Driving Licence Fiasco

[Joy Division]

For those of you that still might not be aware, the Driving Licence Exchange fiasco has still not been resolved. 
This means that anyone planning to Reside permanently in the Canary Islands or the rest of Spain will not be able to drive on their U.K. Driving Licence and will be required to take the Spanish Driving Test.
Although talks are continuing between the U.K. and Spain to allow the exchange of driving licences, a solution has yet to be agreed.
This issue does not affect U.K. visitors and tourists who are still allowed to drive on their U.K. licence.

[Johnrgby]

For those of you that still might not be aware, the Driving Licence Exchange fiasco has still not been resolved. 
This means that anyone planning to Reside permanently in the Canary Islands, or the rest of Spain will not be able to drive on their U.K. Driving Licence and will be required to take the Spanish Driving Test.
Although talks are continuing between the U.K. and Spain to allow the exchange of driving licences, a solution has yet to be agreed.
This issue does not affect U.K. visitors and tourists who are still allowed to drive on their U.K. licence.

I believe this to be incorrect information, my understanding of the situation is this. any Uk citizen who becomes a resident in Spain, has 6 months to exchange their Uk licence without a test, during which time the UK licence is valid in Spain. please correct me if I am wrong!

[Joy Division]

You are wrong. All residents, if they do not hold a Spanish
Licence, regardless of when they arrived in Spain are required to take a Spanish Driving test to enable them to drive. The last date you were able to exchange your driving licence was 31st Dec 2021. As long as you had registered your intent to do this by 31st Dec 2020 (Brexit Day)

[Johnrgby]

You are wrong. All residents, if they do not hold a Spanish
Licence, regardless of when they arrived in Spain are required to take a Spanish Driving test to enable them to drive. The last date you were able to exchange your driving licence was 31st Dec 2021. As long as you had registered your intent to do this by 31st Dec 2020 (Brexit Day)

OK, I have been wrong before, but as previously said long term residents knew the laws, and should have complied with them, having said that the attempts to come to a new agreement is a bit of a fiasco.

[Bill]

You are wrong. All residents, if they do not hold a Spanish
Licence, regardless of when they arrived in Spain are required to take a Spanish Driving test to enable them to drive. The last date you were able to exchange your driving licence was 31st Dec 2021. As long as you had registered your intent to do this by 31st Dec 2020 (Brexit Day)

Sorry, Joy Division, but it is you who are wrong. There is a 6 month window from getting residency where you are allowed to drive on your UK licence.

The Consulate/Ambassador etc are trying to negotiate the re-introduction of the exchange scheme. There seem to be various obstacles including access to DVLA records, and - of course - the Gib situation.

[Joy Division]

A 6 month window but after that you would need to take the test. There is no current exchange for U.K. licences.

[Bill]

Spot on - but is that not what John said?

Anyway, for the avoidance of any doubt for anyone reading the thread, see below an extract from gov.uk:  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-sp...g-in-spain

From 1 May 2022, if you have been resident for more than 6 months and have not exchanged your UK licence for a Spanish one, you will no longer be able to drive using your UK licence. 

if you were living in Spain before 1 January 2021, your valid UK driving licence will no longer be valid for driving in Spain. if you moved to Spain after 1 January 2021, your valid UK licence will be recognised for 6 months from the date you obtained residence.

The British and Spanish governments continue to negotiate on long-term arrangements for exchanging driving licences without needing to take a practical test.

[Cotillo_Tom]

A 6 month window but after that you would need to take the test. There is no current exchange for U.K. licences.

I'm glad you corrected it.  UK licence is valid for 6 months from the date you obtain residency (and these days, you need that before arriving here), but AFTER the six months if you haven't applied to exchange it, you need to take the Spanish driving test.

[Joy Division]

A 6 month window but after that you would need to take the test. There is no current exchange for U.K. licences.

I'm glad you corrected it.  UK licence is valid for 6 months from the date you obtain residency (and these days, you need that before arriving here), but AFTER the six months if you haven't applied to exchange it, you need to take the Spanish driving test.

Just to correct you. There is no facility that allows you to exchange it so after 6 months you would need to take the Spanish test.

[Bill]

I'm really not sure what you're driving at (pardon the pun). What Tom, John and I have said is correct. 

If there is no agreement on exchange made within people's 6 month window, then yes, of course people will have to take the Spanish test!