Current Driving licence info - consolidated - Page 4

That’ll do.   Thanks Dario.

OMG, after all this time, it’s like the scene where Indiana shoots the guy with the sword lol.     Can it be done.   Such a simple solution 🤞🤞🤞🤞🙏🙏

Here follows latest update.  As expected, negotiations drag on into August, HMA warns people not to expect things to happen quickly:  A few questions that have been raised on this thread are addressed in this update.

**UPDATE ON DRIVING LICENCE NEGOTIATIONS** 

In response to positive feedback on the format of last week’s post, we have prepared another Q&A to provide an update on negotiations and round up some of your frequently asked questions.  

As we have said before, there are some details we cannot go into, as that could run the risk of derailing the negotiations – which is the last thing that any of us want. However, we are being as transparent as we possibly can and we hope this post is helpful. 

**

What has happened this week?  

Intensive talks have continued this week, concluding in a productive meeting between UK and Spanish officials today. However, there remains some outstanding work to be done to agree the annexes. Also this week, the Ambassador met with citizens’ rights groups representing UK Nationals from across Spain to hear their perspectives on local issues and answer questions from their members. 

Will negotiations go on into August?

Yes. Last week we said that we’d sought assurances on this and that, on the UK side, we had a full negotiating team available. Spain have now confirmed that they can continue negotiations with us over August, which we’re very grateful for. 

We recognise that many people are considering their whereabouts over August and so would like to know more about the negotiation timeline. Although, as we’ve said before, it’s impossible to give an exact date on when they will conclude, we want to be open about the fact things may take longer than we’d like during August.

What happens once the agreement is final? 

Once the negotiation teams have agreed the text, it will then go forward for final legal and political approvals. On the Spanish side, this means going through the ‘Consejo de Ministros’ (Spanish Cabinet). On the UK side, it will be approved by relevant Ministers.

Then it will be published in the BOE (state bulletin) and should come into force the same day. You will then have six months to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one (without having to take a test) and during that time you will be able to drive using your UK licence.  

Will there be enough exchange appointments? 

It will be for the Spanish Government to administer the process and ensure the provision of appointments. This is something we have raised throughout negotiations and Spain is conscious of the possible number of UK nationals who may need to exchange during the six-month window. 

We would encourage you to get an appointment as soon as you can and not leave it until the last minute, remembering that you do not have to exchange where you are resident if there is greater availability elsewhere.   

My UK licence has expired. Will I still be able to get a Spanish licence? 

The fact that some people’s licences have expired, or are about to, has been taken into account by the negotiating team. Expired licences shall be accepted provided that they were valid at the time that the licence holder entered Spain.

Will the agreement only apply to those who were here before the end of 2020 and registered their intent to exchange? 

No. The agreement will apply to anyone holding a UK licence, whether they were here before the end of 2020 or whether they move here in the future. 

Latest update as of 18th November.

As expected, it was and is, only a matter of time.

https://www.thelocal.es/20221118/confirmed-deal-on-uk-licences-in-spain-agreed-but-still-no-exchange-date/

HMA Hugh Elliott said : “You will recall that we have been in discussions with the Spanish for some weeks over two outstanding, complex issues and I’m pleased to tell you that we have now reached an agreement on those two points.”

No .. no I don’t recall that.  I recall the last update prior to this one saying that “all major points have now been agreed, and it is now just the Annexes being drafted.  Once that happens, it just needs to be sent before both British and Spanish parliament for ratification.”

Wonder why he’s changed his tune? 

I must admit that I have been under the impression that for the last couple of months, there have been 2 final sticking points within the "Annexes". Fortunately these appear to have been resolved.

The previous message from the embassy dated 11th November stated as follows:

" Teams on the the UK and Spanish side, continue to negotiate to try and reach agreement on the final points on the annexes. The UK Minister for Europe was in Spain today and raised the driving licence issue with his counterpart in an attempt to get the outstanding points over the line; ..."

It appears from the latest message from the embassy, that the introduction of the UK Minister for Europe, may have helped to clear the log jam.

We can but hope.  It needs to be presented to Congress of Deputies before mid-December or like in August, everything shuts down and it will not be until after 6th January that anything happens.

Yeah, agree. My money's on Feb.

For those looking to exchange UK licence to Spanish, it appears an agreement has been reached.  Still going through approval process, so no effective date yet.  This from DGT:

*Driving licence exchange* 

Following the ambassador’s last message, both the legal and political approvals are underway. We can’t yet provide a date when the process will be complete, but once we have further information we will let you know. In the meantime, here are provisional answers to some of the questions you have asked about what we expect to happen next. 

What happens after the agreement is published in the BOE?

Once the Agreement is finalised and published in the BOE (Spanish state bulletin) you will be able to drive for six months on your valid UK licence, during which time you will need to exchange it for a Spanish one to be able to continue driving. After that six months, you will no longer be able to drive on your UK licence, but will be able to continue to exchange it for a Spanish one. When we say UK licence we mean any valid licence issued by the DVLA (Great Britain licensing authority), DVA (Northern Ireland licensing authority) or Gibraltar licensing authority.

I understand I have to take a psicotecnico test (psychophysical aptitude test). What does that involve? 

The psicotecnico test is a short test to check your eyesight and reactions. You may also have a brief interview with a doctor. You will need a certificate showing you have passed the test in order to exchange your licence. It is valid for three months. There are a wide range of providers and you can find the official list at: 

https://www.dgt.es/conoce-la-dgt/con-quien-trabajamos/centros-reconocimiento-conductores/

Will UK driving licences as a result of an exchange of a licence obtained by a test in a third country be exchanged? (For example, I took my driving test in Australia and converted my Australian licence to a UK one when I lived there) 

You should be able to exchange a UK licence obtained as a result of exchange with a third country as long as Spain also has a driving licence exchange agreement with that country. In the example, Spain does not have an exchange agreement with Australia, so you would not be able to exchange it if your licence was originally granted there. 

(NOTE: This one is a bit misleading.  If you present a UK licence, it’s a UK licence with no indication of it having been swapped for a foreign licence - I can say with certainty that a licence obtained in Australia, then swapped for a UK one WILL be accepted as I know a person who has done just that)

What types of licences can be exchanged?

You can exchange any valid UK car (category B) licence and we expect that many other licence categories can be exchanged too, including mopeds and motorcycles. Further details of all categories will be available when the agreement is published. 

For all you avid fans of licence exchange, this is the most recent update I can find, dated 19 December 2022

“This is a brief update on progress towards driving licence exchange coming into force and some more information on what to expect once that happens.

"The UK’s legal checks have now been completed and a final version is with Spain for agreement on their side. When the British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Spanish Foreign Minister Albares met this week, they both agreed that we are close to completing this process. We will update again before the Christmas break and work with Spain will continue between Christmas and New Year.

"In the meantime, here are provisional answers to some more of the questions you have been asking us: 

My UK licence has expired. Will I be able to exchange it without taking a test?

Yes. The text includes provision for expired licences to be accepted for exchange, provided they were valid at the time you began living in Spain.

Do I have to give up my UK licence? Why can’t I keep both?

Once an exchange agreement is in force, you can drive in Spain on your UK licence for the first six months of living here, during which time you must exchange it for a Spanish licence. It is not possible to hold licences issued by the UK and Spain at the same time. If you return to live in the UK at any point, you will be able to exchange your Spanish licence for a UK one without taking a test.

I'm in my 80s/90s. Is there any age restriction on who can exchange their licence?

There is no age restriction and your driving licence remains valid until it expires. However, in general, once you reach 65, your licence will only be issued for five years, rather than 10. Validity periods are different for driving different categories of vehicles.