Clarification of deadline for residents to change their UK driving licence for Spanish

It's probably correct, but I'd be happier if I could see the official wording regarding what applies during the transition period.

Although the quoted report says DGT's instructions only apply to a no-deal Brexit, DGT don't refer to no-deal - they just refer to Brexit, and say:

If BREXIT takes place, your UK permit will not be valid to circulate in Spain.

If BREXIT takes place, the United Kingdom will cease to belong to the European Union, so all traffic agreements within the EU will no longer be valid for citizens of the United Kingdom.

Morning Jim,

You were right to be cautious - a further update from the same source was added yesterday afternoon:

"Updated 4pm: To add to this morning’s update from the FCO about driving licences, that is the official UK stance. Nothing changes until the end of the year. BUT as of this morning, Tráfico is saying that they will not accept exchanges after Friday. They say they will advise if they are told anything different. DVLA meanwhile is not replying to any requests, and has not been for the last fortnight."

Despite assertions elsewhere on this forum that the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified, so all these issues are now resolved, personally I don't think I'm going to believe anything from 'official' UK sources until Spain's government website states matching information.  Back to watching this space...... 😔

Kind regards,

Kim

Hi Kim,  I dont want to say I,m confused but I am confounded by the differrent rulings on getting residencia before Dec2020 and exchanging a driving licence before Jan 31st. If someone is planning to obtain residencia in the last few months leading upto December 2020, how can they expect that person to have changed their licence first whilst they are still a Uk resident 6 or so months previously? This would surely cause complications regarding owning, driving , insuring their vehicle in the UK in the months between February and the actual date of obtaining residencia. Seems putting cart before horse scenario?. I am puzzled! I believe your Uk licence on exchange is kept by Traffico so how would that affect being able to continue driving in UK without a licence, as I have read the exchanged paper document would suffice for driving in Spain but not in the UK?

Regards

Pauline.

Hi Pauline,

Yes, it is confusing - and it shows us that we can't rely on the UK government or their representatives to provide accurate information.

There may be statute law issues, whereby the law books of the UK and each of the European 27 countries are 'broken' by the UK finally leaving tomorrow.  After the referendum, the UK government quickly transferred EU law into our own statute books in the hope of preventing this happening.  

On the other hand, it may simply be a case of the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement not having filtered down through Spanish bureaucracy.  The UK doesn't leave the EU until tomorrow, so perhaps that's understandable.

We can't blame Spain - the UK chose to leave the EU and if that causes issues for UK citizens living here, or planning to do so, that's not Spain's fault.  But I do blame the UK government - they have completely mismanaged communications around the the significance of Brexit Day versus the end of the Transition Period, repeatedly stating that "nothing will change" until 31 December 2020, when it wasn't in their unilateral gift to say so.

Sorry, you can probably tell that I share your frustration, but I hope next week will bring some clarity (always the optimist!).

Kind regards, 

Kim

Good news!  The Spain's DGT has updated it's website to reflect that applications for exchange of UK driving licences for Spanish licences can now be made until the end of the transition period, i.e. 31st December 2020:

http://www.dgt.es/es/seguridad-vial/paises-y-organizaciones-internacionales/union-europea/DGT-y-el-Brexit/index.shtml

Kind regards,

Kim