Exchange from UK to Spanish driving licence

[gattaca66]

I know it's a well-worn subject in other internet places, but can I ask if anyone on here has exchanged their uk driving licence for a Spanish one? If so, could you give a simple summary of the steps/process you followed? I know the pros/cons and the rules that govern when you should do it so I'm not trying to ignite that debate, I just want to be clear about where to go in the first instance, what to take with me etc. Many thanks, in advance!

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

It is several years (6 in fact) since I exchanged my licence but I don't think much, if anything, has changed.

link to DGT guidelines

Attend the medical office for your Medical Fitness Test (there is an office in the same block as Trafico).

Attend Trafico, by appointment, taking all docs/items as stipulated in link. (and copies of everything, just in case!)

As part of your application Trafico check with DVLA to make sure you haven't been banned in the UK! This can sometimes delay your application for a day or 2, or a week or 2 …..

Trafico will issue you with a temporary (normally 3 month) permission to drive doc - this is only valid in Spain, you can't use it to drive in UK and you definitively can't use it to hire a car! Don't start the process if you are thinking of visiting the UK and needing to drive in the next 3-4 months! Trafico take your UK licence away from you at the beginning of the process - keep an copy for your own records, front and back.

Consider how reliable/secure the postal delivery is where you live. Do you want to chance your new licence? You can ask for the new licence to be sent to Trafico and collect it from there.

I've known people who have received their new licence within 2 weeks. The other extreme is my own took just over 6 months as everything that could go wrong, did!

Good luck!

[Captain Sensible]

I changed my licence a few years ago.  It's quite a straightforward process as posted by Tamara.

As with all things here just do what you are told and be patient.

[gattaca66]

Many thanks, Tamara & Captain. I'd hoped they would leave your UK licence with you until the Spanish replacement arrives, as I'd certainly need to be able to pop back to the UK at short notice....something I have to weigh up.

Sorry for the daft question, but how best to make an appointment with Tráfico, and where is their office in PDR now? Cheers!

[Captain Sensible]

Details here: http://www.dgt.es/es/la-dgt/quienes-somo...tura.shtml

Click on Cita Previa to make an appointment.

[gattaca66]

My apologies for dragging this one up again, but I am determined to get it sorted now, rather than put it off! I can see how to make the cita with Tráfico, but how about the medical? I can find no way of making that appointment, and can’t assume one just turns up, not in Fuerte?

Incidentally, I see on a FB forum that the medical may not be requested for the exchange process, just for a renewal...that can’t be right, can it?

Many thanks in advance for any info!

[TrickyFox]

My apologies for dragging this one up again, but I am determined to get it sorted now, rather than put it off! I can see how to make the cita with Tráfico, but how about the medical? I can find no way of making that appointment, and can’t assume one just turns up, not in Fuerte?

Incidentally, I see on a FB forum that the medical may not be requested for the exchange process, just for a renewal...that can’t be right, can it?

Many thanks in advance for any info!

I understand you can just turn up for the medical. It is in the same building as the Trafico, just around the corner. I think I'd allow at least an hour before the appt.

[gattaca66]

Just a quick update for anyone else exchanging their licences. The medical was easy, no appointment required, although note that they close from 1.00 - 4.00. For Tráfico, my wife and I had separate appointments, but when the chap saw her documents all ready whilst doing mine, he agreed to also do hers at the same time. Lots of papers, lots of tutting over the computer, then we paid by card. I had expected to leave with paper temporary permisos, but he handed us back our UK licences and said we would receive an email in a few days, once they had managed to contact the DVLA system, after which we should return. Had an email the next day saying the same thing, but still waiting for an update. Starting to wonder if that WAS the email, even though it says “once your details have been confirmed by DVLA etc..”?!

So, pretty painless, but I’d be interested to know if anyone else is waiting like this?

[DavidP]

Earliest date for exchange of licence is now the 14th of May
Possibly too late!!!

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Just a quick update for anyone else exchanging their licences. The medical was easy, no appointment required, although note that they close from 1.00 - 4.00. For Tráfico, my wife and I had separate appointments, but when the chap saw her documents all ready whilst doing mine, he agreed to also do hers at the same time. Lots of papers, lots of tutting over the computer, then we paid by card. I had expected to leave with paper temporary permisos, but he handed us back our UK licences and said we would receive an email in a few days, once they had managed to contact the DVLA system, after which we should return. Had an email the next day saying the same thing, but still waiting for an update. Starting to wonder if that WAS the email, even though it says “once your details have been confirmed by DVLA etc..”?!

So, pretty painless, but I’d be interested to know if anyone else is waiting like this?

Back in the day when I changed to a Spanish licence, a few years ago, there was a wait of a week or two before DVLA confirmed. And this was when it was just normal volume of applications, not the surge that must be happening now. Mañana …………