Brexit effect

An interesting fact, amongst others, or not as the case maybe.  

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/internation … march-2019


While the UK is a member of the EU, UK driving licences are directly exchangeable for EU and EEA country licences. From 29 March 2019, in the event that there is no EU Exit deal, this licence exchange arrangement will stop. Instead you will need to re-take your driving test in the EU country where you live to be able to carry on driving there

and if you're not a resident or citizen you'll need one of those international driving licences you used to get from the AA although god knows where you get them now

John.  

I just looked online. International Driving Permit are obtainable from them post office

However I did see that unless one lives in U.K. one cannot get an IDP to go with their U.K. D/L

Of course an IDP is not a licence but a translation of one’s national driving licence so must be carried with one’s national licence.  It does not replace one’s licence 

I think I would ask the DVLA .

• This is from the AA web page:
• https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/driving-abroad/idp
• quote:-   The only way you can obtain an IDP is by applying in branch from selected Post Offices
•  
• It is confirmed here:-  
• https://www.postoffice.co.uk/international-driving-permit

John, perhaps all these threatened awkward rules and regulations brought about by the UK decision to leave the EU maybe a disincentive for British tourism and investment into Spain.   

 Maybe it will be a boost to Butlins and static holiday caravan sales in Skegness.

The Brexit effect is turning back the clock. I remember first coming by car to Spain in the early eighties before it was an EU state. I needed an IDP and an insurance bail bond to avoid having my car impounded if I had an accident which is what used to happen. The roads were terrible, very few motorways and getting anywhere took hours. Since Spain became an EU member the countries roads have been transformed.

If you produce an IDP to any modern Spanish copper they are going to think you made it for a Blue Peter project.

The roads were appalling in that era.  In 1987 I drove from Santander to Puerto Banus, CDS - it took 20 hours, taking only one half hour break.    Until you got to Burgos it was like a country lane, lots of single track road and no hope of overtaking.  The kids were not impressed, the wife said "never again" and has stuck to it ever since.

It's great to think that we've all helped to change that through the EU and our taxes.

A UK driving licence is considered an international licence worldwide.

Yes acer UK residents enjoy the benefit if their EU contributions. Thats how it's supposed to work its called sharing for mutual advantage. Spain could never have improved their country to the extent it has without EU membership funding.

angeleyes1

A UK driving licence is considered an international licence worldwide.

You just made that up, didn't you? A quick Google shows that 63 countries require an IDP with a UK licence including Australia, New Zealand and India and a further 12 countries require an IDP for non-EU citizens (so OK in those for the moment).

There are also 140 countries (including the 63 above) which require and IDP if you are hiring a car.

I have not made anything up. As Mickyfinn says most countries would not know the difference between a IDP and a Blue Peter egg box project. In reality you will get car hire and valid insurance that goes with the hire with your UK worldwide international driving licence everywhere. They are just too greedy to refuse and pie crust rules are irrelevant.

As we have all agreed an IDP is only a translation of your legal licence. Not sure of the purpose of translating a UK licence from English to English for Australia and New Zealand.

I only needed my UK licence to hire a car in NZ.

What are all these non EU plates doing around if the Guardia don't recognise an IDP?

'Yes acer UK residents enjoy the benefit if their EU contributions.'

You mean Spain used to enjoy the benefits of UK contributions but now the new eastern members do?

For many years the balance out from the UK was about the same as the balance in to Spain. Leading to the classic Clarkson quip at at the toll booth that he did not have to pay the toll since he had already paid for the road.

Thanks for that, it made me smile.  No guesses needed as to which way Clarkson voted on Brexit - I miss the guy's output on TV, I think he feels he has to behave a bit these days.  Pity.

Actually, Clarkson is a remainer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPz179E7rhA

Yes. For all his amusing banter he is still a member of the 'ignor the plebs' Chipping Norton set.

I think we were all sick of that video two years ago.

Do you think he was paid well?

Presumably you are really asking "was he overpaid?"  which is of course a matter of opinion. 

He had a massive following and was amusing, but his programme had become a bit predictable.  But relative to other BBC "stars" in my mind he was good value.

But I reckon we're a bit off thread.

I think I meant, was he paid at all or did he do it for the money at a time he had just been sacked and was a bit short on his presumably massive commitments?

If he was a true believer in remaining, he should have done it for nothing. As indicated by Acer you might expect him to be as anti the EU bureaucracy as he is all others.

A 'Brexit Effect' in general seems to highlight that there are a lot of people with scant regard for democracy.