Can anyone clear this up for me.
My wife and I moved to Spain last year ,we have taken out RESIDENCIA but go back to the U/K quite often so we are not in Spain longer then 183 days.
When we go back to the U/K we hire a car we have been told its ok to drive in the U/K even though your old address is on your License is this so.
Thanks Roy

Look in the free beer thread at the top of the page and scroll down, you will see what DVLA say on the subject of UK licences.

There is now no such procedure as 'taking out residencia'.

It depends what you mean .... you still have to have a residencia certificate

By law we had to get residencia as we are pensionista's

Wendy x

When you hire a car the address you give has to be the same as on the licence

No, it's not a 'residencia certificate'. All the certificate does is certify that you are a recorded in the foreigners register as a citizen of an EU member state and that you have been a permanent residence of Spain since whatever date.

As a citizen of an EU member state you can live wherever you like within the EU with no other formalities. That was the whole point of abolishing the residence card.

Yes ..... but you still have to have one to reside in this country, and therefore you are a registered resident as they take your details and put them on record. The certificate was the product of Spain having to abolish the resident card, and I suspect most people would prefer the card.

Not necessarily. My licence is UK address of course, but I've been hiring cars in the UK for several years giving my Spanish address, because of course I have to produce two utility bills.
All they do is take copies of licence and utility bills and they seem to be happy

?? I didn't think you HAD to have one, it's an option....? I've got empadronamiento, so the ayuntamiento gets funding on the basis of me as an extra citizen, but although I'm here all year round my lawyer didn't say I had to apply for residencia, merely that maybe I should consider it.

It is a requirement, have a look in the free beer thread.

I have residencia here in Spain, living here permanently and for almost 6 years have travelled back and forth to UK hiring a car everytime

My license has our old UK address, I give a different address to the hire company, usually my Spanish one if not its a relatives

Never had any problems getting a car, they never seem to care so I wouldnt worry about it, I have used various companies buy usually hiring through easycar is cheapest even though the sub-contract the rental to Budget !!! its even cheaper than going directly to Budget themselves

Yes, I agree, I would prefer the card complete with photograph and fingerprint but my point is that the certificate that replaces it is not a residence certificate, is is a certificate of citizenship of an EU member state.

Many thanks everyone for your replys ref:Hire-ing car with old U/K address,on,but what happens if you get stopped by the U/K Police.
I have spoken to a Hire company and they said just bring your Passport,License and credit card,I said should I bring utility bills and Spanish address they said no?

you have a driving licence, right?


so you can drive legally