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Date Published: 16/01/2023

ARCHIVED - Take the psychophysical test now, British embassy recommends: Driving licence update Jan 16

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UK residents in Spain should be able to exchange their British licence for a Spanish one “very soon”

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Take the psychophysical test now, British embassy recommends: Driving licence update Jan 16

The British Embassy in Spain has issued its first update on the driving licence negotiations of 2023, and it certainly hints at some good news.

Since May, UK nationals residing in Spain who hadn’t exchanged their British licences haven’t been able to drive and while the authorities from both countries have been working to hammer out the details, months have passed with little evident progress.

However, on Monday January 16 the embassy confirmed that negotiations continued throughout the festive period and that all of the legal checks have now been completed, meaning that there are just a few small steps left to finalise the international treaty.

“The Agreement will go forward to the Consejo de Ministros for approval – these meetings take place each week and, while we have no control over the scheduling, we hope it will be tabled very soon,” the embassy wrote.

Once this is done, the decree will be published in the Spanish State Gazette (BOE) and UK licence holders will be allowed back on the road. From this point, they’ll be given six months to exchange their British licence for a Spanish one.

Ahead of this, the British Embassy has recommended that all drivers sit their psicotécnico (psychophysical) test: this is a brief exam testing vision and reactions, and may also involve a quick interview with a doctor. Motorists will need to show they have passed this test in order to exchange their licence when the treaty is passed.

A psychophysical test is only valid for three months (if you fail, you can retake it) so reading between the lines, it seems likely that the negotiations will be completed within the next 12 weeks, since the embassy is advising drivers to sit the exam now.

You can find a list of psicotécnico test centres here.

Drivers in Spain are understandably frustrated and many are sceptical about the progress reportedly being made.

“Wait a minute.... (suspense music)... haven’t we heard about ‘final processes’ before? Bingo yes! Last year in June, July, August, September, October, November, December,” one Facebook user wrote.

“Ladies and gentlemen, ‘final processes’ actually means in politician speak ‘we haven’t the faintest idea of what’s going on’,” he added.

Others have taken a more optimistic approach, with one social media user saying that this is “the best news” she’s heard “in a long time”.

Find all the latest motoring and travel news here or join our Driving in Spain Facebook group for regular updates

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