ARCHIVED - Driving Licence FAQ: British Embassy in Spain clears up most common questions
The UK Embassy in Madrid has posted answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about driving licences
In a post on their Facebook page where they continuously provide updates about the ongoing situation of driving licences for Brits resident in Spain, the UK Embassy has stated, “Lots of you have asked what happens once the final points [of the negotiations between Spain and the UK] have been resolved, so we’ve rounded up the most common questions below.”
British citizens resident in Spain for more than 6 months are not legally allowed to drive on a UK driving licence, and must instead take their Spanish driving test to get a Spanish licence. Negotiations are underway to allow Brits to once again exchange their licences for Spanish ones for a further six-month period, but the talks are slow-going and frequent promises that they will be resolved in the space of few weeks have been made every few months.
Driving Licence Q&A
What happens once the agreement is final?
Once the negotiation teams have agreed the text, it will then go forward for final legal and political approvals. On the Spanish side, this means going through the ‘Consejo de Ministros’ (Spanish Cabinet). On the UK side, it will be approved by relevant Ministers.
Then it will be published in the BOE (state bulletin) and should come into force the same day. You will then have six months to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one (without having to take a test) and during that time you will be able to drive using your valid UK licence.
Will the agreement only apply to those who were here before the end of 2020 and registered their intent to exchange?
No. The agreement will apply to anyone holding a UK licence, whether they were here before the end of 2020 or whether they move here in the future.
Will there be enough appointments within those six months?
It will be for the Spanish Government to administer the process and ensure the provision of appointments. This is something we have raised throughout negotiations and Spain is conscious of the potential number of UK nationals who may need to exchange during the six-month window.
We would encourage you to get an appointment as soon as you can and not leave it until the last minute, remembering that you do not have to exchange in the town/region where you are resident if there is greater availability elsewhere.
Do I have to complete the exchange process within six months of the agreement coming into effect?
No, but you will only be able to drive on your UK licence during this six-month window. After that, you can complete the exchange, but will not be able to drive on your UK licence while you are waiting to do so.
My UK licence has expired. Will I still be able to get a Spanish licence without taking a test?
The fact that some people’s licences have expired, or are about to, has been taken into account by the negotiating team. Expired licences shall be accepted provided that they were valid at the time that the licence holder entered Spain.
I renewed my UK licence with the DVLA when I was already resident in Spain. Can I still exchange it without taking a test?
All valid UK licences issued prior to this Agreement entering into force can be exchanged. However, you should not renew your UK licence with the DVLA if you are no longer resident in the UK.
Once the Agreement is in place, you must not try to renew a UK licence with the UK authorities if you are resident in Spain. If you do so, you will not be able to exchange it for a Spanish one.
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