Spanish Government’s driving licence exchange review imminent says British Embassy
Spanish Driving Licence Exchange
There is great news for all of those people waiting to change their UK driving licence, to a Spanish one. It’s been a long time coming and people have been getting angry and frustrated but, here we have it. From the Sur in English, the English version of the Sur for the south of Spain.
An agreement allowing British residents to swap their UK licence and be able to drive in Spain without taking a test is expected at a Cabinet meeting “very soon”
The British Embassy in Madrid has issued an update on its negotiations with Spain, where British residents who were unable to exchange their UK licences for Spanish ones within the allotted time period are currently not permitted to drive. Posting on the Brits in Spain Facebook page this Wednesday morning (8 February), the message was as follows:
“We know you are anxious for news about when the driving licence agreement will go before the Consejo de Ministros (Council of Ministers). Also, we continue to press the Spanish Government for a precise date and, while they have not confirmed one yet, they have assured us that it will be very soon. We recognise this is frustrating but, as a Spanish Government process, it is not in our hands. Thank you for your patience.”
Previously the embassy outlined provisional answers to pertinent questions from worried drivers:
My UK licence has expired. Will I be able to exchange it without taking a test? Yes. The text includes a provision for expired licences to be accepted for exchange, provided they were valid at the time you began living in Spain.
Do I have to give up my UK licence? Why can’t I keep both? Once an exchange agreement is in force, you can drive in Spain on your UK licence for the first six months of living here, during which time you must exchange it for a Spanish licence. It is not possible to hold licences issued by the UK and Spain at the same time. If you return to live in the UK at any point, you will be able to exchange your Spanish licence for a UK one without taking a test. See more
