Over the last year of so, Brits have been saying that Spain is now asking all foreigners who have spent more than six months in Spain to change their country of origin licence for a Spanish one. On any possible occasion, I have asked tráfico police if this is true and they have always said ‘no’ or that they know nothing of it. However, in June, a nice policeman told me that this is true and that the only reason I had been hearing ‘no’ was because the police didn’t have their training course until June.
Is it true? If the answer is yes, when does this new rule commence? I have also been told that if you don’t show a Spanish licence, there could be a fine of up to one thousand euros.
if you have an 'EU' plastic photo licence which hasn't expired (see the date on the photo) then you can legally use it in Spain until such time as it has
just as any other EU citizen with one issued in any other EU country
if you have an old paper licence without a photo & with no expiry date then yes, you do have to change it
Don´t forget that under UK law you must notify DVLA of a change of address. It is an offence not to. And they won´t accept an address outside of the UK! So, the only way around it is to get a Spanish licence. It´s a fairly simple process so why not just do it and avoid any possible hassle?
You do not need to change the address on a UK licence if you no longer live in UK - it even states this on the UK DVLC web site. A link to the appropriate section has been posted on this forum before.
Don´t forget that under UK law you must notify DVLA of a change of address. It is an offence not to. And they won´t accept an address outside of the UK! So, the only way around it is to get a Spanish licence. It´s a fairly simple process so why not just do it and avoid any possible hassle?
Don´t forget that under UK law you must notify DVLC of a change of address. It is an offence not to. And they won´t accept an address outside of the UK! So, the only way around it is to get a Spanish licence. It´s a fairly simple process so why not just do it and avoid any possible hassle?
while I agree that it's probably simpler all round to change it - you do not have to notify the DVLC of your address in Spain... once you are no longer resident in the UK, the UK laws no longer apply
your licence has to comply with the local laws of your country of residence - in Spain, licences don't carry an address
I would think that if you are driving a Spanish registered car, insured here you would also need to get a Spanish licence. Had to change mine when I lived in Holland, driving a Dutch car and insured there.
For the Spanish it is all about accountability. Instead of getting a Spanish licence it is possible to have a Spanish licence number stamped on your EU licence. This number is the one the police etc like to see and they really don't care if it is on a British licence. Just as long as it is there. It is a matter of minutes to have this done at Trafico.
The gov.uk web site says: “If you move abroad, check with the driving licence authorities there to find out how to get a local driving licence.” The Angloinfo web site, reporting on new EU traffic laws that came into force on January 19, 2013, says: “The licence must be renewed within two years of the first day of the driver's official residency in Spain .... foreign drivers from within the EU still need to register with the traffic authorities within six months of moving to Spain.” I assume this is accurate information but, either way, I can´t see the point of not getting a Spanish licence at the earliest opportunity.
Angloinfo is no more official than this site - & very often has very out of date or simply wrong information - as in this case
that said - yes you have to find out what the regulations are in your country of residency - & the regulations here, are that you can, should you choose to, drive with your UK/EU photo licence until it expires & then you have to exchange for a Spanish licence - the old paper 'non-EU' licences DO have to be exchanged though, as I said on my first reply on this thread
it isn't obligatory to register your UK/EU licence here either, although you can - but as someone else posted, some local tráfico offices aren't interested
In Spain one must have their DL with them when they are driving.
If you lose your DL, have it stolen, you cannot drive until you have your replacement DL. Showing a denuncia (crime/loss report) is not enough. A Spanish DL can be obtained fairly quickly.
If you have a UK DL, then if you do not live in UK then you have a problem, where would DVLC send it ? DVLC will not send it to Spain. If DVLC would send it to your last UK address, you still have to rely on the person living there sending it to you, and the postal system in UK and Spain not letting you down.
And of course when you reach 70 you cannot renew your UK DL as you do not live there, just an address is not sufficient. Thus you would need to have changed it for a Spanish one before it expires.
