Exchanging UK Driving License

Hi Nick.

You have missed the Boat!!!!

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Before Brexit, you should exchange your licence within 2  Years of becoming a resident however considering the UK leaving the European Union it is strongly advised to exchange your licence as soon as it is possible, while the process is still straightforward and does not require any retesting. After the transition period, you will have six months after becoming a resident to exchange your licence.  If you did not register with Traffico before 31/12/2020 then from 01/01/2021 everyone applying to exchange their UK Drivers Licences for a Spanish one has to  complete  a  Spanish Test. There are no exceptions unfortunately. Spain & UK are have discussions at the moment to extend the Exchange of UK Drivers Licences but nothing has been finalized yet , if an agreement cannot be  reached, existing rules  still stand  with effect from 01/01/2021 

Hope this clarifies  your query.

Nigel

Hi Nick

News just in. Hope it applies to you!!!!!

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BREAKING NEWS

The Council of Ministers has today agreed to extend, for a period of four months, the measures relating to the adaptation to the status of third State of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, after the end of the transitional period provided for in the Agreement of withdrawal from the European Union.

In this way, measures related to:

The qualification of driving licenses issued by the British authorities, valid and in force to drive in our country.

Meaning that those residing in Spain since before the end of the transition period, will be able to drive here on their UK driving licences until the 31st of October instead of until the 30th of June. And since an earlier extension of the grace period, they have until the end of December this year to arrange for the exchange of their UK driving licence for a Spanish permit, provided they pre-registered their licence with Tráfico before the 31st of December 2020

Nigel

They may have extended, but cannot drive UK plated car if a resident or if have  "El padron"  the problem being only EU citizens could  swap thier licence and stiill the case. Needed ot be done while resident EU valid passport.EU 2020. UK did not make a deal to swap them for Spanish ones post Brexit. You can if from places like Ukraine! not UK.. For now anyway, until a deal is done us Brits have to take a new driving test.to drive a Spanish plated car, October helps. My UK reg car have sent back to UK. This is all parrt of the "Nightmare in Spain". Note Spanish and all EU citizens UK can keep thier licence, for now UK, great for them, no speeding tckets. Brits have a poor deal in Spain.

Thanks to everyone for clarifying the situation regarding U.K. licenses.

Not what I wanted to hear but, who knows, it could yet all change.

I spoke to a person today who said British can still change their licence with just a written exam in English. True or False? They said the information came from Tráfico de Málaga.

Thanks, 

That's a very useful development as the prospect of a practical test is overwhelming. 

This would be much more achievable. I'll follow it up.

Yes sounds interesting, I will check it out,, mad UK did not do a deal over this.