Since May 1st of 2022, British nationals living in Spain will no longer be able to use their UK driving licence on Spanish roads after the governments of both countries failed to reach a post-Brexit agreement. The price may vary and, in this case, the teachers DO speak English. Twitter 3. Information in English since 1962. . If you were living in Spain before 1 January 2021, your valid UK driving license will no longer be valid for driving in Spain Two (32x25mm sized) recent photographs. Required fields are marked *. The biggest concern for some British expats is that their UK driving licences are no longer valid in Spain and a deal, which the British Embassy hoped would be reached over the summer, has still not been ratified. New drivers must display a standardized (15 cm 19.5 cm; 6" x 8"), reflective green and white "L" plate on the lower left corner of the rear window for one year after obtaining their first driving . An update will be given as soon as an answer has been received. As weve said previously, we did request the reinstatement of those measures several times, but this wasnt granted. Driving licences issued in the UK, the EU and EEA countries are accepted. And so, the advice that we have been giving all along, which is that you should consider taking the Spanish test if you do need to drive urgently, remains valid. Data has shown a huge 65 percent rise in people taking out a French car insurance for expats policy. Currently as a resident of Spain you cannot drive on a UK licence, although Brits on holiday there can, according to a comment left on the post by Michelle Robins. Ill be in touch as soon as I have further details.. They say the access is necessary to be able to follow up those who commit driving offences in the country. Although the written test can be done in English, the availability of the practical driving test in English will depend on . Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeni Prigozhin claims he interfered in US elections, Outrage as Turkish authorities stop Greek governor of Central Macedonia entering the country, Im a Celebrity star forced to quit after just 24 hours in the jungle, UPDATE BREAKING NEWS: Spanish Agri-food industry on alert as truckers strike, Rishi Sunak breaks silence and addresses Matt Hancocks Im a Celeb appearance, Why You Should Buy Budblockz, Loopring, and Band Protocol to Diversify your Crypto Portfolio, many having to resort to using public transport. Reasons to believe that a UK driving licence meets all the requirements under the EU directive to be valid in the EU therefore there could easily be an agreement between Spain and the UK for exchanging these permits. It means that if you have been resident in Spain for longer than six months, your UK-issued licence will no longer be valid to drive here from May 1," the statement of the Ambassador reads. Medical Certificate from one of the Authorized Drivers Check Centers. Licence endorsements up to 9 points are accepted. Theres also no provision for deaf people like myself to take lessons. Headlamp beam deflectors are another must for UK drivers venturing into Spain in their right-hand drive cars. The UK Ambassador to Spain has given an update on the driving licence debacle, with nothing new to genuinely give hope to the thousands of in-limbo drivers whose increasing frustration has led one group to try and take matters into their own hands. 4. The "Brits in Spain" Facebook page is continually. Everyone over the age of 18 can continue to use their own national driving license to drive a car in Spain for either the first six months after gaining official residency (non-EU citizens) or for the first two years of residence (EU/EEA nationals). Latest news Covid-19 Practical tips. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. A deadline that has already been extended by four months from the previous expiry date of June 2021. The Minister also claims that the UK Government has engaged in these negotiations, pointing out that Spanish drivers in the UK have encountered no limitations nor inconvenience in their ability to drive, in spite of Spains move to limit the use of UK-issued driving licenses. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. This means that from 1 January 2021, licences issued by the UK authorities were valid for driving in Spain for a further ten months, until 31 October 2021 only, and were no longer valid for driving in Spain after that date. - Have a driving licence with a validity of 15 years or more on the date of issue for Group 1 (AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE). Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. Sign upfor the FREE Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English. If they didnt it was either laziness o thinking they are above the law. In the United Kingdom, a driving licence is the official document which authorises its holder to operate motor vehicles on highways and other public roads. The fact that Spanish licence holders living in the UK can also continue to exchange their permits in the UK, some 21 months after Brexit came into force, has made the issue even more frustrating. At Spain Life Exclusive, well be keeping an eye out for more news, as little information has been released so far regarding the negotiations and reasons for holdups, as for the last several months, the British Embassy has been working hard to establish a long-term agreement with Spain so that British nationals in dont have to repeat sitting their driving exam. (Image: Getty) He added: "Moving to France has always been an attractive proposition for many . Spain, which requires British drivers who spend more than six months in the country to exchange their licence for a Spanish one, wants the UK to give the DGT direct access to the DVLA database. SPAIN'S self-employed truckers have voted to begin an indefinite strike starting on midnight on Sunday, as the sector continues to struggle against high costs. Before we moved to the EU we thought about buying and living in Spain, Then having spend many months there and delving into the system we came to the conclusion it was a corrupt and racist country on the whole. Specializing in high-end real estate on the Costa Blanca North, Koch & Varlet is a Javea-based luxury real estate agency that provides a first-class A new television series dedicated to the boom of the Costa del Sol will be based on real stories and characters from the classic With various diverse and unique pieces in store, Azure Home Store in Javea specialises in on-trend rustic furniture to give you the home patio Movida Denia was founded 5 years ago with the goal of providing a unique and complete dining experience in a relaxed yet sophisticated setting. From the time the license is received until the age of 65, it must be renewed every 10 years. Theyre doing it to us because they can. A lot going on behind the scenes says UK ambassador about driving licence negotiations. Driving without a valid license is illegal in Spain, and can create legal problems for the driver. Click here for further details on how to ADVERTISE with us. Many British residents still cannot drive on a UK licence in Spain. Since May 1st of 2022, British nationals living in Spain will no longer be able to use their UK driving licence on Spanish roads after the governments of both countries failed to reach a post-Brexit agreement. The Spanish driving licence will no longer be valid in the United Kingdom, nor will the British licence be valid within the European Union. Its disgusting behaviour. Brits who are affected may have to sit a driving test in Spain in order to obtain a Spanish licence to be allowed on the roads. I get how frustrating it is to hear that, but we are making progress. Facebook. Minister McCartney claims that Spain has been requiring additional elements which no one else has asked for in relation to driving license exchange arrangements. If you are heading to Spain in your own car, you will also need a number of additional documents that you must keep with you at all times. No part of this website may be reproduced without written permission from the publishers. The last date for Spanish residents with a UK driving licence to register their intent to exchange for a Spanish licence (without taking a test) was 30th December 2020. Were working on this every day. Please supportSpain in English with a donation. Guidance for UK driving licence holders living in Greece or Italy also updated. In response, many of those affected have been sharing their stories online, with some explaining how administrative errors on the part of Spains DGT traffic authority meant they were unable to process their licence exchange before the deadline. This will be the second stoppage after similar industrial action was taken in March of this year, which caused serious problems to Spain's supply chain and even saw the dairy sector [] The deadline had been extended. And its FREE! Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Our aim is to secure a deal that allows UK licence holders resident in Spain to exchange their licence for a Spanish one without the need for a practical test, so they can return to the roads as soon as possible, the statement reads. What a load of hogwash. You could be given a roadside breath test if the police suspect you of being over the limit. And Im as disappointed as you are by the length of time that this is actually taking. For new arrivals, driving licences issued by the British authorities will be valid in Spain for a period of six months from the date of entry of the holder or from the date of obtaining the residence permit (TIE). It was my dream to retire here but that dream has turned into a bit of a nightmare. The British authorities are negotiating with Spanish officials on the recognition of United Kingdom-issued driving licenses so that UK nationals holding such licenses can again drive in the UK without the need for a practical test to obtain a Spanish license. Spain. We have similar arrangements in place with 24 other EU Member