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Changing your UK Driving Licence - Page 5

michael80

Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2023 10:08pm

Posts: 8

Location: Catral

Joined: 12 Dec 2022

Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2023 10:08pm

I have just been refused a change of my UK Licence because it has expired and I have been told that I have to ask the UK Licence dept to renew my UK Licence. Is that correct? 

Tomred

Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2023 9:39am

Posts: 81

33 helpful points

Location: Cabo Roig

Joined: 13 Jan 2020

Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2023 9:39am

michael80 wrote on Wed Mar 29, 2023 10:08pm:

I have just been refused a change of my UK Licence because it has expired and I have been told that I have to ask the UK Licence dept to renew my UK Licence. Is that correct? 

No, my licence was expired when it was exchanged last week. I'm sure I also read somewhere that under the exchange agreement you should not renew a UK licence after you've become a spanish resident , It has to be exchanged for a spanish one.

marcliff

Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2023 11:05am

marcliff

Original Poster

Super helpful member

Posts: 1527

1811 helpful points

Location: Rojales

Joined: 5 Jan 2023

Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2023 11:05am

michael80 wrote on Wed Mar 29, 2023 10:08pm:

I have just been refused a change of my UK Licence because it has expired and I have been told that I have to ask the UK Licence dept to renew my UK Licence. Is that correct? 

UK will not send a new licence to an address outside the UK. You must have a UK address for them to do that.

If your licence expired after the date UK left the EU (2020 to now) then they should allow you to exchange the licence.

"This is one area where there will be variation as normally an expired licence cannot be exchanged, however for those people who moved to Spain between 2020 and now there has been a special dispensation made because their licence may have expired during the period in which they were unable to make an exchange due to the ongoing negotiations."

New arrivals will need to present a valid (in date) licence. Your licence should have been in date when you became resident. 

If you were resident before 2020 and the licence was in date, it should have been exchanged during the period exchanges were still valid. 

Coffeecup 10

Posted: Sun Apr 9, 2023 12:14am

Posts: 7

Location: Benidorm

Joined: 9 Apr 2023

Posted: Sun Apr 9, 2023 12:14am

Please ignore my stupidity just wanted to ask this 

What do they mean by exchanging the driving licence , Am a Spanish resident and have been for the last 2 years but still live in the UK and planning g to move to spain for good next year, by exchanging my licence to a Spanish one will I be able to drive in the uk with the Spanish one or I get to keep my British licence anyway

Am a bit confused please advise 

Thank you 

marcliff

Posted: Sun Apr 9, 2023 9:23am

marcliff

Original Poster

Super helpful member

Posts: 1527

1811 helpful points

Location: Rojales

Joined: 5 Jan 2023

Posted: Sun Apr 9, 2023 9:23am

You have to hand in your UK licence to get the Spanish one. There is not problem driving in UK with a Spanish driving licence. 

You are a Spanish resident but live in UK. You are aware that, for the first five years of residency, you are restricted to the amount of time you can spend outside Spain? Hope they don't pick up on that or it could nullify your residency. Plus you had to change your driving licence within 6 months of obtaining residency.

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Mike1953

Posted: Sun Apr 9, 2023 1:03pm

Posts: 42

16 helpful points

Location: Alicante City

Joined: 9 Jan 2021

Posted: Sun Apr 9, 2023 1:03pm

Tomred wrote on Thu Mar 30, 2023 9:39am:

No, my licence was expired when it was exchanged last week. I'm sure I also read somewhere that under the exchange agreement you should not renew a UK licence after you've become a spanish resident , It has to be exchanged for a spanish one.

I got my NIE at the end of 2019. I requested a licence with a photo, which I only received in February 2023. Then I exchanged it for a Spanish licence in March 2023.

Coffeecup 10

Posted: Sun Apr 9, 2023 7:46pm

Posts: 7

Location: Benidorm

Joined: 9 Apr 2023

Posted: Sun Apr 9, 2023 7:46pm

marcliff wrote on Sun Apr 9, 2023 9:23am:

You have to hand in your UK licence to get the Spanish one. There is not problem driving in UK with a Spanish driving licence. 