And as snikpoh says, “Just don't forget that even with a UK (European) licence, you need to follow Spanish law regarding medicals” That is if you are driving on a UK (or other EU) DL you must have the appropriate medical cert with you. That of course means renewing it every 10 / 5 / 3 years, as would a driver with a Spanish DL.
All in all, I decided to change mine for a Spanish DL several years ago. If I get stopped I have a DL which the police can see is correct without any possibility of error.
If ever I go back to UK and want to, I can exchange my Spanish one there.
I don´t want to appear to be an argumentative old codger, and I don´t want to cause offence, but I keep reading reports on various web sites all saying the same as Angloinfo: ie, that UK driving licences must be renewed within two years of the first day of the driver's official residency in Spain. They are, possibly, all wrong – and it wouldn´t be the first time that inaccurate information has gone viral! – but some of the sites I have read appear quite authoritative. I wasn´t, however, going to say any more about the subject ... until I read today´s copy of the Costa Blanca News. Graham Shelton, their motoring correspondent, writes: “It has been law since 2009 that holders of a non-Spanish driving licence need to exchange it within two years of obtaining residency. As of January 19, 2015, this requirement is to be reinforced by the issuing of denuncias and fines.” Perhaps he is wrong as well?
Chapter 2 Article 15 is clear that residents with driving licences without an expiry date must change them, but that other EU licences are accepted as valid in Spain (subject to the same conditions that holders of Spanish licences have to fulfill as far as medicals etc., are concerned) until they expire, at which time a Spanish licence must be obtained
As with most rules in Spain, there are loads of grey areas and confusion. Even the bodies or authorities who should know the score, often don't :noidea:.
I drove for 13 years on my Norwegian driving licence with no problem. It expired when I reached 100 years of age. Then 1.5 years ago I got stopped and the GC did not accept this driving licence any more. I got a 200 euro fine. Even the guy writing the ticket said that if I went to Traffico and explained then I may well not need to pay. In the end I just paid 100 euros within the 20 days or whatever ot was.
At that point I got a Spanish driving licence and (of course) have never been stopped since. Was not requested to take a medical though.
As with all things legal, the onus is on you to follow the laws of the country in which you are resident.
And, as the saying goes, "ignorance of the law is no excuse". If you get stopped and are required to be holding a medical certificate, then don't be surprised if you are fined.
Could someone briefly explain the DL medical situation in Spain? When are they first and subsequently required? Are they required at different ages for bikes, cars, LGV? Does everyone need one at a particular age, or just people with certain medical conditions?
It is easy to change Uk license to Spanish one. We made an appointment and bring the documents and finished yesterday in Alicante. The lady took my husband's old green uk license without photo and gave him permission to drive until Apr 15. By then he should get his Spanish one. No medical test required. It costs 27.40 euros.
Make sure your husband has a medical certificate, as that is a requirement, no matter where the D/L was issued (Spain, UK etc) Without it the D/L is invalid, and without a valid D/L, in Spain the Insurance is invalid too.
I don't wish to muddy any waters here but if you do change to a Spanish licence and you're a regular visitor to the UK, and you drive there, you obviously won't be able to accept a fixed penalty notice for any offences you might commit. As there are no on the spot fines in the UK, the only other way of dealing with an offence would be by court appearance. This being the case, someone with a Spanish licence and no fixed address in the UK would almost certainly find themselves arrested for the offence and put before the first available court. This could be the day after the incident and so a night in the cells would ensue. If it was a Saturday then 2 nights. It's also highly possible that, knowing the pulava it all entails, the cops would just let you off with a warning. But it would depend on the gravity of the offence I would think. Or the zealousness of the cop for that matter.
If, on the other hand you retain your UK licence, then the fact the address isn't the one on the licence is very minor and wouldn't affect the ability to be able to accept an FPN.
