Fred James

Sorry but they can if you are a resident. They can insist that you change it and the points go on the new licence or have it endorsed and entered on the Spanish database. When you have lost all your points you are no longer able to use it.

Why do people spend all this effort to avoid the law of the country they live in.

Personally I think they should be thrown out but of course EU law prevents this.

andyrich666

Thats quite informative as I was not aware of that, I have only been a tourist for now, so I am just expressing an opinion from what I have taken in from other Ex Pats, I guess the same happens all over Europe,

I would possibly argue though that in some communities a local Spanish resident may not be treated as harshly as a ex-pat be it English German or Dutch, and therefore they may feel justified.

I would assume you can get away with so much but as soon as your known then maybe things will change.

You will always find with motoring law in any country some who agree with the law and more'so who don't.

I get what you say, but please accept from me it is just a guess as to why people would not change.

Mitzyboy

I didnt change mine simply because I didnt want to and I didnt have to.
I wasnt breaking the law, it was within the rules.

Had it got to a stage when I needed to under the rules then I would probably have done so

scampicat

The reason I 'hung on to' my UK licence was a) there was no requirement for me to change it and b) we intended to return to the UK eventually, which we have now done.

I did manage to change it for another UK one because I was in the UK for seven months of the year it expired,(therefore UK resident), so I just renewed it while I was in the UK, albeit a few weeks earlier than I needed.

barajoz

Thanks for the advice and opinions here.

Do any of you guys happen to know if I can exchange my UK licence for a Spanish one with just the paper part of my UK license and a stamped letter from the Spanish police?

Fred James

I doubt it as it does not show the categories of vehicles that you are entitled to drive.

You will need the Certificate of Entitlement from the DVLA to prove that.

Domino

and that also covers many other items arising from living in another country. Too many seem to think it is their Human Right to live "under the radar" - after all they are British.

and it is about time EU law allowed for forced return to original country if they make themselves persona non grata. Too many times people from other states bring their bad habits across without any fear of consequences.
And here I don't just mean not changing driving licence, taxation etc, but people trafficking, rape, theft, prostitution etc etc. We have enough of our own without.

Rosemary

My understanding is that you need to have the credit card license itself in order to make the exchange.

Rosemary