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Spanish Driving License

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 2:44pm
45 replies1253 views6 members subscribed
Deishu

Posts: 62

23 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 22 May 2019

I now have Spanish residency  however, because I applied after 1st January 2021 I have to take a driving test to exchange my UK license for a Spanish one. Has anyone had any experience of this?

Alicia 11

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 4:21pm

Alicia 11

Super helpful member

Posts: 2098

1775 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 30 Sep 2019

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 4:21pm

if you check out  the olive free paper internet site there is a blog by someone who has been through it and it's quite enlightning.

Andymac1951

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 6:16pm

Andymac1951

Very helpful member

Posts: 1127

518 helpful points

Location: Velez-Rubio

Joined: 14 Oct 2018

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 6:16pm

Deishu wrote on Mon Oct 18, 2021 2:44pm:

I now have Spanish residency  however, because I applied after 1st January 2021 I have to take a driving test to exchange my UK license for a Spanish one. Has anyone had any experience of this?

Hi Deishu, I had to undergo both the theory and practical tests earlier this year as the DGT would not accept my UK licence as they insist I applied too late although I had applied before end 2020.  Rather than get into an argument with them, one I could not possibly win, I chose to bite the bullet and take the tests.   First step is to join a local driving school who will set you up with an online theory examiner (some 90 plus exams which you can as many times as you feel you need)  along with an English version of the Spanish Rules of the Road. Once you are confident that you can pass the theory test, (you need 27 out of 30 correct answers to pass) advise the driving school who will arrange your theory test.    Once you have passed your theory test you will have to take a number of 'driving lessons' with the school (I took 4 mainly to ensure I was familiar with the different routes used by the examiner on the day.  There are only so many examination sites and they will not always be close to the driving school so make sure you visit the examination location and routes during your lessons.  Once you are happy with the lessons and familiar with the routes the school will apply for the practical examination.  You might find the driving school, and examiner teach and expect you to do some strange things, especially regarding roundabouts, but just 'bite the bullet' and do as they ask although it may well be alien to your driving.  I studied on line for 6 weeks a few hours a day, it may well take you less time but only you will know when you are ready.  The cost for all of this was some euro 600 plus a further euro 50 for a medical (obligatory) if indeed you can call it that.  In my humble opinion it is nought but a money making enterprise, by all concerned, but as they say 'when in Rome'.  It truly was not that difficult, more of a pain in the rear to be honest, and I'm sure you will do OK. My driving Instructor and examiner on the day spoke some English so the language was not a problem.

Best of luck, Andy.

PS.  I passed some 5 months ago and I am still awaiting my new drivers licence, they tell me it was posted 3rd August to my PO Box, the driving school is now on the case.

Deishu

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 6:29pm

Deishu

Original Poster

Posts: 62

23 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 22 May 2019

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 6:29pm

Andymac1951 wrote on Mon Oct 18, 2021 6:16pm:

Hi Deishu, I had to undergo both the theory and practical tests earlier this year as the DGT would not accept my UK licence as they insist I applied too late although I had applied before end 2020.  Rather than get into an argument with them, one I could not possibly win, I chose to bite the...

... bullet and take the tests.   First step is to join a local driving school who will set you up with an online theory examiner (some 90 plus exams which you can as many times as you feel you need)  along with an English version of the Spanish Rules of the Road. Once you are confident that you can pass the theory test, (you need 27 out of 30 correct answers to pass) advise the driving school who will arrange your theory test.    Once you have passed your theory test you will have to take a number of 'driving lessons' with the school (I took 4 mainly to ensure I was familiar with the different routes used by the examiner on the day.  There are only so many examination sites and they will not always be close to the driving school so make sure you visit the examination location and routes during your lessons.  Once you are happy with the lessons and familiar with the routes the school will apply for the practical examination.  You might find the driving school, and examiner teach and expect you to do some strange things, especially regarding roundabouts, but just 'bite the bullet' and do as they ask although it may well be alien to your driving.  I studied on line for 6 weeks a few hours a day, it may well take you less time but only you will know when you are ready.  The cost for all of this was some euro 600 plus a further euro 50 for a medical (obligatory) if indeed you can call it that.  In my humble opinion it is nought but a money making enterprise, by all concerned, but as they say 'when in Rome'.  It truly was not that difficult, more of a pain in the rear to be honest, and I'm sure you will do OK. My driving Instructor and examiner on the day spoke some English so the language was not a problem.

Best of luck, Andy.

PS.  I passed some 5 months ago and I am still awaiting my new drivers licence, they tell me it was posted 3rd August to my PO Box, the driving school is now on the case.

Hi Andy, thanks for your overview, it was very helpful.  Having had a UK drivers license for over 50 years and driven on and off in Spain for over 20 years it is somewhat frustrating but it is what it is.

