ARCHIVED - British Embassy in Spain releases update on UK driving licence negotiations
Negotiations are still underway between the UK and Spain as the April 30 deadline looms
As the April 30 deadline looms, the British Embassy in Spain has issued an eagerly-awaited update on the ongoing negotiations surrounding the exchange of UK driving licences.
The Embassy has confirmed that the British and Spanish governments are still in talks and as the final hour approaches, “both sides remain committed to reaching an agreement” that will enable UK nationals who are resident in Spain to exchange their British licences for Spanish ones without having to take a theory and practical driving test.
As it stands, UK nationals resident in Spain who did not at least register their intention to exchange their licence before December 30 2020 will no longer be allowed to drive after April 30, a fact which is understandably causing much anxiety.
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The grace period has already been extended several times, and the British Embassy has once again asked Spain for a further extension so that a final decision can be reached on the matter. However, Britain is clear that it cannot “guarantee when or whether an agreement will be reached.”
Therefore, the Embassy has urged anyone who wants to continue driving in Spain after the end of the month not to wait for a decision, but to apply for a Spanish licence now. The full process is explained in English on the DGT website.
The driving licence rules only apply to UK nationals living in Spain; tourists can continue to use their UK licence to drive in Spain without the need for an International Driving Permit.
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