As a Spanish resident, do I have to change my driving licence?
Jan 24th 2013, 7:05 am
#61
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Re: As a Spanish resident, do I have to change my driving licence?
I'm not sure that I understand your point.
You will have to do a medical the same as any Spanish national. You need to have one every 10 years to the age of 70! When I exchanged my licence, I had to have a medical (such as it was). They sort of do have a medical in UK but it's part of the test - read a number plate, check reaction times etc.
You will have to do a medical the same as any Spanish national. You need to have one every 10 years to the age of 70! When I exchanged my licence, I had to have a medical (such as it was). They sort of do have a medical in UK but it's part of the test - read a number plate, check reaction times etc.
Jan 24th 2013, 7:20 am
#63
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Re: As a Spanish resident, do I have to change my driving licence?
However, because my UK photo had expired by one day I was told by the official at Traffico that I would have to provide a medical certificate along with my application.
This was in Granada.
Just outside the Traffico office is a strip of run-down shops and cafe/bars. Among them is a poky little office that provides medical certificates for Traffico. Traffico didn't actually recommend this place, they just pointed out that it was there.
I assume they must be a private organisation judging by the state of the decor. It looked very seedy but was surprisingly popular. The service was excellent and efficient. No appointment necessary, just join the queue.
The medical consisted of questions, eye test and blood pressure test. They charged about €40 and provided a medical certificate which I took back over the street to Traffico, who accepted it without question.
A very simple process actually.
Last edited by billgates; Jan 24th 2013 at 7:20 am. Reason: whe
Jan 24th 2013, 7:41 am
#64
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Granada Costa
Posts: 10,899
Re: As a Spanish resident, do I have to change my driving licence?
Here is the official statement of the requirements for exchanging your licence.
http://www.dgt.es/was6/portal/conten...8_12__2012.pdf
Nowhere does it say you need a medical certificate.
I and my wife certainly did not have one.
Jan 24th 2013, 9:33 am
#65
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Location: Costa Valencia
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Re: As a Spanish resident, do I have to change my driving licence?
You do not.
Here is the official statement of the requirements for exchanging your licence.
http://www.dgt.es/was6/portal/conten...8_12__2012.pdf
Nowhere does it say you need a medical certificate.
I and my wife certainly did not have one.
Here is the official statement of the requirements for exchanging your licence.
http://www.dgt.es/was6/portal/conten...8_12__2012.pdf
Nowhere does it say you need a medical certificate.
I and my wife certainly did not have one.
Rosemary
Jan 24th 2013, 10:11 am
#66
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 106
Re: As a Spanish resident, do I have to change my driving licence?
You do not.
Here is the official statement of the requirements for exchanging your licence.
http://www.dgt.es/was6/portal/conten...8_12__2012.pdf
Nowhere does it say you need a medical certificate.
I and my wife certainly did not have one.
Here is the official statement of the requirements for exchanging your licence.
http://www.dgt.es/was6/portal/conten...8_12__2012.pdf
Nowhere does it say you need a medical certificate.
I and my wife certainly did not have one.
So surely if you are changing your licence then you have to prove that you have had a medical? When I changed mine I had to have a medical test and supply the proof I had passed it......
Jan 24th 2013, 1:38 pm
#67
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Granada Costa
Posts: 10,899
Re: As a Spanish resident, do I have to change my driving licence?
The renewal periods you have quoted from Snikpoh are not correct as I pointed out.
As has also been pointed out, when you exchange your current UK licence the assumption is that to have been issued with that licence you must have passed any medical test that was required in the country that issued it. As we all know, the UK does not require a medical.
When it comes to renewal then you must have a medical as an integral part of the renewal process.
There are many examples of people saying that they had to have a medical when they exchanged. In most cases it is because they did it through a gestor, and the gestor assumed that a medical was required. When the application gets to Traffico they would just bin the medical certificate.
As has also been pointed out, when you exchange your current UK licence the assumption is that to have been issued with that licence you must have passed any medical test that was required in the country that issued it. As we all know, the UK does not require a medical.
When it comes to renewal then you must have a medical as an integral part of the renewal process.
There are many examples of people saying that they had to have a medical when they exchanged. In most cases it is because they did it through a gestor, and the gestor assumed that a medical was required. When the application gets to Traffico they would just bin the medical certificate.
Jan 25th 2013, 2:57 pm
#68
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Joined: Jan 2013
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Re: As a Spanish resident, do I have to change my driving licence?
Does anyone here know what happens to the points on your licence when you exchange it for a spanish licence? I am curious because I have more than one offence on the licence with points. Will they disappear? And will they re-appear if I move back to the UK again?
Jan 25th 2013, 3:22 pm
#69
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Granada Costa
Posts: 10,899
Re: As a Spanish resident, do I have to change my driving licence?
The UK points are not noted on your Spanish licence but if you go back to the UK and exchange back to a UK licence they will reappear.
Jan 25th 2013, 7:43 pm
#70
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Re: As a Spanish resident, do I have to change my driving licence?
I did not produce one when I exchanged (albeit a few years ago) but I have needed one for a recent renewal.
Jan 25th 2013, 10:08 pm
#71
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Posts: 377
Re: As a Spanish resident, do I have to change my driving licence?
Just to clarify, for a normal car upto 3,500 kg i.e class B, the DGT website says that the validity is 10 years upto 65, and then 5 years thereafter.
Jan 26th 2013, 12:05 am
#72
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Location: Near Alora....but not too near. :)
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Re: As a Spanish resident, do I have to change my driving licence?
I agree with you Fred that a certificate is not required but some offices insist on this being done, yet another instance of "depends on where you are and who is dealing with you". Graham and I had to have very basic medicals to change ours but we know others who have not had to. These types of experiences constantly cause the differences of opinion on the site.
Rosemary
Rosemary
Jan 26th 2013, 9:08 am
#75
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Granada Costa
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Re: As a Spanish resident, do I have to change my driving licence?
Some testing centres don't bother to do the driving simulation at all.
Even then, I know one guy who shakes so much he cannot hold a drink in one hand who got through the test.
About the only thing that they test that might present a problem is your eyesight. If you only have vision in one eye you will pass but they impose restrictions such as limiting your speed to 100kph and also require a more frequent medical as the licence will not get issued for the normal period.
Also, if you need specs to get through the test then that will be noted on your licence.
Even then, I know one guy who shakes so much he cannot hold a drink in one hand who got through the test.
About the only thing that they test that might present a problem is your eyesight. If you only have vision in one eye you will pass but they impose restrictions such as limiting your speed to 100kph and also require a more frequent medical as the licence will not get issued for the normal period.
Also, if you need specs to get through the test then that will be noted on your licence.