You are a Spanish resident but live in UK. You are aware that, for the first five years of residency, you are restricted to the amount of time you can spend outside Spain? Hope they don't pick up on that or it could nullify your residency. Plus you had to change your driving licence within 6 mont...

...hs of obtaining residency.

HI Marcliff ,thanks a lot for the info 

I come to spain every 6 months I think that should be fine but wasn't aware  had to change the driving licence to a Spanish one withing the 1st 6 months ,will that be a problem do you think 

marcliff

Posted: Sun Apr 9, 2023 8:29pm

marcliff

Original Poster

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Posts: 1527

1811 helpful points

Location: Rojales

Joined: 5 Jan 2023

Posted: Sun Apr 9, 2023 8:29pm

During the first five years of residency, you are only allowed to leave Spain for a maximum of a year (or 10 months) and no longer than 6 months in any one year. They may be a bit lax at stamping passports at the moment if you have a residency permit but that appears to be changing as those who have temporary (up to 5 years) residence are having comings and goings recorded and that may be a bit more important.

The rules on changing your licence states it must be applied for within 6 months of taking out residency. That may be another problem down the line. 

Coffeecup 10

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 1:12am

Posts: 7

Location: Benidorm

Joined: 9 Apr 2023

Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 1:12am

marcliff wrote on Sun Apr 9, 2023 8:29pm:

During the first five years of residency, you are only allowed to leave Spain for a maximum of a year (or 10 months) and no longer than 6 months in any one year. They may be a bit lax at stamping passports at the moment if you have a residency permit but that appears to be changing as those who h...

...ave temporary (up to 5 years) residence are having comings and goings recorded and that may be a bit more important.

The rules on changing your licence states it must be applied for within 6 months of taking out residency. That may be another problem down the line. 

Thank you very much for your help 

Gillyt59

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2023 11:07am

Gillyt59

Helpful member

Posts: 406

258 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 18 Oct 2017

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2023 11:07am

marcliff wrote on Tue Mar 14, 2023 9:46pm:

Now that the Ministry of the Interior in Spain has announced the bilateral agreement between Spain and the UK to enable those taking out residency in Spain from UK to exchange their driving licence, there are a few procedures to go through.

Those now coming to Spain and those already here will have a period of 6 months in which to exchange their licence as from March 16th 2023. You can do this even if you licence has expired since you have been here but not if it expired before taking out residency. Those coming to Spain after that ...

...date will have a period of 6 months in which to exchange their licence from the date they take out residency. Failure to do so will mean you will not be able to drive in Spain and we don't want to have to go through the taking of driving tests again.

Firstly, you need an appointment with trafico. This can be done with the DGT at Alicante or Elche. You will need to make a cita previa (prior appointment) before attending. You can do this by calling 060 or completing a request online.

The updated page to obtain the appointment is now Cita Previa DGT

You will need to complete the application form which is here Exchanging Foreign Driving Licence

Once you have the appointment, you need to take the completed application form.
You need your passport and a copy.
Your NIE certificate and copy
Your residence card and copy. If you have a TIE this may obviate the need for your passport and NIE certificate but take them to be safe.

The medical and psychological test certificate. There are loads of posts on here where to get them done but this map shows you the recognised centres. Just enter your province (Alicante) and town. This will cost approximately 40 euro. Note it is only valid for a certain time so don't get it until your appointment is confirmed.
Your current UK licence and a copy.#
Two photographs 32x25mm.
The fee of €24.78. This can be paid at a bank or at the actual appointment.
If you are over 70 the fee is not applicable.

The British Embassy is advising that you do this straight away and do not wait until the 6 months approaches as you will not be able to change your licence nor drive in Spain once that 6 months is up.

Hi  Has anyone been able to get an appointment to exchange their driving licence in Elche or Alicante area?  Still searching!!!!!!

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