Changing driving licence when taking up residency later in 2020

I can't answer definitively, but coincidentally my Gestoria was talking about this yesterday, she said that the cut off date is 31st January as you say, her take on it is that if you're resident before this date you'll have a little time to exchange afterwards, if not you'll probably have to take a Spanish test.

As I say don't take this as gospel, people interpret the rules differently, but it does seem logical to me.

Hi Jillbow,

This link to Spain's DGT website:

https://sede.dgt.gob.es/es/permisos-de-conducir/canje-permisos/canje-permisos-extranjeros/canje-renovacion-sustitucion-uk/canje-permisos-uk/index.shtml#

states that you need to submit your application for exchange by 31 January 2020 and in the list of "What do you need", it includes the requirement, "For EU citizens: certificate of registration of foreigners" (i.e. Residencia), in which case, the answer to your question is "No".

However, it also refers to a 9 months 'grace' period, but isn't explicit whether that 9 months starts counting down from 1 February 2020 (ending 31 October 2020), or the end of the Brexit transition period, i.e. from 31 December 2020 (ending 30 September 2021).  Then, in the section "What means have to apply", point 2. states "Any request made after the 30/01/2020 will be processed" - this may refer to applications made on the final deadline day of 31 January 2020, but this is Spain, so.......?

I may be clutching at straws here, but Spanish bureaucracy has a habit of being anything other than clear cut.  Also, I changed the language on the web page to English, so the translation is literal; there may be slightly different nuances when read in Spanish.  In your situation, I'd ask for definitive advice from a Spanish lawyer.

Kind regards,

Kim

That's my point, Ray.  I, too, believe that the 9 months grace period starts from 1st February 2020, but the DGT's website doesn't state a specific date, it says, "after Brexit" - it's got to be worth asking a Spanish lawyer whether it's possible to submit an application without Residencia by the deadline, so long as Residencia is achieved in the 9 months grace period. 

Some forum members believe (and have even stated on this forum) that Brexit is at the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 and that "nothing much will change" until then, so this will come as a shock to many who believed them.

Kind regards,

Kim

The present DGT advice is different from what they originally said, but they altered it to 31st January after the EU accepted that as the extended Brexit effective date.

Provided the EU parliament agree the current withdrawal proposals later this month, I would expect that DGT will change the date to 31st December for registration, and then nine months after that to do the exchange.

Thanks folks.  It looks like there may be an opportunity to still exchange licences later in the year.