States, but negotiations with Spain have become more complicated due to Spain requiring additional elements in relation to driving . Humphrey Carter 21/10/2022 15:21. By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you dont already have one. 2. It reportedly affects a minority of the 407,000 UK nationals who are officially resident in Spain, as many managed to exchange their licence for a Spanish one before the deadline at the end of 2020, as advised. I know that in Switzerland, they give you 6 months from the day you relocate from the UK into Switzerland to swap . - As of the 1st of January 2021, licences issued by the British authorities will enable you to drive in Spain until the 28th of February 2022 and will not be valid for driving in our country from that point onwards, the established in article 21 of the general driver's regulation being of application from said date. Got a news story you want to share? Although the driving lessons are slightly cheaper, taking. The current situation arose on May 1 after a deadline expired, making UK licences invalid for anyone who had been resident for more than six months in Spain. Invasion of the British Embassy in Madrid for the DL Exchange lssue, best estimate was to have everyone back on the road around the end of July, Sitges consolidates its recovery of international tourism, 718 kg of rubbish collected from Sitges coastline over 3 months, 72% plastic, Spains Guardia Civil seize largest amount of marijuana on record, Four dead, including teenager, after brawl turns deadly at wedding in Spain, Rugby player & former Celebrity X Factor singer Levi Davis missing in Barcelona, Climate activists glue their hands to the frames of Goya masterpieces at Prado museum, Spain temporarily closes airspace due to Chinese rocket debris, Bara icon Gerard Piqu plays his last game at Camp Nou, but adds: Ill be back, Sitges Hills Villas Property Management, Medical helicopter lands on Sitges-Vilanova road after man suffers heart attack. Hi all, Wondering if anyone has managed to convert their UK driving license into a Spanish one after Brexit. By comparison, in Wales, Northern Ireland and England the drink-drive limit is 0.8 mg/ml of blood, and .5mg/ml of blood for Scotland. Until now, British residents in Spain have been able to use their licences issued in their country, and all other European countries have reached a post-Brexit agreement. Apply for your first provisional driving licence. Please be assured that we are resolving those issues, one by one, the ambassador said. After the probationary period ends, the drivers are given a one-year grace period to upgrade their licences to Competent Driving Licence. Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices. Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Spain Life Exclusive. Image Yau Ming Low / Shtterstock.com. So, where are we? With negotiations continuing he is hoping to have a substantive update next week however, the onset of the summer holidays could delay any progress should an agreement not be reached shortly. What Are The Advantages? Since the beginning of 2022, residents in Spain with a UK driving licence, haven't been able to exchange to a Spanish driving licence unless they took a Spanish driving test. . On Friday October 14th, the British Embassy in Madrid published its latest update on the driving licence debacle which has kept an unnamed number of UK licence holders living in Spain off the roads since May 1st. Tweeting an update on Friday, July 8, Hugh Elliot the Ambassador said that progress is slow and the two parties were still trying to work through the technicalities on any agreement. Then get in touch at [emailprotected], Your email address will not be published. Alejandro Gonzlez Tudela, research scientist at the Spanish National Research Council's Institute for Theoretical Physics.Fundacin BBVA Scientists working on quantum physics in computing have been making friendly wagers for years. View or share your driving licence information. He went on to add that he was very aware of the difficulties that the issue is causing for some, saying that resolving the problem remains a top priority for the Embassy. And, as the governments representative in Spain, I hear and understand your frustrations. Llobell Cortell Has To Say On The Topic, Koch & Varlet, The World of Luxury Real Estate On The Costa Blanca Redefined, New TV Series to Be Based in Costa Del Sol Once Upon a Time in Marbella, What to Look For in Outdoor Furniture? Spain, at the moment, is refusing to recognise British driving licences which has left many expats in the slow lane. But what are the unforeseen issues and what really is going on behind the scenes? Therefore, EU driving licence rules continued to apply to licences issued by the UK until the end of the transitional period, i.e. Fixed Teeth In One Day: What Is It? Please contact us here for further information on the new rules for the British Citizens. 2022 Fuster & Associates. 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