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General Driving Requirements (non-resident)

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 5:34pm
8 replies202 views3 members subscribed
raghu

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Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 7 Mar 2022

I own a property in Torrevieja but am non-resident. I usually spend around 5 months of the year in Spain and follow the 90 day rule. I am considering buying a car in Spain to use when I am here. Can I use my UK driving licence to do this as you would if you hired a car?

Also what sort of scooter or motorcycle (I.e. How powerful) can I ride on a basic UK driving licence? 

marcliff

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 5:43pm

marcliff

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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 5:43pm

Yes, you can own a car and use a UK driving licence as a non resident. No problems at all.

The type of motorcycle would depend on what you UK DL says. A Spanish B car licence allows you to drive a motorbike or scooter up to 125cc. 

raghu

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 5:55pm

raghu

Original Poster

Posts: 8

4 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 7 Mar 2022

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 5:55pm

marcliff wrote on Wed Jul 12, 2023 5:43pm:

Yes, you can own a car and use a UK driving licence as a non resident. No problems at all.

The type of motorcycle would depend on what you UK DL says. A Spanish B car licence allows you to drive a motorbike or scooter up to 125cc. 

Thank you for the information. 

Darro

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 7:26pm

Darro

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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 7:26pm

You would need group A1 on your licence to ride a 125cc scooter or motorbike.

marcliff

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 7:45pm

marcliff

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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 7:45pm

In UK you can drive on road up to 125cc on a car licence if you take a one day compulsory basic training course.

In Spain there is no such requirement and, providing you have a B licence for more than 3 years, you can ride a motor cycle up to 125cc that do not exceed 11Kw of power. 

I've no idea if they apply the same criteria to holders of UK licences.

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raghu

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 8:52pm

raghu

Original Poster

Posts: 8

4 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 7 Mar 2022

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 8:52pm

Darro wrote on Wed Jul 12, 2023 7:26pm:

You would need group A1 on your licence to ride a 125cc scooter or motorbike.

Thank you for the additional information. 

Darro

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2023 8:51am

Darro

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Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2023 8:51am

As a non resident or tourist a UK licence stands for all groups and categories you have entitlement to therefore you can perfectly legitimately drive any vehicle in those groups.

raghu

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2023 10:17am

raghu

Original Poster

Posts: 8

4 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 7 Mar 2022

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2023 10:17am

Darro wrote on Thu Jul 13, 2023 8:51am:

As a non resident or tourist a UK licence stands for all groups and categories you have entitlement to therefore you can perfectly legitimately drive any vehicle in those groups.

Thank you for your help. 

Grannyrose

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2023 10:21am

Grannyrose

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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2023 10:21am

We’re non residents too and finally bought a car a few years ago. Best thing we ever did ( apart from buying the house) It’s wonderful to have the freedom to stay longer or shorter periods without having to go back to the airport to change cars. 

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