Driving Licence Fiasco

[Joy Division]

There is updated news on the Brits in Spain Facebook page. Progress has been made and Exchange will be possible again soon. Subject to you passing a psicotéchnico test.

[Joy Division]

https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/...the-roads/

[Bill]

Yay, that is great news!

[Cotillo_Tom]

So, finally, there is agreement between the UK and Spain for the exchange of driving licences and appointments SHOULD be available from today. However, I've tried to book an appointment today and when I get as far as specifying which country issued the licence I want to exchange, the UK isn't on the list of countries!!

Anyone else tried??

Tom.

[Bill]

Apparently the DGT site is crashing under demand and - when it starts working - you have to look under 'Tramites de Oficina' I think? That's what someone online said, not quoting personal experience!

This Facebook page has a really detailed summary of the process (you may have to join the page to be a member): https://www.facebook.com/groups/13321734...182301801/

[Cotillo_Tom]

Apparently the DGT site is crashing under demand and - when it starts working - you have to look under 'Tramites de Oficina' I think? That's what someone online said, not quoting personal experience!

This Facebook page has a really detailed summary of the process (you may have to join the page to be a member):  https://www.facebook.com/groups/13321734...182301801/

Thanks Bill. Followed that Facebook link. There were a few DGT pages that returned 404 errors (page not found) and I assume that these pages are being re-written atm. Booked for Monday monring and will report back. One issue I hit was that the initial form would not accept the details as I had not added in details of the 'representative' (as there isnt one), so eventually added the drivers details here as well as the block above, and then it was accepted. DVLA Form printed. Empadron printed. Photo booked. Physical test booked.

[Cotillo_Tom]

So, here is an update on our progress.

We did the phyiscal test/medical this morning. Centro Insular de Reconocimientos 'CIR' on Calle Gran Carnaria, Opens 08:30 928 53 12 64. Usual computer 'game'; keeping two cars on a roadway with two joysticks followed by reading sight test and a couple of medical questions. €50 later, we are outside with the medical certificate.

Round the corner to DGT. We were 30 minutes early, but the pleasant and helpful security officer guided us to the machine where we punched in the NIE number and got a ticket for the next available counter. No time to sit down, direct to one of the many windows to a youngish lady.

We presented:
Completed application form (note, some bits you can't complete on computer, eg, UK driving licence number, so they had to be handwritten before arriving).
Passport plus photocopy.
TIE plus photocopy (both sides).
UK driving licence plus photocopy (both sides).
Empadron.
DVLC Certificate.
Medical Certificate.
Photograph (26mm wide by 32mm tall) - taken on mobile phone, cropped and sized before printing on photo quality paper.

The passport was quickly passed back to us, she didn't even open it, the TIE was the important bit. All documents were checked, she stamped the copies of the TIE and UK Driving Licence and handed the originals back to us. We completed name, date of birth, phone number and email address on two other forms she gave us and paid the €28.87 fee.

Continue to drive on the UK licence, watch out for an email shortly and come back to collect your new Spanish Licence (at which point you surrender the UK Licence) - previously the UK Licence was retained on application and a temporary (3 month) licence was issued, but they didn't do that this time.

All in all, a very pleasant and quick process. Assistance given by staff in English when we tried a little Spanish (ie make an effort and they respon).

Tom.

[Bill]

Thanks for the update Tom, all sounds good.

A quick query on the DVLC Certificate - we have been told by our Gestor that that is no longer a requirement as Spain will check directly with DVLA. Did they review it?

cheers
Bill

[Tardis]

I've got a friend who needs to change his licence. What is a DVLC certificate?

[Cotillo_Tom]

I've got a friend who needs to change his licence.  What is a DVLC certificate?

Instead of waiting for DGT to confirm your UK licence with DVLC, a process that can take quite some time, the new system is that you obtain a verification code from DVLC (valid for 21 days only), by going to the following website. Its free.

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence


Tom.