International driving licence

Does anyone know, if an international driving licence is worth getting to enable me to possibly not have to take a Spanish driving test, especially if after BREXIT, we are obliged to take one, if we are to become resident in Spain. I am not trying to circumvent the process , just trying to see if there is a benefit to having one. Am hoping to retire to Spain by Xmas 2022 & just wanted to get a few things ticked off before we get there. Thanks in anticipation.

There's no such thing as an "International Driving Licence". There is an International Driving Permit which is merely a translation of your national driving licence. It is the national driving licence that allows you to drive and the IDP which proves it is valid.

You will not be allowed to drive on the IDP without a national driving licence.
Of course, we have no idea what will be allowed in Spain after next year and it could be the UK licence becomes recognised and you can exchange it for a Spanish one after that date. On the other hand, it may not be and you will have to take a Spanish driving test to obtain a Spanish licence.

It will all boil down to agreements made between countries but the IDP will not be recognised as a licence to drive without a proper driving licence to back it up.

apricorncup17 wrote:Does anyone know, if an international driving licence is worth getting to enable me to possibly not have to take a Spanish driving test, especially if after BREXIT, we are obliged to take one, if we are to become resident in Spain. I am not trying to circumvent the process , just trying to see if there is a benefit to having one. Am hoping to retire to Spain by Xmas 2022 & just wanted to get a few things ticked off before we get there. Thanks in anticipation.

You'll probably need an IDP to drive with a UK licence in Europe after 31st December. If you're just driving within Spain (ferry direct to Spain) then you'll only need the 1949 one, if you're travelling via France then you'll also need the 1926 one.

International driving permits can be purchased from most Post Offices. You'll need your photo licence (or paper licence with passport), a passport sized photo for each licence and £5.50 per licence. the 1949 licence lasts for 12 months and the 1926 lasts for 3 years.

Paul58 wrote:

apricorncup17 wrote:Does anyone know, if an international driving licence is worth getting to enable me to possibly not have to take a Spanish driving test, especially if after BREXIT, we are obliged to take one, if we are to become resident in Spain. I am not trying to circumvent the process , just trying to see if there is a benefit to having one. Am hoping to retire to Spain by Xmas 2022 & just wanted to get a few things ticked off before we get there. Thanks in anticipation.

You'll probably need an IDP to drive with a UK licence in Europe after 31st December. If you're just driving within Spain (ferry direct to Spain) then you'll only need the 1949 one, if you're travelling via France then you'll also need the 1926 one.

International driving permits can be purchased from most Post Offices. You'll need your photo licence (or paper licence with passport), a passport sized photo for each licence and £5.50 per licence. the 1949 licence lasts for 12 months and the 1926 lasts for 3 years.

Not really helpful there. apricorncup17 is asking about living in Spain permanently. The IDP may be valid for that period of time but only to visitors and the maximum stay will be 3 months. If he lives in Spain permanently then he will need a Spanish driving licence regardless. Hopefully the UK will join the other 26 countries in the world (outside the EU) who can exchange their licence for a Spanish one. If it doesn't then he would have to take a Spanish driving test.

Certainly won't be able to drive on a UK licence and IDP as a resident.