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Driving licence exchange - timescale

Driving licence exchange - timescale

Old Feb 6th 2018, 5:26 am
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Default Driving licence exchange - timescale

I'll be moving to Spain quite soon but as my current driving licence is a 'for life' one issued prior to Jan 2013 I know I will have to exchange it for a Spanish one pretty well immediately and I have no issue with that except for the fact that I will have some essential travelling (driving) to do in the first weeks (UK and Germany to name but two) so cannot afford to be without a valid licence in my hand for any protracted period.

The question is then, what is the typical time scale twixt application (and presumably surrender of an existing licence) and delivery of the Spanish one ?
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Old Feb 6th 2018, 6:55 am
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Default Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale

Once you start the process, they give you a temporary piece of paper.

As I understand it, this is fine for use within Spain but is pretty useless if you drive elsewhere or want to hire a car.
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Old Feb 6th 2018, 7:25 am
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Default Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale

The timescale for my Spanish licence to come through was just over 2 weeks. If I were you, I'd tell them you need something to cover you for Germany, just in case.
It cost €24, which was about 6 years ago, so it may have gone up a bit now.
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Old Feb 6th 2018, 8:15 am
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Default Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale

Thanks.

Difficult to imagine a temporary receipt/piece of paper from Spain being worth the paper it was actually written on anywhere else so I'm leaning towards another option which is to 'lose' my current licence which would automatically produce a modern photocard one in it's place.

Old ones like mine are scheduled for withdrawal and replacement with photocards anyway so I'd only be bringing that forward, doing them a favour I'd call it
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Old Feb 6th 2018, 10:29 am
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Default Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale

Originally Posted by Notdunroamin
Thanks.

Difficult to imagine a temporary receipt/piece of paper from Spain being worth the paper it was actually written on anywhere else so I'm leaning towards another option which is to 'lose' my current licence which would automatically produce a modern photocard one in it's place.

Old ones like mine are scheduled for withdrawal and replacement with photocards anyway so I'd only be bringing that forward, doing them a favour I'd call it
No need to 'lose' - you can exchange for a photocard perfectly legally. If you have a recent photo with the passport agency then it's almost a by return service.
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Old Feb 6th 2018, 10:41 am
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Default Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale

Did mine late last year, They gave me a temporary one to cover driving in Spain. Whole process took about 2 months , first visit to local office for medical, photo etc, then further two visits to Traffico HQ in Seville. No problems straight swap UK for Esp. Fisrt visit to take documents then wait for e mail, second visit to surrender uk licence, Esp licence sent through post. As Spanish beaurocracy goes, it was a piece of cake.
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Old Feb 6th 2018, 11:58 am
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Default Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale

Originally Posted by Notdunroamin
I'll be moving to Spain quite soon but as my current driving licence is a 'for life' one issued prior to Jan 2013 I know I will have to exchange it for a Spanish one pretty well immediately and I have no issue with that except for the fact that I will have some essential travelling (driving) to do in the first weeks (UK and Germany to name but two) so cannot afford to be without a valid licence in my hand for any protracted period.

The question is then, what is the typical time scale twixt application (and presumably surrender of an existing licence) and delivery of the Spanish one ?
Have a look at the DGT web :
https://sede.dgt.gob.es/es/tramites-...e-de-permisos/
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Old Feb 6th 2018, 12:37 pm
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Default Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale

Originally Posted by Notdunroamin
I'll be moving to Spain quite soon but as my current driving licence is a 'for life' one issued prior to Jan 2013 I know I will have to exchange it for a Spanish one pretty well immediately and I have no issue with that except for the fact that I will have some essential travelling (driving) to do in the first weeks (UK and Germany to name but two) so cannot afford to be without a valid licence in my hand for any protracted period.

The question is then, what is the typical time scale twixt application (and presumably surrender of an existing licence) and delivery of the Spanish one ?
Why not exchange it now for a UK photocard licence?
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Old Feb 6th 2018, 1:01 pm
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Default Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale

Originally Posted by Notdunroamin
Thanks.

Difficult to imagine a temporary receipt/piece of paper from Spain being worth the paper it was actually written on anywhere else so I'm leaning towards another option which is to 'lose' my current licence which would automatically produce a modern photocard one in it's place.

Old ones like mine are scheduled for withdrawal and replacement with photocards anyway so I'd only be bringing that forward, doing them a favour I'd call it
Just exchange it for a photocard one and then you need do nothing in Spain until that (new) one is due to expire.
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Old Feb 6th 2018, 5:03 pm
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Default Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale

If you are a resident, you have to exchange your licence within 2 years...
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Old Feb 6th 2018, 5:09 pm
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Default Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale

Originally Posted by guyparry
If you are a resident, you have to exchange your licence within 2 years...
Only it's 'valid for life'. A GB photocard would be valid until it expires. Either way the OP doesn't need to change their licence immediately after moving although it would be smarter to change it for a GB photocard before the move.
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Old Feb 6th 2018, 5:19 pm
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Default Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale

UK licences are never valid for life. The old licence was valid to age 70 after which it had to be renewed. The EU requirement is that if your licence does not have an expiry date, or if the expiry date is mmore than 15 years ahead, you must exchange within 2 years of becoming resident.

So, if you are over 55 and have the old paper licence you are not, in theory, obliged to exchange it. However, it totally agree that exchanging immediately is the sensible thing to do, especially if you have a paper licence as that will totally confuse the Guardia if you are stopped.

I can see no reasons not to exchange, apart from the cost and having a Spanish licence at least gives you a very well accepted ID document.

Last edited by Fred James; Feb 6th 2018 at 5:33 pm.
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Old Feb 6th 2018, 8:23 pm
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Default Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale

If it was me, I would exchange my paper licence for a UK photocard one at home with the nice shiny EU symbol etc. Do my bit around Germany etc., and when you settle back in Spain, swop it for a Spanish photocard licence after taking the medical of course. If you 'lose' the paper original, the replacement will have a code that says its a duplicate. If you then surrender the 'lost' paper one when you go for a Spanish licence, that one will go back to the DVLA from Spain, and the games up!Not that it's a big problem, but a 'clean' swop is best I think.
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Old Feb 8th 2018, 2:52 pm
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Default Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale

We're in the process of changing our British EU photocard licences in the Murcia region. Had the medical and off to Trafico on 21st. Will let you know how long the process takes! It's not entirely necessary to change them but we're pre-empting the potential changes after Brexit!!! Don't need any more hassle with bureaucracy!
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Old Feb 8th 2018, 3:16 pm
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Default Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale

Just had ours done by our Gesto and was told the licence should take 4-6 weeks to arrive In the post.
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