04 Feb 2011 1:53 PM:
Faro let me get you the facts right my friend I think you dident understand my comment: The coming and going its not the smae like living permantly over 6mth as a Spanish resident or UK resident and btw ur a lucky man/woman driving so long and getting away.
Your British driving licence is valid throughout the European Economic Area (the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). If you are planning to stay abroad long-term, however, it will probably be worth converting your UK driving licence into one issued by the country you move to permanetly. In some countries, staying beyond a certain length of time, or incurring penalty points on your licence (how will they put in Spain points in your UK license?????), will require this. Normally, you will be able to convert your British licence just by paying a fee at a government office. In some countries, you will have to undergo tests or classes first, however.
Just because your driving licence is accepted, though, don't think there are no differences between road regulations in Britain and elsewhere - and it amounts to considerably more than just driving on the other side of the road. In fact, there are so many differences that you really will need to spend time studying the distinctive characteristics of law and practice related to driving in the country you plan to emigrate to. It's impossible to go into all of the specifics in a general article. However, here are some key differences you should be aware of :
- The minimum driving age is higher in some countries than in Britain.
- In Austria you're required to carry a first-aid kit.
- Most countries on the continent require you to carry a triangle reflector you can use to warn other motorists of a potential hazard.
- Some countries require you to carry reflective jackets which you must put on if you need to be active outside the car, for example to replace a tyre.
- If you're taking a car from Britain to your new home, you will need a headlight converter to adjust the intensity of your headlights for countries where cars drive on the other side of the road.
- In some countries, such as France, you're required to carry your driving licence, insurance documents and vehicle registration with you at all times while driving.
Getting a Spanish driver’s license can be expensive because you have to join a driving school and take classes. It doesn’t matter how many years of experience you have driving in your own country. Driving in Spain is considered a different animal, and of course, you’ll need the driving school’s car to take the behind-the-wheel test.
Then you’ll need to pass a medical and eye exam. Fortunately, this part won’t be too difficult. “The doctor certified me as fit because I was able to open the door to his office,” admits Sal, “and as having good eyesight because I was able to grasp the doorknob without first feeling around for it with my fingertips.”
Next comes the written exam. The good news is that it’s multiple choice and you can choose to take the exam in English or watered-down Spanish if you don’t feel up to the full-blown Spanish deal. The bad news is that the scope of the exam “goes well beyond the standard rules of the road,“says Sal. “Questions pertaining to automobile mechanics, first aid, and technical specifications for vehicles ranging from scooters to quads to automobiles to delivery trucks are not only fair game, but are fairly common. Having taken both the State of Illinois Bar exam and the Spanish written driver’s exam, I can say with certainty that I walked out of the former feeling much more confident that I had passed.”
Finally, you must take a behind-the-wheel exam. Your instructor will sit in the passenger seat and the examiner in the back. “The exam lasts for thirty minutes and takes place in live traffic,” Sal tells us. “Drivers can expect to face such delights as city streets, winding alleys, roundabouts, construction zones, hills, and the universally-despised parallel parking maneuver. If you’re unlucky (and many are), the latter two will be co-mingled.” You’ll receive your results from your instructor once the examiner has gone. Like the written exam, if you fail, you can take it again.
Neverless if you an official "European Driving License" from the UK than ur ok but you have to renew it all the time in the country it was originaly done.....
And that’s all there is to it, folks, believe me Im well contected in Trafico, DVLA and the EU norms
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