exchanging driving licences

Hi, My Wife and I went to Traffico in Malaga on the 14th of May this year to exchange our uk licences for Spanish ones. Neither had at that time expired.

A phone call to the office yesterday revealed that they had not a clue as to when the licences would be ready.

We were given  receipts and the uk licences were returned to us.

My Wifes licence has now expired but she continues to drive. Mines also expires in a few weeks and I propose to continue driving.

We all know that the word "efficient" does not appear in the Spanish vocab but this seems to be taking far too long even by spanish standards.

I would very much appreciate hearing from members as to how long their licences took to come through. thanks

You may find this has as much to do with DVLA "efficiency" as with Spain. They cannot issue a new licence without confirmation from them.

The chap who did ours (and it took under a month) told us the only ones taking a long time were waiting confirmation from DVLA. Try contacting them to see if they've received the application.

Ours took less than 2 weeks

In Murcia firstly we had to go for an eye and reflex medical check that was issued with a photo for new driving licence. Cost 35€. Then had to take this paperwork with copies of all our personal data to traffico where after paying more euros we were issued with a receipt which was converted into a Spanish licence within 3 weeks and sent to our address in Spain.  

Our, still in date, UK licences were retained by the office and sent to Brit Embassy who presumably check for outstanding misdemeanours. It apparently is this checking that causes delays.

Unlike UK the Spanish authorities expect people to know the rules so if any part of what happened to us is missing from your experience suggest you contact a gestor because am sure there will be an expiry date on your receipts.

Can take anything from 3 weeks to 6 months- as they say with shoulders shrugged and eyes rolled-This is Spain!

Nicbax, unlike in UK where one is still insured if they hold( or have held) a DL,so an expired DL comes within that, (unless the law on that has been changed).  In Spain unless one has a valid DL they are not insured.

Also,   one must have the valid DL  with you when driving,  not to do is an offence.

So the idea of driving when you do not have a valid DL is not sensible.  

No DL and no insurance may,  in addition to a large fine,   also mean disqualification.

Hi, Thank you all for the info. DVLA have received nothing from Trafico so I am thinking of making a complaint in the hope that this will get them to do something.

Try as I have I cant find an email address for Trafico on Google so I wonder whether any of you guys might have this please. Thanks nic

Here is a contact list for traffico headquarters

Hi Team GB, Many thanks but try as I may I cant open the link. Would it be too much trouble to ask you for the email address please. Thanks nic.

On 14th April I took my licence into my lawyer, paid the fees, and got an ófficial receipt´. I am now legal on Spanish roads but apparently nowhere else! I have just telephoned DVLA to find out what, if anything, has happened and the nice man there said that on 31st July they received an e-mail from Spain and they replied ímmediately´. So maybe I will get my new Spanish licence by Xmas! Any bets which will come first?

So now I am in the Spanish system and at some time they might extractatus digitatum (sorry for the spelling to our latin scholars) and I will get my licence, maybe.

Nic 

It is a PDF, maybe you don't have the software loaded to open it.

For Malaga

Ángeles Campuzano Gutiérrez - mcampuzano@dgt.es AND Teresa Vega Mesa - mtvega@dgt.es 

Hi Tean GB, Thank you very much; appreciated. nic