Changing your UK Driving Licence - Page 11

Everybody is messaging saying they are finding it hard to obtain an appointment.

Has anybody had trouble exchanging an expired licence with the DGT? There must me more than just ‘me’ out there who have  been trying to exchange an expired licence.

The Agreement dated 16 March 2023 between UK and Spain states that EXPIRED licences will be exchanged if they expired since the holder gained residency. As in my case.

The DGT will not exchange the licence because when they enter the verification code, the licence only shows expired and does not show the categories of vehicles entitled to be driven. Hence, the DVLA issued a ‘Certificate of Entitlement’ D737 document showing authentication of my licence and all vehicles entitled to be driven. DGT will not accept this as the information does not automatically come up on their screen when they enter the verification code.

Clause 7(c) of the Agreement states that if there is a dispute in the validation of a licence, then both Traffic Authorites should establish communication channels to solve the dispute within 30 days.  

Therefore, wouldn’t you think they could both do so and then a ‘Cerificate of Entitlement’ D737 could be exchanged, thereby clarifying the matter.

No, that is not happening because - The Computer Says No.

I have had a bit if a laugh I must say - check out and remember Little Britain’s ‘Compuer says No’ sketches of about 20 years ago!!!!

Seriously though, has anyone had a similar problem?

Hi there - no replies as yet? Why is Marcliffe not replying? Please help if you can - anybody.

Hi ,

I'm in a similar situation to you as I delayed residency until post COVID and had renewed my driving licence.

Did you manage to exchange your licence successfully or are they so strict in enforcing the rule.

Hi , my neighbour had also recently renewed her UK licence while being a spanish resident and was able to then exchange for a spanish licence no problem , no questions asked at Cartagena DGT. If questioned she was going to explain that is was essential to be able to drive whilst visiting the UK as she had a sick relative to attend to but was never asked to explain. Guess its down to who takes you application at DGT but certainly Cartagena was not sticking by the letter of the law. Hope this helps.

Received my licence last week, so approx 3 weeks after my DGT appointment. 

Good luck to those still going through the process.

John

Hi 

Just an update on my Spanish licence exchange which had been renewed after Brexit. Yesterday went for my 1208hrs appointment in Alicante at the DGT.

Firstly go down the stairs not up as you enter the building.Machine to issue ticket on the left and on entering you NIE you receive a ticket. It will issue you a ticket about 30 mins before your appointment.

Take a seat and the big TV screen facing you indicates when your ticket is called and which of the 15 desks to go to.

I was called about 30mins after my actual appointment time but I'm not complaining.

Staff were polite and helpful and a few words of Spanish sufficed.

Application form completion and other paperwork on this post is a great help and I was issued my temporary driving licence about 15 mins later.There was no mention of my post Brexit UK licence having been renewed.

So thanks to all those who took the time advise on the process.To those wanting to exchange please don't wait until the last minute and read then reread the advice on what is required. 

that's great to hear david , yes this thread is invaluable for those looking to exchange over , happy motoring.

Hi peeps I’m changing my uk driving Licence at 70 for a Spanish Licence do they give like for like re categories ? Please don’t forward links to dgt website as it’s as clear as mud !🙄thanks in advance

Got a new question sorry,I am still in the process of getting residency it's a nightmare as my partner was married before ,wife died,got kids so they want all those papers from England (he's Spanish) he had lost all those papers and couldn't even remember where he got married! So I'm nearly six months in it is registered as ongoing however so do I renew my driving license in UK which runs out mid September I was quite happy to wait and renew/exchange here but I just read someone posted that they'll only exchange an expired license if u ALREADY have residency? 

my advice would be to not renew the UK Licence as that's the official advice on the DGT website once you become a resident but I have a neighbour who is a spanish resident and did renew the UK licence and was still able to exchange to a spanish one no bother. I guess its down to the official at DGT on the day to interprate the rules.

However as you haven't got residency yet you would need to renew your UK licence as you need some sort of valid licence to drive in Spain - you can still drive here technically as a tourist on it. The 6 month time period to exchange only starts once you become a resident.

hope this helps