L181SKY

Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:22pm

L181SKY

Very helpful member

Posts: 999

690 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 24 Jan 2017

Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:22pm

Deishu wrote on Mon Oct 18, 2021 6:29pm:

Hi Andy, thanks for your overview, it was very helpful.  Having had a UK drivers license for over 50 years and driven on and off in Spain for over 20 years it is somewhat frustrating but it is what it is.

I was thinking, When the government were negotiating the infamous Brexit! They didn’t care about the average little U.K. pensioner who will now never be able to get into Spain and retire to the sun. They can afford it though so no change for them! BUT, they will still have to do the driving test ! lol.   or, will they still be in negotiations about it ,i’ve heard they are. 

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L181SKY

Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:25pm

L181SKY

Very helpful member

Posts: 999

690 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 24 Jan 2017

Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:25pm

Andymac1951 wrote on Mon Oct 18, 2021 6:16pm:

Hi Deishu, I had to undergo both the theory and practical tests earlier this year as the DGT would not accept my UK licence as they insist I applied too late although I had applied before end 2020.  Rather than get into an argument with them, one I could not possibly win, I chose to bite the...

... bullet and take the tests.   First step is to join a local driving school who will set you up with an online theory examiner (some 90 plus exams which you can as many times as you feel you need)  along with an English version of the Spanish Rules of the Road. Once you are confident that you can pass the theory test, (you need 27 out of 30 correct answers to pass) advise the driving school who will arrange your theory test.    Once you have passed your theory test you will have to take a number of 'driving lessons' with the school (I took 4 mainly to ensure I was familiar with the different routes used by the examiner on the day.  There are only so many examination sites and they will not always be close to the driving school so make sure you visit the examination location and routes during your lessons.  Once you are happy with the lessons and familiar with the routes the school will apply for the practical examination.  You might find the driving school, and examiner teach and expect you to do some strange things, especially regarding roundabouts, but just 'bite the bullet' and do as they ask although it may well be alien to your driving.  I studied on line for 6 weeks a few hours a day, it may well take you less time but only you will know when you are ready.  The cost for all of this was some euro 600 plus a further euro 50 for a medical (obligatory) if indeed you can call it that.  In my humble opinion it is nought but a money making enterprise, by all concerned, but as they say 'when in Rome'.  It truly was not that difficult, more of a pain in the rear to be honest, and I'm sure you will do OK. My driving Instructor and examiner on the day spoke some English so the language was not a problem.

Best of luck, Andy.

PS.  I passed some 5 months ago and I am still awaiting my new drivers licence, they tell me it was posted 3rd August to my PO Box, the driving school is now on the case.

It’s great that’s you have done it. it scares me to death lol.  I’m retired a year from Bed And Breakfast in Scotland , it’s a known fact that Most of the accidents in the U.K. in summer are caused by Tourists not understanding how to negotiate a U.K. roundabout . Actually , the Spanish way is Far safer than ours and so much easier too.  

John99andrew

Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 10:21pm

John99andrew

Helpful member

Posts: 784

450 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 29 Nov 2017

Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 10:21pm

L181SKY wrote on Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:22pm:

I was thinking, When the government were negotiating the infamous Brexit! They didn’t care about the average little U.K. pensioner who will now never be able to get into Spain and retire to the sun. They can afford it though so no change for them! BUT, they will still have to do the driving tes...

...t ! lol.   or, will they still be in negotiations about it ,i’ve heard they are. 

I think you will find that it was the little average pensioner that voted for Brexit, so they shot there self in the foot, they will now have to live with it, why should Europeans have to try and help them out.

Kevin P

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 12:47am

Posts: 5

1 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 31 Jan 2020

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 12:47am

Anybody out there got any recommendations for a good english speaking driving school/instructor in Mojacar?  What area are the tests likely to be in?

John99andrew

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:24am

John99andrew

Helpful member

Posts: 784

450 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 29 Nov 2017

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:24am

Kevin P wrote on Wed Oct 20, 2021 12:47am:

Anybody out there got any recommendations for a good english speaking driving school/instructor in Mojacar?  What area are the tests likely to be in?

I know they do them in Albox I would think they do them in most towns ask at your town hall

L181SKY

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:34am

L181SKY

Very helpful member

Posts: 999

690 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 24 Jan 2017

Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:34am

John99andrew wrote on Tue Oct 19, 2021 10:21pm:

I think you will find that it was the little average pensioner that voted for Brexit, so they shot there self in the foot, they will now have to live with it, why should Europeans have to try and help them out.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?   So, you know WHO voted for Brexit.  WOW. amazing.     How do you come to That conclusion? I didn’t say the Europeans,(of course You are one now, lol).  have to Help them out. Where did you get that from? No Spanish person ,for example has had to sit a U.K. driving test to live in the U.K. Their license will be valid until it expires.  So why not reciprocal?  Or is that asking the Europeans for Help NO.  (check the they’re , their, there rule BTW.  

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