Owning and Driving a Spanish Registered Car with a UK Driving Licence

To be sure, buy an International Driving Licence at any British Post office, costs about £5 for a year

Driving abroad: Get an international driving permit (IDP) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

I was planning to get an IDL.

It was the rumour that even with a UK licence and IDL, that I would not be able to drive my Spanish purchased and registered car in Spain unless I swapped my UK licence for a Spanish one, that I was hoping someone would answer.

Even though I am not a Spanish resident.

Let's hope the rumours are wrong, I gor the IDL before BRexit just in case, but I believe the UK licence is Ok now with the agreement. If it wasn't OK, anyone wanting to rent while on holiday here would need the IDL, which has been legal for nearly a century I believe.

I just found this, released online by GOV UK on 31 December. SEE    Driving in the EU - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Driving licences and international driving permits

You need to carry your UK driving licence with you.

You do not need an international driving permit (IDP) to visit and drive in the EU, Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

You might need an IDP to drive in some EU countries and Norway if you have:

• a paper driving licence
• a licence that was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

Check if you need an IDP.

You will not need an IDP to drive when visiting Ireland if you have a UK driving licence.

You can get an IDP over the counter at the Post Office.

An IDP costs £5.50 and drivers must:

• be a resident of Great Britain or Northern Ireland
• have a full UK driving licence
• be 18 or over

Thanks for response.

I saw what you posted on my googling :-) I am not planning to take my UK registered car to Spain, or hire a car in Spain.

I am not sure if the UK Gov post content squashes the rumour?

The rumour is that I can't drive my Spanish owned, registered and plated car in Spain using my UK driving licence. That I have to change my UK licence to a Spanish licence if I want to drive my Spanish owned car in Spain.

I am resident in the UK

 I was stopped a few times driving my Spanish car when shopping during lockdown.

The UK licence was never questioned.

That's good news, thanks for posting.

Were you stopped when driving pre or post Brexit?

I am hoping it was just the usual idiot that started this rumour!

Pre Brexit stops but I believe nothing has changed due to the Spanish having a good deal for Brits waiting on the table to be activated when the Btexit deal was done. If you are rally nervous ask the question in one of the papers:

Andalucia News - The Olive Press Spanish Newspaper

Spain, Regional, UK and World News - Euro Weekly News

Thanks, I was hoping you would say post Brexit :-)

Sometimes google amazes me with the answers it finds, but these time not so easy 

I have been driving in Spain since 2015 on my UK licence with no problems. There are rules, but why would you change your licence if you are a UK resident?