that, not sure what happens if more than 6 months have passed since you arrived in Spain. You're supposed to exchange it within 6 months.

In my case, they were very helpful and friendly. Hopefully you'll have the same experience.

Good luck.

Thanks for that.

[Stravinsky]

No I'm afraid that is incorrect information.

Due to reciprocal agreements between the UK and Spain you are legally able to drive in Spain until your licence expires. Only at that point will you need to exchange your licence for a Spanish one.
This will of course mean that the incorrect address will be shown on your licence, but this is now accepted by DVLC and the Spanish authorities'

You do not need to have it authorised at trafico or by the police

You will need to undertake minor medicals to comply with Spanish law, depending on your age. Failure to take these medicals will invalidate your licence should you be stopped here

There is nothing to stop you exchanging your licence though .... but you will still have to have the medicals

[chris(madrid)]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

No I'm afraid that is incorrect information.

There is nothing to stop you exchanging your licence though .... but you will still have to have the medicals

Exactly. I spoke with the local Guardia Civil yesterday and confirmed what Strav has posted. The health check IS going to be stepped up they tell me at spot checks. Be advised.

BUT there is a REAL PLUS to swapping over IF you intend to make Spain your home long term. It get's you through road checks etc MUCH MUCH faster esp if you're in a Spanish registered vehicle. What's more the new licence is "Credit card" sized - Way easier to carry about.

You can drive up to 3500 trucks on a car permit. You have to renew certain classifications (Taxi/HGV etc) more often than the standard 10years.

[pinkbabe14]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

No I'm afraid that is incorrect information.

Due to reciprocal agreements between the UK and Spain you are legally able to drive in Spain until your licence expires. Only at that point will you need to exchange your licence for a Spanish one.
This will of course mean that the incorrect address will be shown on your licence, but this is now accepted by DVLC and the Spanish authorities'

You do not need to have it authorised at trafico or by the police

You will need to undertake minor medicals to comply with Spanish law, depending on your age. Failure to take these medicals will invalidate your licence should you be stopped here

There is nothing to stop you exchanging your licence though .... but you will still have to have the medicals

Thanks for that info. Could you please advise where you go to have this minor medical & is it in english or spanish, as have not seen any places advertising this in the Calpe area.

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by pinkbabe14

Thanks for that info. Could you please advise where you go to have this minor medical & is it in english or spanish, as have not seen any places advertising this in the Calpe area.

They dont advertise it but if you approach traffico or your local police stn, they will give you a pointer. I believe a lot of doctors will do it.


EU driving licences - Medical requirements

If you have an EU licence (or indeed a Spanish licence) you will need to hold a medical certificate and the examination periods for these are as follows:

Drivers aged:
18 to 45 years - every 10 years
45 - 70 years - every 5 years
70 and above - every 2 years
So your EU photo licence is acceptable here, but it must be backed up by a valid medical certificate. Contact Trafico for your local centre, although most private medical centres carry them out at quite low cost

[Xose]

Originally Posted by pinkbabe14

Thanks for that info. Could you please advise where you go to have this minor medical & is it in english or spanish, as have not seen any places advertising this in the Calpe area.

This is taken directly from the "DGT, Govierno de Espana" Web Site. The "Direcion General de Trafico" are the ones that count. Stating that you asked the Guardia Civil after an accident (lord forbid) won't count for much.

Here's the info direct from their site - AND I went through it myself in 2006. AND my 3.5 ton truck bit ends 12-01-2009. Sorry guys, but I'm sure they didn't apply one law to me and a different one to rest of the country... AND I have a good contact working there who helped me a lot in the DGT in my region.

Here's the extract. The last bit, amongst all the Spanish text, mentions the 6 months. Please feel free to check with your local DGT (or ask a Gestoria to do it, probably cost you 30 Euros or some such).

La validez de los distintos permisos enumerados anteriormente, estará condicionada a que se hallen dentro del período de vigencia, su titular tenga la edad requerida en España para la obtención del permiso español equivalente y, además, a que no haya transcurrido el plazo de seis meses, como máximo, contados desde que sus titulares adquieran su residencia normal en España.


