Deadline looms for Brits to exchange driving licences in Spain

BRITISH nationals living in Spain have just four days left to replace their UK-issued driving licences for a Spanish version.

This also applies to anyone who has a driving licence from Gibraltar, a British territory, or who is not a British national but holds a licence issued in the UK or Gibraltar.

The Department for Transport (DfT) in the UK struck an agreement with Spanish traffic authorities in March, giving British citizens until September 15, 2023 to exchange their licences.

They were told to make the swap within six months of March 16, 2023, or within six months of the date they officially became residents, whichever is the later.

Although this means UK nationals who became resident in Spain more recently than March this year can still switch their British driving licences for a Spanish version up until the six-month cut-off point, their UK licences will not be valid in Spain after this coming Friday, September 15.

Effectively, if a British citizen became resident in Spain today – Monday, September 11, 2023 – they would have until March 10, 2024 to exchange their UK licence; however, they will only be able to drive in Spain for another four days.

From September 15, 2023, residents in Spain with a British licence will be driving illegally, which involves hefty fines.

Exchanging a licence after this date means the holder will not be allowed to drive in Spain until they receive their Spanish one.

After September 15, once they have been resident in Spain for more than six months, licence holders will not be able to make the exchange, and will have to take a driving test in Spain.

This means a practical and theory test, like in the UK, as for a first-time driver.

British nationals whose UK licences have already expired – either the photo-card part, or the licence as a whole for the over-70s – may still be able to swap them for a Spanish version, DfT confirms.

UK licences expire once the driver reaches the age of 70, and is then renewed periodically thereafter; however, the photo-card normally has to be replaced every five to 10 years, even when the actual authorisation to drive is still valid.

If the photo-card expiry date has passed, or – in the case of drivers aged 70-plus, the complete licence deadline – an exchange may still be possible.

Where the holder was already living in Spain before the expiry date, they can swap their licence for a Spanish one within the first six months of their residence date, or up to and including September 15.

But if the licence expired – and was not renewed – before the driver became resident in Spain, it cannot be exchanged, and the holder must take a fresh driving test in Spain.

British nationals resident in Spain cannot renew their UK-issued licences via their home authority, the DVLA – their only option is to obtain a Spanish licence, either through exchange if they are eligible or, if not, by taking a driving test.