ROB1305 - 02 August 2009 08:45 PM

What is

‘old eu lic. ‘

do you mean your UK one ?

sorry,I mean that how long does it take(days/weeks) to exchange a designated country licence(say Columbia) with spanish licence? and is it possible that a British citizen who has a Columbian licence and who lives in spain as a resident can exchange his columbian licence with spanish licence?is it allowed?

Yes you might be lucky - research here:

http://www.dgt.es/portal/es/oficina_virtual/conductores/canje_permisos/

The actual licence may take weeks to arrive but they will give you a temporary one.

jazz - 03 August 2009 12:09 AM

ROB1305 - 02 August 2009 08:45 PM

What is

‘old eu lic. ‘

do you mean your UK one ?

sorry,I mean that how long does it take(days/weeks) to exchange a designated country licence(say Columbia) with spanish licence? and is it possible that a British citizen who has a Columbian licence and who lives in spain as a resident can exchange his columbian licence with spanish licence?is it allowed?

UK Options / FYI.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/MotoringDecisionTrees/HowToImportorExportaVehicle/exchange_driving_licence.dsb

DSB.

ROB1305 - 03 August 2009 11:59 AM

Yes you might be lucky - research here:

http://www.dgt.es/portal/es/oficina_virtual/conductores/canje_permisos/

The actual licence may take weeks to arrive but they will give you a temporary one.

Hi Mate
Many thanks for the info.

Hi Guys,  I?m finding a lot of differing opinions here and this has never been something I?ve really understood!  Could someone tell me if it?s actually legal for me to drive on my UK photo licence, when I live here in Spain and am resident and empadronada.  The UK address on my licence is my Dad?s house, where I lived before moving to Spain and where he still lives so I am still “contactable” there so to speak, even though I?m a Spanish resident.  I?d much appreciate a definite answer as if I?m driving illegally I?d best do something about it!!  Thanks all!!

Nene - 20 April 2009 02:11 PM

Has anyone had success changing their UK paper license for a Spanish license (no one replied to WANNAMOVE above)?

I have the same type of license, which I got when I lived in the UK in 1997. I’m actually Australian, but there doesn’t appear to be a reciprocal agreement to swap Australian licenses, so unless I can swap the UK one I think I have to attend a driving school and sit the written and practical exams (???)!

Thanks in advance for information about your experience.

Nene.

If you got the UK license in exchange for the Australian licence ( ie you took your test in Australia) then you wont be able to exchange it for a Spanish licence regardless of whether it is paper or plastic.

laurainspain - 04 August 2009 05:38 AM

Hi Guys,  I?m finding a lot of differing opinions here and this has never been something I?ve really understood!  Could someone tell me if it?s actually legal for me to drive on my UK photo licence, when I live here in Spain and am resident and empadronada.  The UK address on my licence is my Dad?s house, where I lived before moving to Spain and where he still lives so I am still “contactable” there so to speak, even though I?m a Spanish resident.  I?d much appreciate a definite answer as if I?m driving illegally I?d best do something about it!!  Thanks all!!

Your UK license is legal within Spain, but you need to follow the driving laws of the country with regards vialidating the license.

You need to have a medical and contact Traffico.

It is al egal requirement for all Drivers resident in Spain to have an up to date medical check, without that you can only be legal on a UK license if your visiting Spain.

Here are the rules from the Spanish Govt.

http://www.dgt.es/portal/es/oficina_virtual/conductores/

This one from RACE

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.race.es/servicios/gestoria_automovil/carnet_conducir_extranjeros/canjes_carnet_de_conducir_extranjeros/&ei=7fJ3SqLWLNChjAfY6eWnBg&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev;=/search?q=Tu+permiso+de+conducci%C3%B3n+extranjeros+en+espana&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-Address&rlz=1I7PBEA

only states you change to a Spanish license, although you don`t need to by EU law, the Spanish prefer you exchange it to a Spanish one.

My advice is to exchange it, its very easy and saves hassle any Traffico officer will probably let you off for minor violations if you were a UK national resident in Spain on a Spanish license, if your all of those but still on a UK license there likely to go over your car and documents to find something to fine you for.

There is less complaints from Residents with Spanish licenses than those without.

I have been living in Spain for nearly 8 years. driving on an English licence.  However, I knew I was driving illegally.  Nothing to do with EU laws and my licence being valid in all EU countries, but for the fact that I hadn’t informed DVLA of my new address.  As my new address is here in Spain, I am not entitled to use an English licence.  My English licence is due for renewal, which I won’t get, so I am now in the throws of trying to get a Spanish Licence.  All I can add is .... HELP!!!!!

laurainspain - 04 August 2009 05:38 AM

Hi Guys,  I?m finding a lot of differing opinions here and this has never been something I?ve really understood!  Could someone tell me if it?s actually legal for me to drive on my UK photo licence, when I live here in Spain and am resident and empadronada.  The UK address on my licence is my Dad?s house, where I lived before moving to Spain and where he still lives so I am still “contactable” there so to speak, even though I?m a Spanish resident.  I?d much appreciate a definite answer as if I?m driving illegally I?d best do something about it!!  Thanks all!!

You are driving illegally using a UK licence when you actually live in Spain.

Suggest you look here
http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-spain/cars

ROB1305 - 31 August 2011 09:05 PM

Suggest you look here
http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-spain/cars

Suggest who looks here?

Barb and Hol - 31 August 2011 03:20 AM

I have been living in Spain for nearly 8 years. driving on an English licence.  However, I knew I was driving illegally.  Nothing to do with EU laws and my licence being valid in all EU countries, but for the fact that I hadn’t informed DVLA of my new address.  As my new address is here in Spain, I am not entitled to use an English licence.  My English licence is due for renewal, which I won’t get, so I am now in the throws of trying to get a Spanish Licence.  All I can add is .... HELP!!!!!

Have a look here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/DG_10023103

which says:

Moving to another country

If you move to another country, you should check with the driving licence authorities there for information about driving and exchange of licences. You don’t need to notify DVLA of a change of address when moving to live abroad.

That said, you cannot RENEW your licence in the UK.

B&H, it was a while ago that I changed my licence - nine years ago in fact, but I beleive that the procedure would be more or less the same. You have to go to “Trafico” and put yourself in the queue for information to get the form to change your licence over, you need two fotos. There is a charge which you put yourself in the queue where people pay their speeding fines. You then take the completed form, the proof of payment, the fotos, and your UK driving licence to one of the general windows and they will issue your Spanish licence, just to be sure though, take your NIE or residence certificate and your empadronamiento with you. When I changed mine over, my UK licence had lots of time left on it so most categories were issued for 10 years. Yours will be issued up till the expiry date of your UK licence. If it has already expired, you should still be able to change it over, but you’ll have to pass a ‘psicometrico’ test first. Generally as you approach any DGT office, as you get closer people will approach you like drug pushers, whispering “psicotecnico?”. On the form, make sure that you list all the categories that you want changed over, if you do not list them they will not add them to your Spanish licence.