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Changing UK driving licence to Spanish

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 11:33am
17 replies262 views4 members subscribed
MaureenS

Posts: 47

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Location: Pego

Joined: 10 May 2021

Hola

I’ve heard that I won’t be able to use my UK driving licence here in Spain after 31 October and if I do, I will be driving illegally?  I’ve also heard that Spanish government may extend time to a later date?

Any advice welcome.

Thanks

M

Relyat

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 12:20pm

Relyat

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Joined: 12 Jul 2018

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 12:20pm

If you haven't done anything about exchanging your licence for a Spanish one then you are correct, to use a UK licence in Spain after the 31st is illegal. 

The Spanish government might extend beyond 31st, who knows. If they did, how would this help you? 

Incidentally, for how long have you lived in Spain? 

killjoy

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 2:55pm

killjoy

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Joined: 4 Nov 2017

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 2:55pm

A Spanish DL is only mandatory if you are a registered permamnent resident.

Darro

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 3:12pm

Darro

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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 3:12pm

I may be mistaken but I believe Oct 31st. is the deadline for driving on a UK licences whether registered for an exchange or not.

Dec 31st. is the deadline for those registered to make the exchange and that may be extended because the delays are down to DGT being snowed under.

I wouldnt bank on an agreement for exchanges materialising any time soon.

I think a fair number held out on exchanging hoping for that but are now in the doggy dodo.

MaureenS

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 3:25pm

MaureenS

Original Poster

Posts: 47

14 helpful points

Location: Pego

Joined: 10 May 2021

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 3:25pm

Relyat wrote on Mon Oct 25, 2021 12:20pm:

If you haven't done anything about exchanging your licence for a Spanish one then you are correct, to use a UK licence in Spain after the 31st is illegal. 

The Spanish government might extend beyond 31st, who knows. If they did, how would this help you? 

Incidentally, for how long have you lived in Spain? 

Thanks for your speedy response.

We received our residencia in February 2021 but I’ve had my NIE number for about 17 years as we had an apartment here.  Does it make any difference?


cheers

M

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Relyat

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 4:33pm

Relyat

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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 4:33pm

MaureenS wrote on Mon Oct 25, 2021 3:25pm:

Thanks for your speedy response.

We received our residencia in February 2021 but I’ve had my NIE number for about 17 years as we had an apartment here.  Does it make any difference?


cheers

M

Only inasmuch as had you lived here for some time, applied for residency at the appropriate time and exchanged your licence when you should have you wouldn't be in this situation now. 

As you received a favourable residency response in February I can only assume that you started living here permanently 90 days prior to that. Thus my previous paragraph wouldn't apply to you. 

MaureenS

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 4:41pm

MaureenS

Original Poster

Posts: 47

14 helpful points

Location: Pego

Joined: 10 May 2021

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 4:41pm

Relyat wrote on Mon Oct 25, 2021 4:33pm:

Only inasmuch as had you lived here for some time, applied for residency at the appropriate time and exchanged your licence when you should have you wouldn't be in this situation now. 

As you received a favourable residency response in February I can only assume that you started living here permanently 90 days prior to that. Thus my previous paragraph wouldn't apply to you. ...

...

I actually arrived back in Spain 18 December as I couldn’t return before due to my mother’s ill health! I just about completed the Residencia before deadline 31 Dec actually!  Had I had the opportunity to return to Spain before 18th Dec, I would have most certainly started the process to change UK driving licence!

Relyat

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 4:47pm

Relyat

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Joined: 12 Jul 2018

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 4:47pm

MaureenS wrote on Mon Oct 25, 2021 4:41pm:

I actually arrived back in Spain 18 December as I couldn’t return before due to my mother’s ill health! I just about completed the Residencia before deadline 31 Dec actually!  Had I had the opportunity to return to Spain before 18th Dec, I would have most certainly started the process to...

... change UK driving licence!

Unfortunate timing. At least you have the residency and an adventure to look forward to in the form of acquiring a licence. 

Darro

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 7:25pm

Darro

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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 7:25pm

It wasn't necessary to be in Spain in order to register with DGT for an exchange!

Justin2021

Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 10:33pm

Posts: 17

4 helpful points

Location: Albatera

Joined: 9 Mar 2021

Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 10:33pm

Relyat wrote on Mon Oct 25, 2021 12:20pm:

If you haven't done anything about exchanging your licence for a Spanish one then you are correct, to use a UK licence in Spain after the 31st is illegal. 

The Spanish government might extend beyond 31st, who knows. If they did, how would this help you? 

Incidentally, for how long have you lived in Spain? 

Obviously a lot of conjecture gets posted however the following comes from as good a source as you are likely to get. We very recently went to place in the sun Tv exhibition in Birmingham during which I met a lady from the uk gov and discussed this topic . She told us that on 31st Oct the deadline would be extended & it has been. She basically said the issue was that Spain no longer had access to uk drivers database post brexit and talks were ongoing to resolve this issue. However she as good as reassured us that we would not need to take a Spanish drivers test (we are emigrating spring 2022) as agreement will have been reached between the 2 countries. Hope this information helps.

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