Medical / Spanish Driving Licence?

I would like to change my UK driving licence to a Spanish licence and need the medical to get the process moving. I have heard there are offices where they do the lot, in Costa Blanca. What about Fuengirola or somewhere in the area. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks! _ Michael.

Fuengirola.  'Angels of the Night'  now called USP,  from the 4 horse roundabout it's 50 meters on the left going towards Los Boliches.  Or opposite the bus station, on the first floor.

This may be of use to you.  If not I apologise.  Happy New Year.

http://costacalidachronicle.com/back-issues_files/january-2012.pdf

Page 10 refers.

This is the page Jimbo  pointed to:-  

Information on who may exchange their foreign
driver’s licence for a Spanish licence.
Information applies to European Union citizens
(UK, EU etc.) as well as people with
American, Australian or other non-EU driver’s
licences.
The rules on whether a foreigner in Spain
may legally use their driver’s licence, or
whether they must exchange it for a Spanish
one, depend on where their licence was
issued. There are three options:
1. Some licences may be kept or exchanged
for a Spanish one
2. Some must exchange their licence
(canjes de permisos) for a Spanish one
within a set period
3. Some may not be exchanged. The
holder must undergo a full driving test
(theory and practical) in order to get a
Spanish driving licence (licencia de
conducción) which will allow them to legally
drive in Spain.
H olders of an EU Driving Licence
All valid EU (European Union) Community
and EEC (European Economic Area) driving
licences are valid in Spain provided that
the licence holder is 18 years or older (18 is
the minimum driving age in Spain). There is
no obligation for the licence to be exchanged
for a Spanish one. However a foreign resident
in Spain is entitled to exchange the EEA
licence if they choose to.
Note: The EEC includes all European Union
countries, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein.
Although exchanging an EU driving licence
for a Spanish licence is not required, all
Spanish licence conditions apply to the EU
licence being used by a foreign resident in
Spain. These conditions include:
• the period of validity of the licence
• requirement for medical checks
• payment of taxes
• penalties and restrictions, including
suspension, withdrawal and cancellation
of the licence
If a driving infraction occurs, Spanish authorities
can require the holder of a licence
from an EU country to obtain a new, Spanish
licence so that points can be removed.
Foreign drivers from within the EU will still
need to register with the traffi c authorities
within six months of moving to Spain.
Details must be registered with the Central
Register of Drivers and Minor Offenders
(Registro Central de Conductores e Infractores)
of the Provincial Traffi c Headquarters
(Jefatura Provincial de Tráfi co) of their place
of residence.
Once registered, applicants will need to undergo
a medical examination at an Authorised
Drivers Check Centre (Centro de
Reconocimiento de Conductores Autorizado)
to show mental and physical fi tness and the
standards that apply to Spanish drivers will
apply to them.
Licence Addresses
While it is completely legal to use the EU-issued
licence until it expires, it is not possible
to change the address on the EU licence to
an address outside of the issuing country. It
is generally accepted within the rules that
the address on the licence will be from the
issuing country and may not be the drivers’
actual residential address.
UK licence holders please note this
statement from the DVLA:
Moving to another country
You don’t need to notify DVLA of a change of
address when moving to live abroad.
Exchanging an EEC licence for a Spanish
licence
The holder of an EEC driving licence may exchange
it for an equivalent Spanish licence.
Application must be made at the Provincial
Traffi c Headquarters of the applicant’s province
of residence and an application form issued
by the Provincial Traffi c Headquarters
must be completed.
Documents required:
• Proof of identity (passport original and
copy)
• Proof of residence (Certifi cate of Registration
in the Central Aliens Register
- the NIE number (Número de Identifi
cación de Extranjer)
• Valid driving licence to be exchanged
(original and photocopy)
• Two recent photographs (32 by 25 mm)
• Declaration in writing stating that the
applicant has not been banned or suspended
from driving
• Declaration in writing stating that the
applicant does not hold another driving
licence of the same class in another
country
The licence issued will be credit card sized
and include photo identifi cation.
The driving licence will be sent by ordinary
post.
The licence will need regular renewal; a standard
Spanish driving licence for a private car
or bike is valid for ten years when the holder
is under 45 years of age, fi ve years between
45 and 70, and two years from 70 on.
Us ing a Non-EU Driving Licence in Spain
Licence holders 18 years of age and older,
with a valid licence from anywhere other
than the EEC countries may legally drive in
Spain for up to six months after fi rst acquiring
Spanish residency.
During that period it is essential that an offi
cial translation or an International Drivers
Permit (IDP) accompany any foreign licence
that is not in Spanish.
After six months the foreign licence is no
longer valid. Exchange agreements exist
between Spain and some countries which
allow the licence holder to exchange their
licence for an equivalent Spanish one. Spain
has a special licence exchange agreement
with Switzerland, South Korea, Japan and
Andorra.
Licences issued in the following countries
may also be exchanged by foreigners legally
resident in Spain: Algeria, Argentina, Bolivia,
Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Ecuador, Morocco,
Peru, Dominican Republic, Paraguay,
Uruguay and Venezuela.
Any person with a licence from any other
country will need to take the full Spanish
driving test.
Note: the list of countries sharing exchange
agreements does change. It is recommended
to confi rm with the relevant nation’s Consulate
in Spain if an exchange agreement
exists.
Exchanging a non-EU licence for a Spanish
licence
Application must be made at the Provincial
Traffi c Headquarters (Jefatura Provincial de
Tráfi co).
Necessary documentation:
• Completed application form issued by
the Provincial Traffi c Headquarters
• Photocopy (and original) of a Spanish
Residence Permit (Tarjeta de Residencia)
and a copy of the passport along
with the NIE number (Número de Identifi
cación de Extranjero) as proof of address
in Spain
• Certifi cate of psychological aptitude issued
by the Authorised Drivers Check
Centre (Centro de Reconocimiento de
Conductores Autorizado) of the province
of residence of the applicant
• Two recent photographs (32 x 25 mm)
• Declaration in writing that there is no
legal process pending nor licence suspension
that forbids the right to drive
• Declaration in writing that no other
equivalent licence from any other country
is held
• Declaration in writing (in Spanish) that
the licence is authentic and valid. RACE
(Real Automóvil Club de España) is able
to assist
• The licence being exchanged and a photocopy
(It may be necessary to have
an offi cial Spanish translation of the licence).
The Provincial Traffi c Headquarters may request
verifi cation from the country that issued
the permit that it is real and valid.
Further information (in Spanish) is available
from the Provincial Traffi c Headquarters by
telephone:
• Provincial Traffi c Headquarters
Tel: 902 300 175 (Monday
to Friday 09:00-16:00)
http://www.dgt.es/portal/es/ofi -
cina_virtual/conductores/canje_
permisos/ (in Spanish)
Not permitted to exchange a licence
Australia, the USA, Canada, New Zealand
and South Africa are included in the list of
countries where no agreement exists. Once
the licence holder has legal residence in
Spain they may drive for up to six months
on their licence before taking a Spanish driving
text.
Information supplied by Angloinfo

