HOW TO NOW EXCHANGE UK DRIVING LICENCES FOR A SPANISH DRIVIN

With regard to this current impasse between UK & Spanish government's regarding this, has anyone got any positive first hand experience of knowing what the procedure is. Firstly let me just state, that we are residents within our first year of occupancy and we were told to "wait and see" what may happen from a number of supposed professional bodies, including gestors, but all I can do is deal with "what happens now or next". There is no further extension and without an agreement in place, we will have to follow the way to get it sorted. I have messaged the Citizens advice Bureau in Spain and they have informed me, I/we have to follow the Spanish way of doing things, so I am asking if anyone has experience in going through the process to enable me / us to exchange driving licences, what do we need to do next? TIA.

You will have to apply to a driving school in the area and take the theory test then when you pass that you will have to take the driving test if you pass you will be issued a new Spanish driving licence in the meantime you can not drive a vehicle as your uk licence is worthless in spain sorry

Check out the N332 site on Facebook, they explain it all. For the physical driving test you need to be able to understand the Spanish instructor when he gives instructions, left, right U Turn etc.

As I said in another post, my friend got his residency card about 4-5 months ago and One Way Services told him no dates available, just wait which he did. Now he's in the poop. When he called them yesterday they told him"if u get stopped by police do not show them your residency just show your passport". And to join the other of 1000s in the same boat. Hopefully UK/Spain will come to an agreement. Terrible info if you ask me.

One Way Services are the outfit who got caught out forging padrons for residency applicants and now are advising people to con the cops by pretending to be tourists, unbelievable!

Someone needs to denounce them and the sooner the better.

Chrisdee wrote:As I said in another post, my friend got his residency card about 4-5 months ago and One Way Services told him no dates available, just wait which he did. Now he's in the poop. When he called them yesterday they told him"if u get stopped by police do not show them your residency just show your passport". And to join the other of 1000s in the same boat. Hopefully UK/Spain will come to an agreement. Terrible info if you ask me.

If he got his residency only 4-5 months ago he can still drive on his UK licence until the 6 month point, so hopefully has time to get his tests taken - provided the driving schools and examiners are not overwhelmed by people in the same situation of course.

Think he was hoping for a straight swop, no driving test.

Chrisdee wrote:Think he was hoping for a straight swop, no driving test.

It seems a lot were unfortunately. I wonder how many there really are though because we are mainly talking about people who moved here after 1 Jan 2021 (who haven't already taken the tests in the past year or so). With all the new visa requirements, the money required and the time it takes, there may not be so many in practice. People for whom driving is essential have always been officially advised to get on with it.

This whole situation is crazy
When you look at the “third countries” that Spain already have an agreement with why on earth would they not accept Uk licence?
Six months is no we’re near enough time to pass all of the required tests and sort out the paperwork / appointments that are required.
Why Spain is playing hard ball with a country that it has long standing ties is beyond me, then again we stuck two fingers up to Europe so
Maybe it’s just payback

[quote="Kevdurham"]This whole situation is crazy
When you look at the “third countries” that Spain already have an agreement with why on earth would they not accept Uk licence?
Six months is no we’re near enough time to pass all of the required tests and sort out the paperwork / appointments that are required.
Why Spain is playing hard ball with a country that it has long standing ties is beyond me, then again we stuck two fingers up to Europe so
Maybe it’s just payback[/quote


Before Brexit, there was an agreement on data sharing between UK and Spain. Those who applied to exchange their licences from UK to Spanish would have their driving data passed along and and points accrued on their UK licence would be continued on their Spanish licence.
Since leaving, UK is saying this is a breach of the data protection act and will not allow Spain access to UK driving database.

This also applies for the very many tourists that visit, clock up speeding fines, parking fines or whatever infringement and then leave the country and can't be followed up for fines as the UK won't release the information any more.

Spain is asking for the same situation that existed before Brexit. UK is saying no.