If, on the other hand you retain your UK licence, then the fact the address isn't the one on the licence is very minor and wouldn't affect the ability to be able to accept an FPN.
press release from the DGT 29th December 2014 - holders of standard 10 year photo licences only have to change when they expire - holders of some other categories do have to if they have been resident here for 2 years or more
interestingly, after I posted the link to the press release on a local FB group, some people printed it off, to carry in their car - 'just in case'
a guy posted last night that he had just been stopped at a 'control point' & they asked for his licence - after asking how long he has been resident here - he's been here more than 2 years
that was actually their first question - nothing else
they then proceeded to tell him that his EU / UK photo licence was invalid & that he had a 200€ fine & that he has to get it changed immediately
of course there are two dates on the licence - the one at which you turn 70 & the actual expiry date on the photo
he showed the police the DGT press release & the expiry date on the photo on his licence
I asked RACE (The Automobile Club of Spain) about this some years ago.
I was told that a resident could only drive a non-Spanish registered vehicle in 'unusual circumstances'. Example, in an emergency, as a mechanic testing a vehicle, maybe for some one who's aged mother was arriving at the airport and needed transport and that person was unable to pick her up as he was unwell, etc.
I knew a guy who had residencia (as ¡t was in those days) who had sold up and was ready to leave Spain the next day. He bought a UK Reg car to drive back to UK but had not cancelled his residencia. A neighbour informed the police who came and confiscated the car and fined him.
I asked RACE (The Automobile Club of Spain) about this some years ago.
I was told that a resident could only drive a non-Spanish registered vehicle in 'unusual circumstances'. Example, in an emergency, as mechanic testing a vehicle, maybe for some one who's aged mother was arriving at the airport and needed transport and that person was unable to pick her up as he was unwell, etc
I knew a guy who had residencia (as ¡t was in those days) who had sold up and was ready to leave Spain. He bought a UK Reg car to drive back to UK but had not cancelled his residencia. A neighbour informed the police who came and confiscated the car and fined him.
Relyat, I know this is off thread, but as you mentioned it, and also asked of you are legal.
If you are indeed living in Spain, that is not just visiting, then regardless of how long you have been here, you required to register here on the EU register.
If you are just visiting, if you have been here 3 months permanently, then you are required to register too.
if you look back on some of Relyat's posts - there's a been a bit of a hitch as far as registering is concerned, beyond his control - it's not for want of trying
I haven't been all through this thread (eyes are bothering me today, so reading difficult) so excuse me if this has been mentioned:
In 2013 The vehicle categories were changed so if anybody has a UK licence from before that date, the groups may be different and not accepted by the GC.
From 2013, the groups are the same throughout the EU.
many of these categories were issued as standard in the UK until not so very long ago, so it's possible that you have these categories whether or not you wanted them, or need them
your licence needs to change in the following circumstances (from the link)
many of these categories were issued as standard in the UK until not so very long ago, so it's possible that you have these categories whether or not you wanted them, or need them
This doesn't seem very clear because it seems that if you hold a license that is valid for 15 years or indefinite, or if you hold one the category B (which is the normal license for a car) you have to exchange but, in fact it is only if the license in group 1 is indefinite or valid for 15 years and group 2 if valid for 5: Los residentes comunitarios con residencia legal en España obtenida el 19 de enero de 2013 o anterior a esta fecha y que sean titulares de un permiso de conducción comunitario indefinido o con un plazo de vigencia superior a 15 años para permisos del Grupo 1 (AM, A1, A2, A, B y BE) o un plazo superior a 5 años para permisos del Grupo 2 (BTP, C1, C1E, C, CE D1, D1E, D, DE) deberán renovar su permiso de conducción a partir del próximo 19 de enero de 2015.
También deberán renovarlo aquellos residentes legales titulares de permisos comunitarios que tengan su permiso caducado o próximo a caducar.
This is copied from the link which was in an earlier post on this thread from the DGT.
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