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 ?

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.

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.

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 :whistle:

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

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.

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.
Pete.

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

Have a look at the DGT web :
https://sede.dgt.gob.es/es/tramites-...e-de-permisos/

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

Why not exchange it now for a UK photocard licence?

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

Just exchange it for a photocard one and then you need do nothing in Spain until that (new) one is due to expire.

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

If you are a resident, you have to exchange your licence within 2 years...

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

For information, how much do they charge for this service?

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

One in our local town charges 80 euros. That excludes the medical which I have read elsewhere varies but is approx 40 euros.

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

Will it still be "valid" in The EU after Brexit?

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

It will be valid. I think the question you are asking is whether UK licence holders resident in the EU27 will need to exchange their existing GB licence or apply for a new licence in their country of residence. That will depend on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations.

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

Agreed. In the UK, holders of non EU licences need to change it for a UK licence after 6 months, i.e. it is not valid after that time. Will this be the case in the EU with UK licences after brexit? Unless course a dispensation is put in place in the Brexit agreement.

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

Good point,but another dispensation to add to the hundreds that will be needed for all sorts of other reasons and it all happens in just over a years time..... I have little faith that they will all be covered, or even realised!
Simply put, if Spain is your permanent home, get a Spanish driving licence ASAP, you simply can't count on the Politicians to cover any bases, so cover them yourself as far as possible!

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

It's 12 months but I take your point. The UK exchanges a dozen of so non-EU licences without any further testing required. Various other EU countries also have reciprocal agreements in place with non-EU countries so if no blanket deal is done you may find individual member states will make their own bilateral reciprocal agreements with the UK. Until the negotiations are concluded no-one will be able to give you a definitive answer.

If you have a UK licence and you are currently resident in Spain then you may wish to hedge your bets and exchange it now.

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

I thought an exchange was possible without a medical?

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

Did ours last year, had to have a medical. Same applied to a friend last December - medical.

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

This link outlines ages for and periods between drivers medicals for licences. It starts from 18 years old

Welcome - Driver Medical Test: British Drivers in Spain

Re: Driving licence exchange - timescale
 

Officially, you are correct as there is no mention of that requirement on the DGT site. I think they assume that you would only have a have a foreign licence if you had had a medical. That’s true in most countries but as usual, the UK aren’t bothered about technicalities like that!

If you get a Gestor to handle it he will ask for a medical certificate just to make sure he has all bases covered. If you go to an official centre they just want the fee for the medical which goes to them.

That said, as usual, it will also depend on the DGT office that your application goes as of ever, they make up the rules to suit themselves.

When I exchanged many years ago, no medical was required until it came up for renewal.