agree_to_disagree

I have a Spanish driving licence and no other!

I was on a short trip in another EU country and owing to me committing a traffic misdemeanour, managed to get a fine and points.

Not the quirky bit is that, that country now has on record that those points have been clocked up against me, but they will not actually on my Spanish driving licence.

My query is if anyone else has been in this situation and if they declared those points when getting car hire or car insurance?

Also, did it impact on the cost of the car hire or car insurance?

el barto

Given that insurers will go to any length tro get out of paying I personally wouldnt take the risk and would declare it.
I doubt it would make to much difference but depends how many points.
I used to have 3 points on mine and didnt seem to make any difference to cost of new insurance compared to when they eventually came off

agree_to_disagree

Was very polite to the policeman and immediately admitted my culpability.

Only one point...

Nothing to get into a flap about....

First time in my life I got a point

Hopping mad about it!

bobd22

What country was it? Its unusual to be given only one point usually min of 3. I would guess it will eventually end up on your spanish licence given EU country and licence arrangements? There is an app that gives you all the details of both your licence including points fines and vehicle details so you can check if any points put on your licence, its called Midgt on Playstore.

bobd22

I'm not sure whether other countries EU or not can add points to another countries licence. In the UK the procedure when dealing with foreign licence for points was a skeleton licence record would be produced for that person for accumulated points etc. That was in case they applied at future point for a UK licence, that was some time ago and may have changed.

el barto

I also thought that was why you had to hand over your UK licence (or EU one if switching to UK) so that you couldnt accumulate points on one and use the other to pretend you have a clean record.

agree_to_disagree

Bob, I was very polite to the policeman and without hesitation admitted my guilt.

He told me he would go easy on me for that.

I was done for careless driving but he said it could have been dangerous driving and up to 6 points for that....

So for as I understand, one country cannot put points on the licence of another country.

However, if I was to take up residence in that country and surrender my licence for one there, then the points would go on that licence.

To be honest, I did a daft thing when driving and I paid the price.

bobd22

To be fair I doubt one point would make any difference if you told your insurer. Although thinking about it I think that point will simply stay with the country that issued it and would only be an issue you were to move there and exchange licences. No one is perfect and easy to make a minor infringement when driving in a different country or even area than one is used to, roundabouts in Spain for instance very different to how one negotiates them in the UK.

Barriej

Not true about the points moving to your new licence. I have (had) six points on my UK licence when I exchanged it.
Speeding (but as I used to do about 50k a year its almost inevitable) but not an excuse.

Anyway. I have nothing on my nice spanish licence as I have checked.
I even asked the agent who did the paperwork and he said unless you were banned at the time of the swap you would get a nice clean licence.

I've had fines for speeding in Holland (Amsterdam ring round. 120k but 100k when raining. I was doing 110k). That came through the post to my UK address. Dvla weren't informed. (this was a couple of years ago when the uk was still part of the EU)

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agree_to_disagree

I will repeat with a caveat, so it is clearer...

So far as I understand, one country cannot put points on the licence of another country.

However, if I was to take up residence in that country (where I received the points) and surrender my licence for one there, then the points would go on that licence.

agree_to_disagree

The bit that gets my blood boiling is why all these anti-vax protesters attack the police?????

The police are ordinary individuals doing a job! They do not make the laws, so why attack them?

It it the politicians that make the laws!

Notdunroamin

You're right that points 'virtually' lost or gained in one state cannot be transferred to another and that is largely because there is no commonality of penalties for given offences, fines can and may be enforced across borders though.

Some countries do establish 'ghost' or 'skeleton' licences' where points are notionally recorded and liable to be transferred to a national licence if one were ever issued during their validity.

Don't know about others countries but France is one in which a single point can be lost for a minor offence, in that instance if you keep your nose clean for the next 6 months the point is automatically restored. In terms of speeding 'minor' means less than 20% over the posted limit so the tendency for many is to drive at +20% until you get done and then behave yourself for the next 6 months!

Kudos to A2D for fessing up his guilt but because of the above as you have not lost any points from your Spanish licence you have nothing to disclose to your insurer.

As an aside anyone who has thus far escaped points (lost or gained as the case may be) has simply been lucky, no more no less!

An example: just a few weeks ago a friend of mine with a 50 year unblemished lost 4 points for the heinous offence of failing to come to a COMPLETE stop at a STOP sign and I defy anyone to swear that they UNFAILINGLY come to a COMPLETE stop at each and every STOP sign they encounter, the new 30 and 20kph urban limits can also be difficult to adhere to so that's as far away you are from your first 'nick'!

Before protesting and arguing the point here just check yourself next time you're out and about.

agree_to_disagree

Regardless, I will advise the insurance company and either inform them in writing or record the conversation about the 'ghost' point I gained.

I do err on the side of caution, with such matters....

DLC

At the moment I am sure they are just for the country's own records, because each country has their own penalties for different things.

E.g. in Italy you can have between 0 to 30 points on your licence, it'd be difficult to convert that to your Spanish licence.