UK or Spanish Driving Licence

This question comes up from time to time. 

Remember if you have moved to Spain then you cannot legally renew a UK DL as you must resident in UK. 

However, it is relatively straightforward to change your   valid   UK DL for a Spanish  one. 

If you allow it to lapse, you have a problem:  You can't renew it in UK and can't exchange it for a Spanish one.  The only answer then maybe that you will need to take a Spanish driving test, a lengthy proceedure,  during which time you will not be able to drive and it's expensive.

So get down to Traffico and get a Spanish one.

Possible Advantages:-

A driving licence is not a legal ID (for Brits only a valid Residencia or your original passport are) however, in most circumstances a Spanish DL will be accepted as Formal ID as it bears your photo and your NIE,  although not your address.

Also if you get stopped by the police a Spanish DL is readily understood and I believe it is more likely you will be treated as a 'local' than if you produce a foreign DL.

"A driving licence is not a legal ID (for Brits only a valid Residencia or your original passport are) however, in most circumstances a Spanish DL will be accepted as Formal ID as it bears your photo and your NIE,  although not your address."

A Spanish driving licence is a legal means of Identification.

The Spanish law states " National identity card from the holders original country, Passport or a Spanish driving licence " is required to be carried for ID purposes.

I don't wish to argue with you as this forum is to assist people but I suggest you ask say  a notary if he/she will accept a DL when you making a legal document 

I have been present when DLs have been refused and the people have had to go and get their Passport. but you may be right !

I have produced a non Spanish driving licence to a magistrate as valid ID when I did not have a valid passport. It was accepted. When asked about other ID I said I did not have any valid ID which at the time was the truth as my passport had expired and I had posted it off to have renewed which serves as a warning not to let a passport expire whilst in a foreign country (took 2+ months to get a new passport!!!).

But  back on topic what exactly is the procedure for converting a UK driving licence to a Spanish driving  licence and is there a fee involved and do you need to take Spanish medical driving test etc. If relevent this is for a Spanish national fully resident in Spain but who has always driven on a UK driving licence.

Having recently transfered my UK driving licence to a Spanish licence i can tell you the procedure and costs.....

1.Paperwork required.... Uk driver licence, plastic card with indate photo, paper part of licence, residencia, passport, 2 passport size photos.

2.Medical. cost- 40 euros.this can be done at your local medical centre.

3. visit your traffico office where you part with another 26 euros. There is a form to be filled in at traffico.

4.your UK licence is then taken off you and after about 2 weeks your Spanish driving licence arrives by post.

not sure of the procedure if the photo part of your driving licence has expired.

Everyone has to have the medical regardless of age. ( blood pressure,eye test, eye/hand co-ordination test)

Thanks - that will make the task somewhat easier.

The only problem will be finding a parking space at traffico!

 Very useful information here. Thanks all!

Hi everyone.

Regarding exchanging licences, here's my tale,

Visited Traffico in Murcia last week where I was hoping to exchange my Channel Island driving licence for a Spanish one.

I believed I had all the necessary paperwork but was promptly told that a photocopy of Residencia was not acceptable as it could be a forgery. Even though i had my driving licence with photo and passport to ascertain my identity.

Then I was told that Spain does not recognise the Channel Islands as being a part of EU and that exchanging the drivig licence was not possible.

They should i should sign up at a local driving school and begin the process as if i had never had a driving licence before.

Annoyed but accepting that they know the law, I left. However having contacted the Channel Islands I have been told that for Driving Licence renewals and exchanges the channel islands signed the agreement with the UK and all EU countries and that exchanging a C.I. licence should be acceptable and treated as if it was a mainland UK licence.

I have sent this information to Traffico and am awaiting a response - But doubt they will be flexible enough to alter their view.

Will llet you know what occurs and would be pleased to hear from anyone wiith a similar experience.

Regards

Nick (Murcia)

Hi John

thanks for the reply.

Regarding Residencia, yes I have the Cert. of Registration as you say.

I realise originals are necessary although here in spain it is possible to get anything on the black market, including false paperwork, licences and passports!

I have all the necessary paperwork ready but still no reply from Traffico.

I may just go and re-apply and hope that when Traffico send the paperwork to Madrid - as they told me would happen - that Madrid have better knowledge of the legal requirements and exchange my driving licence.

I will let you know.

Thanks once again.

Nick

Yes we have a woman here with a jersey licence who was told the same the year before last . She took & passed at the 3rd attempt her spanish driving test. At the age of 69 !

Thanks for the reply.

I may be stubborn but I refuse to give up on this as I am assured it is Traffico that have made the error, not I.

They simply cannot be bothered to check and prefer to make a foreigners life a misery rather than help out by checking some facts.

Nothing new I am sad to say.

I like Spain, have lived here many years and my partner is Spanish but their attitude often stinks!