Driving licence in Spain

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 4:38pm

7 replies211 views4 members subscribed

Posts: 6

2 helpful points

Joined: 8 Dec 2021

Hi Alex, Im Steve and in the process of buying a villa in La Marina, due to complete in a few weeks.....With regard to a driving licence, I think the present arrangement between the governments is due for renegotiacoin on Feb 22nd but can you tell me how it works for somone coming over under the 90 days in 180 rules. If I buy a car do I surrender my UK licence for a Spanish one and what happens when I return to the UK for the other 90 days!!! Or am I required to take a Spanish driving test to get 2 licences? Am I right in thinking you can drive for 6 months on a UK licence so is this a total or does it reset when I return to UK and I get another 6 months, using only 3 of course. Thanks Alex for your forum and attention........Steve

Reply
View 7 replies

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 4:53pm

jack1959

Helpful member

Posts: 140

105 helpful points

Location: San Miguel de Salinas

Joined: 8 Dec 2018

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 4:53pm

if like me,you live in uk. you can drive with your uk license,when you go to spain

you just keep the itv updated every year,

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 5:01pm

Steve Welli

Original Poster

Posts: 6

2 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 8 Dec 2021

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 5:01pm

jack1959 wrote on Wed Feb 16, 2022 4:53pm:
if like me,you live in uk. you can drive with your uk license,when you go to spain
you just keep the itv updated every year,

Great...thanks....forgive my ignorance, not living there yet...ITV....Is that the International driving permit I got from the Post Office for £5 for 6 months?

Reply

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 5:06pm

jack1959

Helpful member

Posts: 140

105 helpful points

Location: San Miguel de Salinas

Joined: 8 Dec 2018

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 5:06pm

Steve Welli wrote on Wed Feb 16, 2022 5:01pm:
Great...thanks....forgive my ignorance, not living there yet...ITV....Is that the International driving permit I got from the Post Office for £5 for 6 months?

itv is the same as our mot, we keep our car parked at airport,for a fee they take it to garage for us

Reply

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 5:12pm

Steve Welli

Original Poster

Posts: 6

2 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 8 Dec 2021

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 5:12pm

Steve Welli wrote on Wed Feb 16, 2022 5:01pm:
Great...thanks....forgive my ignorance, not living there yet...ITV....Is that the International driving permit I got from the Post Office for £5 for 6 months?

Forgive me!!! Just googled it...So...if I drive over and use my own car I would need it MOTd in both Spain and UK..yes? but to buy a spanish car I can just drive on a UK licence for all my 90 days??? and ITV etc etc

Reply

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 5:17pm

jack1959

Helpful member

Posts: 140

105 helpful points

Location: San Miguel de Salinas

Joined: 8 Dec 2018

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 5:17pm

Steve Welli wrote on Wed Feb 16, 2022 5:12pm:
Forgive me!!! Just googled it...So...if I drive over and use my own car I would need it MOTd in both Spain and UK..yes? but to buy a spanish car I can just drive on a UK licence for all my 90 days??? and ITV etc etc

providing you stick to the 90 day rule,in your own car,all you need is your mot as normal,if you buy spanish car,you need itv

Reply

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2022 9:32am

Davebev1

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 1574

2227 helpful points

Location: Playa Flamenca

Joined: 7 Nov 2017

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2022 9:32am

Your driving license will relate to your country of residence. So if you are remaining a UK resident then no need for a Spanish license. In Spain you do not need to use an international driving permit as if you are just visiting your UK license is fine, as long as the plastic one with your photo on it and not the old green paper one only. However, SOME hire car companies are demanding them despite there being no requirement in law. If you are bringing your own UK registered car over then as long as it has valid MOT, tax and insurance for the whole of your 90 days visit there is no problem. If you opt to buy a Spanish car to leave in Spain and fly over then your Spanish car will need a valid ITV (mot equivalent), tax and insurance but is driven on your UK license.

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2022 6:35pm

Steve Welli

Original Poster

Posts: 6

2 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 8 Dec 2021

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2022 6:35pm

Davebev1 wrote on Thu Feb 17, 2022 9:32am:
Your driving license will relate to your country of residence. So if you are remaining a UK resident then no need for a Spanish license. In Spain you do not need to use an international driving permit as if you are just visiting your UK license is fine, as long as the plastic one with...

Read more...

... your photo on it and not the old green paper one only. However, SOME hire car companies are demanding them despite there being no requirement in law. If you are bringing your own UK registered car over then as long as it has valid MOT, tax and insurance for the whole of your 90 days visit there is no problem. If you opt to buy a Spanish car to leave in Spain and fly over then your Spanish car will need a valid ITV (mot equivalent), tax and insurance but is driven on your UK license.

Thank you Dave...impressed and enlightened....thanks for a concise reply so aware of what I can do now when I get there...