This is one of the consequences of Brexit and the measure also affects Spanish drivers in the UK. Spain is dragging its feet for racist reason towards those from the UK and for that reason Im glad I dont live there. Minister McCartney claims that Spain has been requiring additional elements which no one else has asked for in relation to driving license exchange arrangements. Especially since the Spanish in the U.K. arent treated in the same way. 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 . I, too, am frustrated by the pace. The licences issued in 2021 by the UK were valid until 28 February 2022, and are no longer valid for driving in Spain after that date. As financial turmoil and rising inflation continue to cause UK citizens to feel the pinch, it appears plenty of people seem to be turning dreams of finding an escape route into a reality. By Peter McLaren-Kennedy 08 July 2022 16:07, No progress on UK Spain driving licences as negotiations continue - Have a driving licence with a validity of 5 years or more on the date of issue for Group 2 (BTP, C1, C1E, C, CE D1, D1E, D, DE). All cars driving in Spain are required to carry two warning triangles to be placed at the front and back of the car in the event of a breakdown. 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. The Spanish driving licence will no longer be valid in the United Kingdom, nor will the British licence be valid within the European Union. If you live in Spain and your UK driving licence is lost or stolen or if it expires you will not be able to renew it with the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. Information in English since 1962. . 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. pic.twitter.com/SbYSnM410x, Hugh Elliott (@HughElliottUK) July 8, 2022. UK Ambassador to Spain Hugh Elliott posted a last-minute announcement last Friday evening, just hours before the April 30th deadline for UK licence validity, confirming one of the worst case scenarios for British driving licence holders living in Spain. 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. 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. Set up by Pascal Siegmund, he has said: I invite everybody to join my group to set up a protest on 13 October if we dont get a new substantive update before this date.. Review our If you drive in Spain as a . The minimum driving age in Spain is 18 years and you must have a valid UK driving licence with you. Twitter Replace a lost . Since 1 May 2022, thousands of UK licence holders who had been resident in Spain for six months or more have been unable to drive with their UK licences, even though the vast majority of other EU nations have struck deals with the UK post-Brexit for the simple exchange of driving licences. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Immigrant Travels All About Second Passport. Spanish law does not require drivers to carry reflective jackets, but anyone found walking . In order to be able to drive in the EU legally, British citizens residing in Spain will have to obtain a driving licence by undertaking the theory as well as the practical driving test. If however you move to Spain on a permanent basis and become a formal resident and you find that your UK license expires you will need to exchange it for a Spanish one. All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE. Since May 1, 2022, British citizens residing in Spain are no longer permitted to drive with their UK driving licenses due to Brexit. Whether its local news in Spain, UK news or international stories, we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home. Holders of a Spanish driving license must renew the document according to the following schedule: I've been living in the UK since 2005, got my driving license here, and was thinking of moving back to Spain next year. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The United Kingdom effectively ceased to belong to the European Union on the 31st of December 2020, so traffic arrangements within the EU ceased to be valid. The Spanish drink-drive limit is .5mg/ml of blood, and 0.3 mg/ml for people with fewer than 3 years' driving experience. Image Yau Ming Low / Shtterstock.com. Driving a UK registered car as a tourist in Spain And the good news is that, if you are coming on holiday, you can drive in Spain using a driving licence that has been issued in the UK for visits of up to 3 months, without needing an international driving permit. 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. Were in discussion almost daily about the outstanding issues and I reman very optimistic that we will reach an agreement and hope that it will be soon. 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. To exchange your UK driving licence for a Spanish one you will have to take the Spanish driving test which includes a theory and a practical driving test. 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. A lot going on behind the scenes says UK ambassador about driving licence negotiations. There is a lot going on behind the scenes, even if it doesnt feel like it to you.. British citizens with a UK driving license residingin Spain, cannot exchange their driving license for a Spanish one. The information below is taken from varies publications by the European Commission. Please contact us here for further information on the new rules for the British Citizens. Many of you also continue to ask why you cant drive while the talks are continuing. 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. One To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements. Since May, Britons living in Spain have been banned from using their UK driving licences on Spanish roads. 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. Learn to drive a car: step by step. The British government have been in talks with the Spanish authorities about this for months now and the latest information we have is they are close to declaring a deal that will allow British residencia to drivein Spain and vice versa as the problem also exists for Spanish peoplein the UK to drivethere until an agreement is finalised. The change does not apply to tourists, who can still use their UK driving licence, and also affects Spaniards living in the UK. The change does not apply to tourists, who can still use their UK driving licence, and also affects Spaniards living in the UK. 