driving licence

  We heard something on the Sunshine radio today that will be of
interest to all Ex-Pats. Simon Morton and Graham Knight were warning
people that the police are on the look-out for anyone who has been
resident in Spain for 2 years and has not changed to a Spanish licence
will be fined on the spot!! They are targeting Iceland supermarkets
and the roads from the airports and have reported 500€ fines and in
one case over 1000€ fine ON THE SPOT.
 

  The British Embassy in Madrid give the following guidance on UK
Driving Licences in Spain:

UK driving licences issued from 1990 and the photocard licence issued
from 1997 are accepted in Spain. Licences issued before 1990 are only
accepted if accompanied by an official translation into Spanish
(available from the Spanish Embassy in London and the Real Automóvil
Club de España if the licence holder is already in Spain). UK
Provisional Licences are not valid for use in Spain.

It is not obligatory to register your British driving licence with the
Spanish authorities but it is recommended, since if it is lost or
stolen it is quicker to get a replacement Spanish licence

Once the UK licence runs out or if it is lost or stolen, the new
licence must be Spanish if you are resident in Spain
If members need more details or information they can refer to:
http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-spain/cars/

 can they check UK driving licence statuses in Spain??i.e temporary bans etc if drivers still in possession of the licence??

The answer to Robin is a big fat YES they can check. Spain and U.K. speak to eachother

Yes they can check ,BUT it is not illegal, at present, to drive in another EU country whilst banned in your own !

 thanks guslopez and steone!!! :)

 If you are banned from driving in the UK you can not drive in Spain as you need a valid driving licence in Spain as well, and if you are stopped by the police and can not produce a valid licence you will be fined or more.

 i dont drive, im just curious as to how much information etc is shared between the 2 countries thats all :)

 Link please, mobailey?

If you are banned in the UK, do they actually take your physical licence away from you?  If so then you definitely shouldn't be driving in Spain as if you get stopped you'll be in big trouble.

It's important to state that you do not need to change a UK licence for a Spanish one even if you are resident.  The only point at which you need to legally do this is when your UK photocard licence expires, at that point you should change it for a Spanish one, although I know many expats prefer to use a UK address to register it again in the UK (which you shouldn't do). Otherwise you can drive around with your UK licence even if you are resident, as long as it's still valid.

what about the medical that the spanish have to take? the insurance, is it valid if you have not taken the medical?

My understanding is that you only have to do the mideical  if your photocard licence has actually expired.  If it's hasn't then you don't need to do the medical..but I can't remember where I read that.  I had to do the medical for sure as my licence had expired.

Justin,

just for info - if banned in UK they do take the licence away and at the end of the ban you have to apply for it back.

How do I know; heavy right foot on the M40 caught for doing 115mph - 1 month ban and a big fine. Lucky I saw the car following and slowed down!

David

My understanding is that you only have to do the mideical  if your photocard licence has actually expired.  If it's hasn't then you don't need to do the medical..but I can't remember where I read that.  I had to do the medical for sure as my licence had expired.

Hi Justin.  This is my understanding as well based on speaking to guardia civil and also my Spanish brother in law, who is a driving instructor.  I've been told that a medical is only needed for renewing a licence.  The DGT website also makes no reference to needing a medical if you have a foreign licence.

The only point at which you need to legally do this is when your UK photocard licence expires, at that point you should change it for a Spanish one, although I know many expats prefer to use a UK address to register it again in the UK (which you shouldn't do)

My UK licence recently ran out.  I knew that if I renewed in Spain, I would have a 1.5 hour drive to Malaga and back and would have to take a day off work.  I would also probably find out  on arrival at traffico that I had the wrong documentation which happens every time you try to do anything with Spanish bureaucracy.

So I ended up renewing it in the UK.  I rang the DVLA before hand and explained my situation and I was told I could renew it no problem.  I posted off the forms with a cheque for 20 quid and a week later my new licence arrived.

Sanchez,

                      interesting as I believe on the application form one must sign to say they LIVE  in the UK.   Not that they have an accommodation address there.   If that is so, then to put something false on the application amounts to a criminal offence (Criminal Deception springs to mind).

As I said, I explained my situation (I was planning to move back to the UK) to the DVLA and they were fine about it.

Most people I know renewed in the UK.  I tried it myself as wasn't sure if getting the Spanish one was going to be a nightmare (it wasn't) but gave up in the end when they wanted some proof of living in the Uk.  This was when trying to do it online.