Medical / Spanish Driving Licence?

So Villamare, if I were to swop it would I keep my motorcycle entitlement or would they make me do a test?  I wouldn't want to take another test!

Yeah but guys would I keep my motorcycle entiltlement which is on my UK licence??

Yes, it all comes across from the UK licence to the Spanish licence, you wouldn't have to take the test again.

In fact, they are so good at doing this that they even carried across my old points from 10 years ago and applied them to my new Spanish licence...even though those points expired seven years ago 

I'm on the case.

Justin

Phew!  Thats a relief, then I wouldn't mind what I did!  I have a friend who's been living in Spain for 7/8 years and he reckoned he wouldn't get it transferred over.  Would that still be the case if his licence was expired do you think as I'm pretty sure his is!

Even if the licence has expired you can still swap it for a Spanish one.  The only difference being that you have to take the medical if you have an expired licence, otherwise you don't, unless you're over a certain age I think.

Remember that in the UK I think it's only the photocard part of the licence that expires, not the paper bit.  So it's not your licence as such that expires so much as the photocard expires.

Mine had expired and they said it's ok (ish) to drive around with just the paper part of it...but it would depend who stopped me and up to them if they wanted to take it further!

It's doesn't get much clearer than that 

Justin

Thanks for all the info, I will let him know for sure and now I no what I'll need to do when I move over!! 

Sorry guys, another question!  If you have an HGV entitlement on your UK licence and you were to exchange for a Spanish one would that also remain when exchanged?

Cheers!

Well, EU law states that all categories of licences should carry across so it should also cover you for the HGV licence.

But probably best to check directly with the nearest trafico office just to make sure.

Justin

Thanks Justin!  You're very helpful!

Lou

I changed my uk  licence for a Spanish one and had my hgv class1 renewed for 3 years and i'm 70

Thats good news!  Thanks for your help.

I am currently in Australia where I have been for 18 months during this time my Spanish lincence has expired will I be able to renew it after taking madical etc. the licence will have expired for 14 months

thanks Johnzx will see what happens when I get back in October.

If you wish the HGv to be carried over it is a much stricter medical. If you don't ask when changing over you do not normally get it & definitely won't without a medical.Always make copies of the entitlements you have just in case anything gets left off. You can then get it rectified.

 Your D1 minibus for those older does not get transferred across unless you can proove you have a large minibus and you need it for family. Even renewal in Uk D1 is being taken off 

All  Spain residents  ie here for more than 3 months  (and do not think if i have not got resident cerftificate i am not a resident,) licenced holders over 45 need  drivers medical even on a Uk licence , Licence is void without it

Firstly to reply to the original point - all of these centres (Centros de Reconocimiento de Conductores) are listed on the DGT web site here :

http://www.dgt.es/portal/es/oficina_virtual/dir_telefonos/centros_rec_conductores/?tit=%BFD%F3nde%20se%20puede%20solicitar?

Also many things are changing very fast at the moment (tax, residencia etc) and driving licence (DL) regulations also - it is obviously governments intention to get us to change over to DLs issued by the country in which we are living full time as residents including Spain. So in my opinion it is easier to swop (assuming you are EU and therefore it is straightforward) to a Spanish DL.

Anyone who is resident here and is renewing their UK licence via the DVLC and using a UK address is breaking a long standing regulation and probably risks invalidating their insurance (driving without a valid DL)

Yes but is now May 2012 and things change. Another issue for residents is if it is lost of stolen in Spain- from UK in Spain site:

Replacing or renewing your UK licence within Spain

You should bear in mind that once your UK photocard licence expires you will not be able to renew this with the DVLA if you are residing in Spain so you may wish to convert you licence over to a Spanish before it expires. Similarly, if your licence is lost or stolen you will not be able to replace it through the DVLA  if you reside in Spain. You can apply to the DVLA for a ´Certificate of entitlement' in Spanish that can be used to apply for a Spanish driving licence.