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. When Is It Recommended? If pre-registered, you then had until 31st December 2021 to actually make the exchange. It is administered in England, Scotland and Wales by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and in Northern Ireland by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA). Once approved, the practice begins, here the important thing is the skill and if you have the British license you will have it, possibly the biggest inconvenience you have is that the examiner does it in Spanish, for this reason it is important that you take some classes to understand the instructions before the exam. Originally from South Africa, Peter is based on the Costa Blanca and is a web reporter for the Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. The UK Government has engaged in these negotiations in good faith and ensured that Spanish drivers in the UK have, as always, encountered no limitations nor inconvenience in their ability to drive. Will my driving licence be valid? 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. British Embassy UK Driving License Exchange Update. When you exceed that, you need to face a fine of 800. Now I know, too, that you want a timescale and you want an update after every meeting, but Im afraid I just cant give you those things in this negotiation. 'There is a lot going on behind the scenes,' the British Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott, has said in his latest message to UK nationals resident in Spain who have been unable to exchange their British driving licences for Spanish ones, and are therefore currently unable to drive. We previously thought, we genuinely thought, that wed have concluded the negotiations by the summer. Supported by SST. - 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). If the driver passes, they must pay a 99.77 fee to have their license issued. Unlike Spaniards driving with an expired licence, the fine is 6,000 euros instead of 200 euros. Valid Passport. 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. A Spanish driving test costs 94.05 - plus 35 for a mandatory pre-test physical examination. Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY. In a video message posted on the British Embassys Facebook page on Tuesday, Ambassador HughElliott acknowledged that there have been unforeseen issues since stating back in June that his best estimate was to have everyone back on the road around the end of July with two months now having passed since the best estimate date. Two (32x25mm sized) recent photographs. 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). In the last week of July, British and Spanish officials have continued intensive talks, which have resulted in a productive meeting held on July 29. All Rights Reserved. I am currently driving my friend's Portuguese vehicle. British residents in Spain have had plenty of warning and plenty of time to change their licences. Theres also no provision for deaf people like myself to take lessons. View or share your driving licence information. 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. The UK's ambassador to Spain has said there is no progress on the UK driving licences in Spain, but that negotiations are still continuing. Tell DVLA you've changed address: step by step. Driving in Spain with UK license 2022. 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. 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. Latest news Covid-19 Practical tips. 6. However, tourists can still use their British driving licence while on holiday in the co Though we appreciate thats hard. Got a news story you want to share? Apparently there cant be any deaf people in Spain otherwise you would think they would make adjustments. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 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. The last date for Spanish residents with a UK driving license to register their intent to ex-change for a Spanish license was 30th December 2020. IN its latest driving licence update, the British Embassy in Spain took to social media to say that these negotiations continue to be a "top priority for the UK" as it answered "questions, concerns and frustrations" from Brits in Spain. As the deadline of April 30th has already come and gone, the British Embassy in Madrid is currently trying to arrange a further extension of the agreement over the mutual exchange of Spanish and British driving licenses post-Brexit. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. If the negotiations are nearly complete then why dont the Spanish authorities extend the grace period and allow us to drive? As I understand it , its because the British tourists having committed an offence often go back to the U.K. without paying the fine. This fee covers two rounds and if the student does not pass, they will have to pay an additional 180. Like in most European countries driving in Spain with a UK/EU driving license is perfectly viable and you do not need to replace it for a Spanish one. Practical classes: Cost 32/ driving class. One person has even set up a Facebook group, called Invasion of the British Embassy in Madrid for the DL Exchange lssue, with the aim of organising a peaceful demonstration at the embassy, as well as for a delegation to have a discussion with the ambassador and his staff. If the new licence was not applied for before 31 December 2020, the person in question will have to obtain a new Spanish driving licence. While there remains some outstanding work to be done to agree on the annexes of the agreement between both countries, the UK authorities explain that once the agreement is finalized, the same will be published in the Spanish gazette. Getting those affected back on the road remains our top priority. 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. - if you moved to Spain after 1st January 2021, your valid UK licence will be recognised for 6 months from the date you obtained residence Step 2: Take a test to determine your knowledge of Spanish traffic laws. It remains a priority. Sign upfor the FREE Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English. Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP), Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall). The deadline had been extended. For all further details, see: @2021 - spainenglish.com & Maravilla Pictures Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Licence endorsements up to 9 points are accepted. No further details were provided as to what the technicalities are that are being worked through with the last substantive update suggesting that access to the Driving Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) remained a sticking point. You could be given a roadside breath test if the police suspect you of being over the limit. The maximum penalty is a fine of 1,000 and your driving license loss for up to four years. It is unknown if this is still the issue. I too kept my UK driving licence as right from the start you were allowed to do so until it expired, The agreement with France and UK was done in a matter of weeks and I still have my UK licence to this day and can keep it until it expires in 2026. Test and theoretical exam: Cost 380 (standardized prices in all driving schools). 