Spanish driving licence.

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21 Feb 2011 4:24 PM by Sanchez1 Star rating. 853 posts Send private message

Righty lets clear this up once and for all If you are in RESIDENT in Spain then you need to change your UK licence for a Spanish one Simples.

Oh no you  you don't.



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21 Feb 2011 9:16 PM by guslopez Star rating in Lorca, Murcia.. 744 posts Send private message

Sanchez1

21 Feb 2011 16:24

Righty lets clear this up once and for all If you are in RESIDENT in Spain then you need to change your UK licence for a Spanish one Simples.

Oh no you  you don't.

You are right.  They were probably fined for having a UK licence WITHOUT holding a current medical certificate , which is required.

I quite agree though, you live here change it , it's far simpler.



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21 Feb 2011 10:57 PM by Roberto Star rating in Torremolinos. 4551 posts Send private message

Roberto´s avatar

Nothing would surprise me, but there may be a bit more to the story, because a valid EU style UK licence is valid in Spain. Chances are the licence in question was an old style green UK licence with no photo - in which case it would not be valid here for a resident. But I absolutely agree with Solwayiceman about changing your licence, as he/she says, why not?



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22 Feb 2011 11:20 AM by solwayiceman Star rating in Scotland. 50 posts Send private message

Hi you all well just to inform you it was a new type Pink licence, driving a Spanish reg, living and working in Spain for 5 years, told by the Guadia "that you should know the law as you are a resident" and he still had to PAY 500e easy money. Ok I know that we all hear stories and the bar room lawyers feed people with incorrect info but this was only last week and in Almoradi at a checkpiont. As for the "no you dont" tell that to my freind that is now down more than 600e and will always be stopped as they have his REG in the little black book.



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22 Feb 2011 3:17 PM by guslopez Star rating in Lorca, Murcia.. 744 posts Send private message

If it was a pink plastic licence ,complete with med. cert. then put in a denuncia. All pastic photo-cards are legal in ALL EU countries , whether resident or non-resident.

CANJE DEL PERMISO DE CONDUCCIÓN DE
PAÍSES DE LA UNIÓN EUROPEA, ISLANDIA,
LIECHTENSTEIN Y NORUEGA
REQUISITOS
- TENER LA RESIDENCIA EN ESPAÑA
- TENER LA EDAD ESTABLECIDA EN LA NORMATIVA ESPAÑOLA
-QUE EL PERMISO NO SE HAYA OBTENIDO SIENDO RESIDENTE EN ESPAÑA
 * ESTE TRÁMITE ES VOLUNTARIO Y PUEDE SOLICITARSE EN CUALQUIER JEFATURA
PROVINCIAL DE TRÁFICO *


exchange of driving licence for EU countries , Iceland, Liechtenstein & Norway .

To be resident in spai,

To be of the age req. by spanish regulations.

The licence has not been obtained as a resident in spain

This procedure is VOLUNTARY & can be applied for at any office of the provincial traffic headquarters.

The above is from the DGT site.

 

In addition this is from Brian Dellers book & should be passed on to your friend.

"

The Law changes on foreign EU driving licences (at last):

On September 9th, 2004, the Law in Spain was effectively changed as the result of a decision handed down by the European Court of Justice (it has still to be written in the Statute Book) as follows: -

Was - foreign EU licences had to be changed for Spanish ones if you took out residencia (or legally work for a company here), and drove a Spanish registered (plated) car, or the licence had to be registered if you stayed over three months or bought a Spanish plated car, but did not live here. Spain was, in fact, in contravention of the EU Directive on this subject.

*************New Effective Law from 9th September 2004: -  ******

Please note that the Law has yet to be amended in Spain, but the judgement handed down means that it is virtually effective now, as any fines would be pointless. I have no news of an appeal, which, in my opinion, would be pointless. Please read on.....

Your EU foreign licence, the one with the ring of stars on the front and, for the UK, is of a credit/bank card size, but for all EU countries, it can be the folded card as still at this time used in Spain, is legal to use in Spain (or anywhere in the EU) whether you are a visitor or live here as your principal place of residence (taken out residencia). However, you have to comply with the Laws in Spain where the licence will expire according to Spanish Laws as detailed are in my book, Motoring in Spain, Part 6 - 4. The older pre-EU type licences must still be changed for a Spanish one or an EU one from your home country, if this is still possible. The card has been available in the UK for some time. In Spain, it is expected that they will be issued from 2005.

If you are stopped by an official who attempts to issue you with a denuncia in connection with this subject, you may quote, " Case C-195/02 of the European Court of Justice, decision 9th September 2004". In Spanish: -

La decision del Tribunal de Justicia Europea, numero C-195/02, 9 de Septiembre de 2.004.

COMMENT

Many drivers have been issued with denuncias and heavy fines as high as 450 euros since the date of the case decision which effectively negates the existing Law from the 9th September, and these people are advised to return their denuncia forms to the Traficos in each region, and you will (eventually) be reimbursed with the cash and the denuncia record will be expunged. If you have a problem with this, please advise your nearest British Consular office. All the fines and denuncias prior to the 9th September 2004 still stand. Sorry folks.
"

 

So he want's to go & get his money back. Even the UK Consul General site states that changing does not apply to EU citizens .



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22 Feb 2011 3:30 PM by Susanspain Star rating in Mijas, Malaga. 145 posts Send private message

Susanspain´s avatar

Thanks for actual ley guslopez. I went to change my UK pink card licence for a Sp one in Oct 2004 (had steeled myself for a long visit to Traffico in Malaga), and the teller told me I could pay if I wanted/go ahead with the process... but that the law had changed etc... as you state.

 

My gestor for cars has given me his no and said to get Guardia to call him if they do not know the law ;)

 

Fingers crossed, no probs so far! (I carry the med cert/comply with all local driving laws!)





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23 Feb 2011 12:16 PM by solwayiceman Star rating in Scotland. 50 posts Send private message

Hi you all well what a pickle yes Brain is right in his book but if you are resident in Spain why keep your UK licence makes no sense at all. Lets clear up things again 183 days in Spain you need to change same as your car, I am not going to argue with a man standing out side my car window about the wonderfull EU with a GUN. We are all living in this wonderful counrty just change it for a hassle free time.



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