Driving licence exchange , too late ?
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 16
Driving licence exchange , too late ?
Hello,my residency application is in Pipeline,not heard a anything yet,the 30Dec has passed,are we doomed to take the Spanish test ?, heard rumours about extending the deadline,but nothing concrete, anybody heard anything that might give us hope . TIA
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,129
Re: Driving licence exchange , too late ?
You could sign up for e-mail alerts on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-i...tay-up-to-date and pray for good news.
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Beckenham, London borough Bromley
Posts: 1,617
Re: Driving licence exchange , too late ?
Hola,
Currently, Yes, you are too late unless anything turns up; Your best course of action is to contact a Spanish solicitor as they have ways of getting through the paperwork that others don't and if there is a way, they are likely to be the ones that know it.
Davexf
Currently, Yes, you are too late unless anything turns up; Your best course of action is to contact a Spanish solicitor as they have ways of getting through the paperwork that others don't and if there is a way, they are likely to be the ones that know it.
Davexf
#4
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 698
Re: Driving licence exchange , too late ?
Hasn’t there been something on the news about EU continuing to recognise British licences?
#5
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2017
Location: Alicante
Posts: 917
Re: Driving licence exchange , too late ?
For visitors and tourists a UK licence remains valid without an IDP.
For residents and those in the process of acquiring residence, provided they have registered their intent to exchange their licence with DGT before Dec 31st. they have 6 months in which to actually complete the process.
Anyone who missed that deadline unfortunately is going to have to take a Spanish test.
Although the deal agreed on Christmas eve allows for further discussion on various points there is nothing in it about driving licences so the chances of anything changing are pretty much nil.
For residents and those in the process of acquiring residence, provided they have registered their intent to exchange their licence with DGT before Dec 31st. they have 6 months in which to actually complete the process.
Anyone who missed that deadline unfortunately is going to have to take a Spanish test.
Although the deal agreed on Christmas eve allows for further discussion on various points there is nothing in it about driving licences so the chances of anything changing are pretty much nil.
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,129
Re: Driving licence exchange , too late ?
For British residents, Spain will recognise British driving licences up until the end of June. That's to give you time to either finish the exchange process started in 2020 or take a Spanish test.
Last edited by DLC; Jan 3rd 2021 at 4:05 pm.
#7
Re: Driving licence exchange , too late ?
Yes.
It is possible Spain, or even Europe, may sign a bi lateral agreement with the UK in due course but I would not hold my breath.
Best
Loco
It is possible Spain, or even Europe, may sign a bi lateral agreement with the UK in due course but I would not hold my breath.
Best
Loco
#8
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2017
Location: Alicante
Posts: 917
Re: Driving licence exchange , too late ?
Given the rocky if not chaotic start to UK's journey to "prospering mightily" outside of the EU I can't see negotiating with Spain for the recognition of UK driving licences being high on the list of priorities.
Frankly I remain both puzzled and surprised why Spain has not sorted this out long before now.
In other respects Spain have been generous and accommodating to Brits so why they have let this completely pointless and unnecessary hurdle stand is hard to rationalise.
Frankly I remain both puzzled and surprised why Spain has not sorted this out long before now.
In other respects Spain have been generous and accommodating to Brits so why they have let this completely pointless and unnecessary hurdle stand is hard to rationalise.
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,001
Re: Driving licence exchange , too late ?
Given the rocky if not chaotic start to UK's journey to "prospering mightily" outside of the EU I can't see negotiating with Spain for the recognition of UK driving licences being high on the list of priorities.
Frankly I remain both puzzled and surprised why Spain has not sorted this out long before now.
In other respects Spain have been generous and accommodating to Brits so why they have let this completely pointless and unnecessary hurdle stand is hard to rationalise.
Frankly I remain both puzzled and surprised why Spain has not sorted this out long before now.
In other respects Spain have been generous and accommodating to Brits so why they have let this completely pointless and unnecessary hurdle stand is hard to rationalise.
https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-...european-union
The UK already allows EU licence holders to retain their licence even if living in the UK.
You get till your 70th or 3 years whichever is the longest and then your licence is invalid. Spose you would then at 70 take a UK test.
Seems like Brexit has had one benefit. But not to UK citizens living abroad.
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 285
Re: Driving licence exchange , too late ?
Well looking at this.
https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-...european-union
The UK already allows EU licence holders to retain their licence even if living in the UK.
You get till your 70th or 3 years whichever is the longest and then your licence is invalid. Spose you would then at 70 take a UK test.
Seems like Brexit has had one benefit. But not to UK citizens living abroad.
https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-...european-union
The UK already allows EU licence holders to retain their licence even if living in the UK.
You get till your 70th or 3 years whichever is the longest and then your licence is invalid. Spose you would then at 70 take a UK test.
Seems like Brexit has had one benefit. But not to UK citizens living abroad.
I'm sure that now a deal has been ageed, driving licence recognition will be reciprocated with no need for IDPs.
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,001
Re: Driving licence exchange , too late ?
UNLESS there is an agreement before the end of June 2021 when being resident you will be unable to drive with a UK driving Licence.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
I was panicking the same but (and I know this wont help) we put our residency application in online through a solicitor and got a favourable reply about 2-3 weeks later. On this email there was a reference to enable the licence exchange which I did through an agent.
I also handed over my Uk licence at the same time.
I think the licence exchange scheme is one of the many things left to be thrashed out between the UK and each of the EU countries (as each one can make their own rules on this). Sometimes makes you wonder why there an EU at all, when all the countries can do so much on their own. But thats another thread...
#12
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Beckenham, London borough Bromley
Posts: 1,617
Re: Driving licence exchange , too late ?
I think the licence exchange scheme is one of the many things left to be thrashed out between the UK and each of the EU countries (as each one can make their own rules on this). Sometimes makes you wonder why there an EU at all, when all the countries can do so much on their own. But thats another thread...
As at the 19th January 2013, ALL European driving licences became the same with the same rules for renewal EXCEPT for the UK which decided that renewal for people over 70 should be every 3 years rather than every 4 years.
When you consider how reluctant people were to exchange their driving licences in the past, you can understand that this was a massive step forward. Maybe their will be another step forward to make a genuine European driving licence with no country on it!!!
Davexf
#13
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 2
Re: Driving licence exchange , too late ?
Hola. Davexf, you mentioned a Spanish solicitor, have you any more info on this, from yourself or other people that have maybe used that method? Thanks Terry Cox
#14
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Beckenham, London borough Bromley
Posts: 1,617
Re: Driving licence exchange , too late ?
#15
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 2
Re: Driving licence exchange , too late ?
Hello Davexf, we are in La Marina Costa Blanca
Are you saying it can be done through a solicitor?
Terry
Are you saying it can be done through a solicitor?
Terry