Mike, is there a "Fuengirola" in Costa Blanca??

I started this thread recently as I was also changing my UK licence for a Spanish one.  The medical centres, in Malaga at least, are literally dotted around outside the Trafico building.  You just turn up, pay and within 10 minutes walk out with the certificate you need.

I am sure it would be a similar set up in the Costa Blanca area.

Justin

Sorry Justin...   I did move to the Sol; Mijas Pueblo in fact a good move. So yes, looking out of my window there´s definitely Fuengirola spread out like a map before. Me. But hey, what teamwork, just look at the replies. I am more or less sorted.

 We are in a different area and went to Trafico in Cartagena. I write this because we were surprised that we did not NEED to have medicals as we were told our British Driving Licences had not expired. Yes easy to do and these were posted out to us very quckly. Meanwhile we weregiven a temporary paper to cover.

That's right, you only need the medical if the licence has expired, which mine had.

Justin

Mike.

There are several aurthorise medical centres in every town

I have helped a lot of friends change their licences for Spanish ones and even got an expired UK licence for a 75 year old changed no problem.Recently our local red cross office located near out Trafico in Huelva has started completing all the paperwork for renewals they also take the digital photo and of course the medical.I did 1 last week and the cost for everything was €40 and they issue the temporary licence as well it took less than 30 mins and was a doddle.Tomorrow I am going to Trafico to help 2 friends exchange their UK licences for Spanish so will see if anythings changed but last time it was easy,download the form from dgt es and then take all relevant paperwork with you and pay the tax in the office and they then issue temp licence and send new 1 through the post. 

They allow you to exchange a licence that has expired at 70 up to 3 months after.

Johnzx is right there are  lots of medical centres located around our trafico but they are all private businesses whereas red cross is a charity and last time i used them they were advertising their cost as 50% cheaper than the other medical centres and as i said they completed the medical applied for new licence took fotos and issued temp licence all within 30 minutes and my friend was 77 so it took longer than normal. 

Villamarre

Hi, I have at present a UK licence that also has my full bike licence on it too.  When I make the move to spain and my licence expires or just before and I need to exchange for a Spanish one, will I get my motorcycle entitlement on it too?  I also have entitlement for vans and minibuses would they stay?

I'd be grateful for any help on this one.

 as long as you can give a uk address just keep and renew your uk licence legal anywhere in europe

  National licences may only carry an address from the country which issued that licence. We are therefore unable to re-issue a British licence with a foreign address. It is accepted that drivers who move to another part of the EC/EEA could be holding licences showing an incorrect address

  This is permissible under the the terms of the EC Directive on Driving Licence.

Thanks guys that was helpful.  I will still retain an address in the UK even tho I will become a Spanish resident so I can just keep renewing it and make sure I get the medical certificate needed!  Nice and easy!!

I'm not 100% but when I renewed some licences and exchanged UK for Spanish last month I checked the DGT.ES website and they state there that if you drive a Spanish registered car you have to have a Spanish driving licence as they cannot take points off of it if you speed etc.You are allowed to drive on a UK licence for 6 months but after that I would advise swapping UK for Spanish as it is very easy and then if you get stopped you are legit,the police are out in force at the moment around Huelva Andalucia and 1 neighbour was fined 120€ for a faulty brake light last week and he's Spanish. 

Actually by law, even if you are a permanent resident, you don't have to change your licence for a Spanish one.  Of course the authorities here would rather you did though for obvious reasons.

But you are entitled to drive around with your valid licence from another EU country for as long as you want.

Justin