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? The Spanish government has pointed out that Boris Johnsons government did not want to collaborate with the Spanish authorities on road safety for 14 months. 3. In a statement published on the official Facebook page of the British embassy in Spain, called Brits in Spain, Minister McCartney claims that the UK has reached arrangements for the recognition of British licenses with 24 other EU Member States already, but negotiations with Spain have been a bit more complicated. 'Spain in English' is owned, managed and published by Maravilla Pictures Ltd, a UK registered company. Pascal Siegmund, who has started the Facebook protest group, has said that he believes the delay in implementing the agreement on driving licences is linked to the negotiations regarding the post Brexit status of Gibraltar. (You can unsubscribe anytime), 2022 spainlifeexclusive | All rights reserved | Terms and condition, We are hoping to hear in the next two weeks the final arrangements. Driving licences issued in any Member State of the EU, UK (until 12/31/2020) and the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) are valid to drive in Spain while they are in date and have not been been withdrawn for any reason (with the exception that the age required for driving will correspond to that required to obtain the equivalent Spanish driving license). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you dont already have one. 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. The price may vary and, in this case, the teachers DO speak English. We are already starting to receive inquiries from our clients on this matter in Fuster & Associates and therefore we have collected the following information from different driving schools in the area used to working with English-speaking clients. One comment in response to the ambassadors message was: 150 days now [since 1 May] if these meetings are happening every day, then we have a bigger problem than youre letting on.. They are organising via social media in a bid to converge in the Spanish capital. These are as follows: Valid UK photocard driving licence Valid Proof of ID or National ID Card for EU citizens It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Driving licences issued in the UK, the EU and EEA countries are accepted. Whilst the Embassy is unable to get involved in individual cases it is known to be raising the issue with the Spanish government as part of the ongoing discussions. However, there are still some exceptions to this rule. From 1st May 2022: - if you were living in Spain before 1st January 2021, your valid UK driving licence will no longer be valid for driving in Spain. (Image: Getty) He added: "Moving to France has always been an attractive proposition for many . According to a statement of Minister Karl McCartney, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, the British Embassy in Spain and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, together with the Department for Transport, have been negotiating with the Spanish authorities regarding the exchange of the UK driving licenses. "If you have a valid UK driving licence: From 1st May 2022 if you were living in Spain before 1st January 2021, your valid UK driving licence will no longer be valid for driving in. If you moved to Spain after 1 January 2021, your valid UK licence will be recognized for 6 months from the date you obtained residence While the UK was part of the European Union, British drivers could drive throughout the whole bloc, as all Member States recognized their driving licenses. 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. Drivers must have held a full driving licence for at least 12 months. 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. The legal blood alcohol level limit is 0.5 mg. Spain. However, it has been emphasised that this does not affect UK license holders who have just recently arrived in Spain. What a load of hogwash. 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. These are the. You need to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one if you:-. For tourists and non-residents, UK driving licences remain valid for six months after the tourist arrives in Spain. The lack of news on progress will be a worry for those who are residents in Spain and have yet to exchange their UK driving licences or redo the test, with many having to resort to using public transport or relying on the goodwill of others. An IDP can be bought at Post Offices for 5.50. If you are affected by this change and need to drive, you should take immediate steps to apply for a Spanish driving license. The ambassador's latest message has done little to calm the anger, frustration and sense of helplessness . Adn Cabello, from the University of Seville (Spain) is heading to Rome soon to collect on a decade-old bet (a fancy dinner) with a friend [] With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month, EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Known as the PEOPLES PAPER, Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain. It is estimated that almost 200,000 British nationals live in Spain, with. 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For editorial submissions, please email: editorial@spainenglish.com. A ban came into effect on Sunday, May 1, after a six-month rule ended which allowed Brits to use their DVLA issued licences in Spain. The British ambassador and his team at the British Embassy is working around the clock to try and resolve the issue and we are told that a deal is "close." For some UK residents in Spain the deal cant come soon enough. 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. Then get in touch at [emailprotected], Your email address will not be published. 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. Were working on this every day. From the time the license is received until the age of 65, it must be renewed every 10 years. From that day on, British citizens living in Spain will have a period of six months to exchange their British driving license with one issued by the authorities of Spain without having to take a test. There are only a couple of issues left, but they are complex. Well, in summary, Id say were genuinely still making progress. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. National Driving license of your home country that you wish to exchange. >> Portugals Failure to Issue Post-Brexit Residence Permits Hinders Life of Almost 35k Brits. We, here at Fuster & Associates are ready to help you in any matter regarding to this new situation. Apply for your first provisional driving licence. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Stop them driving until they comply. It was previously suggested by the British Embassy that Spain had asked for data provision to form part of the licence exchange agreement, and that the UK authorities were reluctant to share this information.