Take five minutes to check your driving licence

AndrewLaEnvia wrote on Sun Sep 5, 2021 10:16am:

Hello,

Having returned from a great three weeks at our apartment (first time in 12 months) I just had a word of advice for everyone looking to hire a car. 

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I'm usually a stickler for checking all the details of a trip but must have been distracted this time by all the additional requirements.  On picking up my hire car it was brought to my attention that my driving license was now a UK license and since I renewed (change of address in UK) it does indeed only contain the Union flag.   The EU flag has been removed, makes sense, complete oversight by me which cost me £300 on picking up my car.

The hire clearly stated in their regs that if I did not hold an EU/International driving licence I would have to pay an additional insurance/levy and would not be allowed to carry on with my own annual car hire policy/excess process.  My UK driving license is no longer recognised.

Whatever peoples views on this (it doesn't matter) please check your driving licence before travelling when hiring a car.  Applying for an annual international driving license from your post office is cheap, easy and quick...yes a pain in the arse and something we previously never had to worry about, how long will that list get.  

Just a reminder to add this to your list in the future so you don't get caught out like me.

Hope many of you are getting to enjoy your holiday homes this summer and those permanently in Spain are enjoying your growing freedoms. Stay well everyone.  

Netian wrote on Mon Sep 6, 2021 10:50am:

really useful to know this. Sorry you had to pay so much out.  Do you know which IPD is necessary for Spain mainland cant seem to find this info anywhere

1926 1949 or 1968 ?

LosPardoslady wrote on Mon Sep 6, 2021 1:46pm:

It's an international driving permit not a licence.  It's used in conjunction with your UK driving licence.  Available from the Post Office in the UK (£ 5.50+passport sized photo) valid for a year. 

Not sure which number it is.  The numbers are different for Spain and France. ...

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Personally, I think I would just boycott the hire companies that are forcing people to do this but may be easier said than done. 

Netian wrote on Mon Sep 6, 2021 1:57pm:

seems to me that the UK government advice applies to driving your'e own UK car in Spain and not a hire car. I've done a  bit of digging after looking at the hire car policies and noticing that several of them are all asking for an International driving licence, if you don't have the euro mar...

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...k on your'e UK licence also if you get pulled over for a spot check you can be fined so worth the £5.50 charge at the post office hopefully they will issue me with the correct year  - just to be on the safe side.. ah well more paperwork to sort - may need a filing cabinet instead of luggage at this rate ................

Netian wrote on Mon Sep 6, 2021 2:10pm:

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Spain?

You need to have an International Driver's Permit to be granted rights to drive in Spain. Generally, an IDP is not a stand-alone document that can replace your local driver’s license, as you need both. An IDP translates your local driver’s...

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... license to different languages. It is duly issued by the International Driver’s Association and widely acknowledged by over 150 different countries. Without the International Driver's License, you could face punishment from local authorities.

Spain requires you to have an International Driver's Permit to be able to drive, but you don't have to take a Spanish driving test to get an IDP. It is just a translated document asserting your authorization to go, given that you already have a valid local driver’s license. You must always carry both your IDP and your domestic driver’s license. Having an IDP in Spain means that you could enjoy the major tourist destinations without worrying too much about legalities and other paperwork.

Found this info on the international drivers association website