bradliano

Hi guys, I'm thinking of changing my UK licence for a Spanish one before Brexit, however, it appears I have to hand in (give up) my UK driving licence in the process. Does anyone know any way around this?

VFR

There is none for obvious reasons.

bradliano

Yeah that's what I feared. Oh well, Spanish licence it is then! I guess an EU licence will be more useful than a non-EU one

Thanks

1sexsmith

Probably best to get an assessor to do this for you as you will need to visit trafico at minimum twice. You will also need to get tested at psicotechnico. Bit of a hassle if you live far from the main office. Cost overall between 90 to 120 Euros. Takes a couple of months

snikpoh

You should NOT need that just for an exchange. A renewal is different.

1sexsmith

To exchange a UK licence for spanish one you need to do a test for eyesight and coordination. You actually need to do this even if you intend to use your UK licence for the 2 year period after residency.

SimonJ22

Not always, my wife just did paperwork, no medical or eye test.

Retired in Euskadi

As far as I'm aware, only if you are over 70years of age. I exchanged mine with no problem; took about 14 days for the Spanish one to arrive. They meanwhile give you a temporary one in case you get stopped. Cost €25, about 5 years ago.

bradliano

Spoke to someone at the traffic office this morning, they told me that as things stand now I wouldn't need to do the psicotecnico test just to switch over only in the future when I renew my licence as per any spanish licence. However, she did say that after Brexit with a UK licence being non-EU I would then have to do the psicotecnico in order to do the canje.

Thanks for the help guys much appreciated :0

1sexsmith

Well that's funny I went to Alicante ad got sent home because they said I needed it and it was clearly stated on the website. Cost me 45 Euros!!. Then back again where I was asked for it by different funcinario. Seems I should make a denuncia

Fred James

There is NO requirement for a medical on exchange of a valid EU licence.

https://sede.dgt.gob.es/Galerias/tra...Noruega_EN.pdf

The assumption is that if you hold a valid licence you must have had a medical when you got it. Of course, no one told them that in the UK everyone is so fit with perfect eyesight, that they don't need medicals - ever!!

That said, as usual with any official process in Spain, the local office makes up the rules as they go along, so, yes, they MIGHT require a medical and it is pointless to argue with them.

snikpoh

What 2-year period?

You can keep your UK d/l until it expires (if it is valid in Spain)

1sexsmith

Well I was stopped by the GC a year ago and showed my residencia card and UK licence and the officer told me if I had been a resident for over 2 years I needed a Spanish licence. He was quite insistent.

Dxf

Hola
The process is not difficult and depending on the Trafico concerned, can take three weeks. Normally around the trafico office are a number of companies that rely on Trafico for their trade. In my experience there are several medical companies that do medicals on the spot, take a photo and transmit it all to trafico. It is also possible that there is a private local medical company that can do the same.

Davexf

Fred James