Talk Quesada forum

marcliff wrote:I think that's a good point - I would never change my British licence for any other country. There are many Europeans driving in the UK on their home-country licences, so why should there be a need to change to a Spanish licence. Keep it, is what I say!

Except for a couple of things. You cannot renew your UK licence if you are living in Spain. The DVLA will not issue one outside UK with a non-UK address. The photocard type (which are the only one being issued in UK from January) last for 10 years. You will not be able to renew it.
When you get to 70, you wlll not be able to renew it.
If you lose it, you cannot get a replacement.
As from next year, if you become resident in Spain you can still use your UK licence but it has to be registered with trafico and you will have to undergo the Spanish rules on medicals etc.
There is no need to take another test, either in Spain with a UK licence or in UK with a Spanish licence.

and if you go back to the UK and have a Spanish license, we have been told you will have to take another driving test
Whoever told you that is probably the same expat rumour starter that I regularly hear up the pub. You can change a Spanish licence for a UK one without taking a test. Unless, of course, the licence has run out.

For those who have taken out residency in Spain, I can see no drawbacks whatsoever in changing the UK one for a Spanish one even though you don't have to. If you're a non-resident then there would be absolutely no point and you wouldn't be allowed to anyway.
By the way, the Spanish medical for a driving licence consists of being able to walk into the office and asking for one. If you can do that, you'll pass. (not quite but it really is no big deal).

jim wrote:roger b

you have to make 2 visits to traffico....the first is for the paperwork and you keep your uk licence, you are then notified by letter to return hand over your licence, you are issued with a 3 month temporary driving permit, your spanish licence will be sent by post...we got ours within 4 weeks

catral72b wrote:My wife and I applied August 2012. Had the medical, passed the aptitude test, went to Trafico at Alicante with all the forms and paid the fee: and nothing, we are still waiting! Just another money making scheme by the Spanish government against us expats. Trafico blame DVLC, and they blame Trafico.

catral72b wrote:My wife and I applied August 2012. Had the medical, passed the aptitude test, went to Trafico at Alicante with all the forms and paid the fee: and nothing, we are still waiting! Just another money making scheme by the Spanish government against us expats. Trafico blame DVLC, and they blame Trafico.