Latest News On Uk Driving Licence In Spain?
The British authorities are negotiating with Spanish officials on the recognition of United Kingdom-issued driving licenses so that UK nationals holding such licenses can again drive in the UK without the need for a practical test to obtain a Spanish license.
According to a statement of Minister Karl McCartney, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, the British Embassy in Spain and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, together with the Department for Transport, have been negotiating with the Spanish authorities regarding the exchange of the UK driving licenses.
” Our aim is to secure a deal that allows UK licence holders resident in Spain to exchange their licence for a Spanish one without the need for a practical test, so they can return to the roads as soon as possible ,” the statement reads. The Minister also claims that the UK Government has engaged in these negotiations, pointing out that Spanish drivers in the UK have encountered no limitations nor inconvenience in their ability to drive, in spite of Spain’s move to limit the use of UK-issued driving licenses.
- Since May 1, 2022, British citizens residing in Spain are no longer permitted to drive with their UK driving licenses due to Brexit;
- While the UK was part of the European Union, British drivers could drive throughout the whole bloc, as all Member States recognized their driving licenses;
However, due to Brexit, several other EU countries, including here Spain, no longer recognize the British licenses. In a statement published on the official Facebook page of the British embassy in Spain, called ” Brits in Spain “, Minister McCartney claims that the UK has reached arrangements for the recognition of British licenses with 24 other EU Member States already, but negotiations with Spain have been a bit more complicated.
Minister McCartney claims that Spain has been requiring additional elements which no one else has asked for in relation to driving license exchange arrangements. ” We understand that some UK Nationals are currently unable to drive whilst we are negotiating with the Spanish.
To those affected, we would reiterate that we understand your frustration, and we are aware of the severe impact on your everyday lives ,” the Minister says, assuring these drivers that they are doing everything possible to resolve this problem. In the last week of July, British and Spanish officials have continued intensive talks, which have resulted in a productive meeting held on July 29.
- While there remains some outstanding work to be done to agree on the annexes of the agreement between both countries, the UK authorities explain that once the agreement is finalized, the same will be published in the Spanish gazette;
From that day on, British citizens living in Spain will have a period of six months to exchange their British driving license with one issued by the authorities of Spain without having to take a test. Those whose driving licenses have recently expired will also be eligible to exchange them for a Spanish one.
Does Spain Recognise UK driving licence?
1) UK Licence Holders – For holders of UK driving licences, to drive in Spain as a resident in Spain , after the end of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement transition period (December 31, 2020), it is necessary to change your UK driving licence for a Spanish one.
You cannot use an International Driving Permit (IDP) instead. Current regulations mean that a UK-issued driving licence is valid for 6 months after arrival in Spain. UK driving licence validity in Spain (30 April 2022) If you moved to Spain after 1 January 2021 , your valid UK licence will be recognised for 6 months from the date you obtained residence, or until 30th April 2022, whichever is later.
Previous temporary extensions to the exchange period have ceased. From 1 May 2022, if you have been resident for more than 6 months and have not exchanged your UK licence for a Spanish one, you will no longer be able to drive using your UK licence. For example, if you became resident in Spain before November 2021 your UK driving licence will not be valid from 1 May 2022 onwards.
- You need to pass the Spanish theory and practical dirving test before you can legally continue to drive in Spain;
- If you did not request the licence exchange with the DGT before December 30th 2020, the current process is that you will still have to take a practical and theory driving test in order to obtain a Spanish licence;
Spanish and UK authorities confirm that they are still in negotiation for further recognition of UK and Spanish driving licences in both countries. Please feel free to contact us on our infoline, to register for updates on the situation. You can find out more about the process of applying for a Spanish licence on the DGT site, where the information is also available in English: https://sede.
dgt. gob. es/es/permisos-de-conducir/obtencion-renovacion-duplicados-permiso/permiso-conducir/index. shtml. You can take the theory test in English , but the practical is only available in Spanish. You can still use your Spanish licence in the UK for short visits, or you can exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test.
You will be able to drive in the UK with your EU driving license until it expires, you reach 70, or until three years after you become a UK resident again. Please note: You cannot renew or replace your UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man licence if you live in Spain.
Can I drive in Spain with my UK licence after Brexit?
British expats have been banned from driving in Spain after post Brexit talks on license rules broke down. Under tough new restrictions, UK nationals who have lived in the EU country for more than six months will no longer be able to use their UK-issued licenses.
What do I need to drive in Spain after Brexit?
Latest on driving licence exchange for Brits in Spain.
You will need an IDP to drive in France after Brexit if you have: –
- a paper driving licence – green or pink version.
- a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
Can I drive my UK car in Spain?
Driving a UK registered car as a tourist in Spain And the good news is that, if you are coming on holiday, you can drive in Spain using a driving licence that has been issued in the UK for visits of up to 3 months, without needing an international driving permit.
What paperwork do I need to drive in Spain?
Driving in Spain checklist: –
- • Full and valid driver’s licence
- • V5C
- • Proof of Insurance
- • Passport/national ID
- • Motor insurance green card
- • Reflective jackets
- • Warning triangles
- • Spare pair of spectacles (for those who use glasses while driving)
- • Headlamp beam deflectors
- • GB sticker (non GB symbol or GB-Union Jack symbol cars only)
Can I drive in EU on UK licence?
Will my driving licence be valid? – Yes, most UK drivers are still able to use their normal driving licence to drive in EU countries. There are some exceptions and what is called an International Driving Permit (IDP) may be needed. An IDP can be bought at Post Offices for £5.
50. The exceptions are people who only have a paper licence, not a photocard one, as well as those with licences issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) told BBC News last year that more than three million people in the UK only had a paper licence.
The government’s advice if you are in one of these groups is to check with the embassy of the country you are planning to drive in to see if you will need an IDP. It has also published some guidance for specific countries. There are two different types of IDP you might need in Europe.
- For France and Germany, for example, some of those people will need a 1968 IDP;
- There is also a 1949 IDP, which covers visits to Andorra, for example;
- You can find the full list of which IDPs you need worldwide on this page;
Even if your UK photocard driving licence has an EU flag on it, it will still be valid in the UK until the expiry date printed on it. Image source, Getty Images.