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Using a UK drivers license in Spain - advice needed

Using a UK drivers license in Spain - advice needed

Postby Roach » Tue May 29, 2018 6:06 pm

Hi,

I have been using a UK license in Spain but recently my UK address written on it no longer applies. I will be getting around to changing to a Spanish license in the near future but i need to know if my UK license is now invalid or will get me into trouble if i am stopped for any reason by the Police here.

I contacted the DVLA to inform them that i am no longer at the UK address and asked them if i could continue using it but they said i should contact the driving authority here (bit of a language barrier).

Has anyone been in this situation and can advise on what would be the correct procedure and where i stand?

Any advice is very much appreciated as always.

Thanks.
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Re: Using a UK drivers license in Spain - advice needed

Postby Espanabums » Tue May 29, 2018 6:17 pm

If you are no longer resident in UK then DVLA are not interested in your change of address. You can keep using your photo ID UK licence in Spain until it expires then you will need to get a Spanish Licence.
Once you officially become a Spanish Resident, that is you sign on the register of aliens, extranjeros, you only have six months to exchange your UK photo ID licence for a Spanish one, whether your UK one has expired or not.
If you are of a certain age in Spain when you need to exchange licences, you will need to take a medical assessment before you are granted a Spanish photo ID licence.
Steve & Jill, Torrevieja
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Re: Using a UK drivers license in Spain - advice needed

Postby elchedave » Tue May 29, 2018 6:39 pm

Sorry but i don't think that is correct Espanabums. To be valid your UK licence has to be registered to your current UK address, no UK address means no valid UK licence.
If your only address is outside of the UK then i am certain you should change it for a licence in your new country of residence.
Apologies if i am wrong but i'm sure Marcliff or some other forum member will clarify the situation.
Roach, perhaps you shouldn't have notified DVLA until you had clarified the situation &/or changed your licence, sometimes we all want to be too "squeaky clean" i know i have over the years & sometimes regretted it!!!!
Regards,
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Re: Using a UK drivers license in Spain - advice needed

Postby marcliff » Tue May 29, 2018 7:05 pm

Right, this is gleaned from both the Guardia Civil and the CAB Spain advice sites.

There are two types of licences. The one that has an expiry when you are 70 (not the new photocard) and the EU photocard which, although valid until you are 70, needs to be changed after 10 years.

In the one with no expiry date until you are 70, you must change it within 2 years of becoming a resident and that includes those with a paper counterpart.
The EU photocard is valid until the expiry date and there is no 6 month rule for changing it. But you must change it before it expires as you cannot renew a licence in UK without a UK address and you cannot renew a licence in Spain, only exchange it.

You do not need to change your licence simply because you have changed address. The Spanish licence does not have an address on it. BUT (big BUT) if you use it in on a visit to UK you could be fined because it is illegal in UK to drive with an incorrect address on your licence and has a fine up to £1000.

Of course, non-residents who only visit don't have to do anything but it is up to you to prove where you are resident.

So, normal EU photocard, as long as you exchange it before it expires you are fine.

Now the real life. Those guys who drive around in green and white cars and carry rather large guns on their belts. They may not be completely up to date with the rules so best of luck when you try to explain the law to them. On the other hand, if you are driving a perfectly legal car in Spain then the chances of you being stopped are pretty slim. (The police have full access to registration, MOT/ITV/Car tax/Insurance databases etc on their in car computer system).

So why not just apply to change it now? You won't have to hand in your licence straight away and get it back along with a letter to say you have applied to exchange it for a Spanish one. Those guys with guns will accept that.

Or simply register your UK licence with Trafico where it will be imprinted with your NIE number (like a Spanish licence) and the guys with guns will accept that as well.
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Re: Using a UK drivers license in Spain - advice needed

Postby elchedave » Tue May 29, 2018 8:59 pm

Thanks Marcliff, i knew you would give a comprehensive answer & apologies again to all if i confused things.
Regards,
Dave
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Re: Using a UK drivers license in Spain - advice needed

Postby Roach » Wed May 30, 2018 10:24 am

Thanks marcliff i appreciate your in-depth answer.

But could you tell me how one would go about registering the license with trafico?

I will be applying for a Spanish one soon but i need to update my padron having heard that it's necessary for application.
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Re: Using a UK drivers license in Spain - advice needed

Postby marcliff » Wed May 30, 2018 11:12 am

To be perfectly hones, registering your licence is virtually the same procedure as exchanging it. You need the same documentation, make an appointment online (or by dialling 060 but make sure you have a Spanish speaker with you), going to trafico (Elche is now the nearest) and handing everything over.
Just as easy to make the appointment to do the exchange in the first place.
And if you lose your UK licence or it gets stolen, you will not be able to get another one as Spain doesn't issue them and UK will only do so if you have a UK address.
However, if you want to register it, go to the dgt.es website and make an appointment to do so.
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Re: Using a UK drivers license in Spain - advice needed

Postby Roach » Wed May 30, 2018 2:19 pm

marcliff wrote:To be perfectly hones, registering your licence is virtually the same procedure as exchanging it. You need the same documentation, make an appointment online (or by dialling 060 but make sure you have a Spanish speaker with you), going to trafico (Elche is now the nearest) and handing everything over.
Just as easy to make the appointment to do the exchange in the first place.
And if you lose your UK licence or it gets stolen, you will not be able to get another one as Spain doesn't issue them and UK will only do so if you have a UK address.
However, if you want to register it, go to the dgt.es website and make an appointment to do so.



Don't trafico take your UK license off you once you get a Spanish one?

Thanks
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Re: Using a UK drivers license in Spain - advice needed

Postby marcliff » Wed May 30, 2018 2:44 pm

Yes, they do but only once you have received your Spanish one.
In the first place, they will take the details and give you your licence back. They give you a letter to show you have applied to exchange it.
Once DVLA have confirmed your licence status trafico will call you and ask you to come in again. You then hand in your UK licence at that point and will receive a temporary Spanish licence. That's the bit that can take some time, waiting for DVLA response.
Your new Spanish photocard licence will then arrive in the post about a week or so later.
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Re: Using a UK drivers license in Spain - advice needed

Postby Brightonsuperwomn » Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:03 am

Clarification needed please. My uk driving license comes up for renewal next month. My uk address will no longer exist as property now sold. I’ve been to Elche Tráfico and done the tests and now have three INFORM DE APTITUDO PSICO-FÍSICA. So far so good, except that I can’t get through to DVLA to ask what I do now? The DVLA do not know about my change of address or that I’m applying for Spanish license and II have an appointment with the Spanish driving authorities tomorrow. Do I send the green form and card to uk? Or, as I’ve read on the forum, will tráfico here do it? Do I need to tell uk DVLA first? I don’t want a fine!!! Thank you for any guidance.
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