Transcurrido dicho plazo, los mencionados permisos carecen de validez para conducir en España, y, si sus titulares desean seguir conduciendo, deberán obtener permiso español, previa comprobación de los requisitos y superación de las pruebas correspondientes, salvo que, por existir un convenio con el país que expidió el permiso, sea posible su canje por el español equivalente.

Good luck - and most of all, take as much information and help as you can from any source but never leave the Golden Rule in Spain aside - in the end, check with the definitive body. This includes within the administration. One government office might have an opinion but very often they'll be wrong. It's rare they offer an opinion on another's area any way - don't want their fingers burnt.
You MUST check with the accountable body, be it direct or via an appointed body (Gestoria, Notable etc) depending on what it is you're doing. Keep in mind that people come here and buy land and homes etc., without doing that, and we all know what happens there!

In the end, I hope I'm wrong and so I appologise before hand. I hope there is a special "Convenio" with the UK and you do get to choose, but there wasn't for me and I came from Kent - which I think is still in the UK

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Xose

This is taken directly from the "DGT, Govierno de Espana" Web Site. The "Direcion General de Trafico" are the ones that count. Stating that you asked the Guardia Civil after an accident (lord forbid) won't count for much.

Here's the info direct from their site - AND I went through it myself in 2006. AND my 3.5 ton truck bit ends 12-01-2009. Sorry guys, but I'm sure they didn't apply one law to me and a different one to rest of the country... AND I have a good contact working there who helped me a lot in the DGT in my region.

Here's the extract. The last bit, amongst all the Spanish text, mentions the 6 months. Please feel free to check with your local DGT (or ask a Gestoria to do it, probably cost you 30 Euros or some such).

La validez de los distintos permisos enumerados anteriormente, estará condicionada a que se hallen dentro del período de vigencia, su titular tenga la edad requerida en España para la obtención del permiso español equivalente y, además, a que no haya transcurrido el plazo de seis meses, como máximo, contados desde que sus titulares adquieran su residencia normal en España.


Transcurrido dicho plazo, los mencionados permisos carecen de validez para conducir en España, y, si sus titulares desean seguir conduciendo, deberán obtener permiso español, previa comprobación de los requisitos y superación de las pruebas correspondientes, salvo que, por existir un convenio con el país que expidió el permiso, sea posible su canje por el español equivalente.

Good luck - and most of all, take as much information and help as you can from any source but never leave the Golden Rule in Spain aside - in the end, check with the definitive body. This includes within the administration. One government office might have an opinion but very often they'll be wrong. It's rare they offer an opinion on another's area any way - don't want their fingers burnt.
You MUST check with the accountable body, be it direct or via an appointed body (Gestoria, Notable etc) depending on what it is you're doing. Keep in mind that people come here and buy land and homes etc., without doing that, and we all know what happens there!

In the end, I hope I'm wrong and so I appologise before hand. I hope there is a special "Convenio" with the UK and you do get to choose, but there wasn't for me and I came from Kent - which I think is still in the UK

Thanks for that
The information I have is from my gestoria, my Spanish solicitor and info from actual up to date experience from expats on other forums. It is an EU wide reciprocal agreement, the details of which are outlined here

Transport - Driving licence

I reiterate, there is nothing to stop you getting a Spanish licence but you do not need to do so until your licence expires

[Xose]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

Thanks for that
The information I have is from my gestoria, my Spanish solicitor and info from actual up to date experience from expats on other forums. It is an EU wide reciprocal agreement, the details of which are outlined here

Transport - Driving licence

I reiterate, there is nothing to stop you getting a Spanish licence but you do not need to do so until your licence expires

OK, I'll concede, with one addition. To anyone who is taking up recedency in Spain (resedency being the key in this whole issue). It is strongly recomended to do the swap. Having NIE with one address, a license with another and a non Spanish one on top of it all, might cause some difficulties (and then some) if...when... stopped by Trafico.
Also, I am told by DGT that not having the correct address on record (the empadronado address as you are a resident here) is a sanctionable offence - after the said 6 months.

That's it from me. I guess it'll be down to each checking and making up their own mind.

Thanks.