Exchange from UK to Spanish driving licence

[TrickyFox]

I am confused with this idea of the register (of interest to change). A friend went last week before the original deadline and has been given an appointment for February 4th.

[McAdam]

Oh

I filled the form... I thought I had given it to someone to take to DGT... Just found it in my paperwork folder for December...

I originally wanted to go in September but I had lots of EU and US driving to do and didn't want to hand in my license.

Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait and see what will happen in the next 12 months

[McAdam]

Have been trying a lot recently, but cant seem to find any appointments.

Im wondering if they're even taking appointments online right now.

My UK license expires towards the end of August - I hope they will be able to expedite it.

[McAdam]

Just went to the site now, and managed to make an appointment for tomorrow.
There were only 2 options available, 10am and 11:30am - both only tomorrow.

[Lexeus]

Checked today and Reino Unido is back! Direct link to the booking: https://sedeapl.dgt.gob.es:7443/WEB_NCIT...Cita.faces

...choose "Las Palmas - Fuerteventura", Renovacion de permisos... and fill the form.

Just so no one get's confused, to exchange a UK license for a Spanish one you select "Las Palmas - Fuerteventura" and "Canjes de Permisos de conducción"  (NOT Renovacion)

But like you said, you can then select "Reino Unido" from the list (it is there right now just checked)

[Lexeus]

Just went to the site now, and managed to make an appointment for tomorrow.
There were only 2 options available, 10am and 11:30am - both only tomorrow.

For future reference you need to check in the early hours of the day, I can't rememeber whether it is 1am or 5/6am but they release new appointments for the next available day. (I get confused about the exact time because there is the same problem with the seguridad social system )

[McAdam]

An Update:


APPOINTMENTS
I initially had to cancel my first appointment due to lacking the empadron papers.

During the week I was checking almost daily at around 8-9am - on all days but one there were appointments available for the same day.

So if you want to make an appointment, check daily in the morning and you will find one after a few days.


Medical
I did not find a phone number for the medical clinic around the corner from Traffico.
They do not need an appointment. But they will only test you if you have an appointment at traffic for the same day. Whilst they did not ask for proof, they did ask (in Spanish) "Do you have an appointment with Traffico?" "An Appointment for today?"
I had to wait about 15 minutes to get in, and then 10 minutes to be seen.
The whole process took less than 10 minutes with an almost perfect score on the game (keep 2 black bars within the white lines on the screen, controlled separately with a knob in each hand).
The cost was €45 which I thought was much higher than usual.... but I don't care enough to ask and clarify nitty gritty things.

The Appointment
I checked in with the security guard 30 minutes before my appointment time. I then stood outside for about 25 minutes until I was called in.
Whilst there is an appointment system, it seems that its also a first come first serve (within reason). So my advice is to check in early if you can.
The whole process inside took 10 minutes as I had everything prepared (UK D.L., Photo, Copies of: passport, NIE Green Card, Empadron).
I was handed the temp licence and told to come back in 6 weeks, show the temp licence to security and he will let me in without an appointment
Cost was about €24.10 (IIRC)

Making an appointment
These are the exact options I selected:

At this website: https://sedeapl.dgt.gob.es:7443/WEB_NCIT...Cita.faces

If it asks you for your personal details in the next step, then there are appointments available for the next working day.
If it does not, then no appointments are available for the next working day.
Appointments only seem to be released about 12-24 hours ahead of time.
So don't expect to go on there and find an appointment in 2 weeks time.
Get all your papers and documents in order, and then make an appointment for the next day.

I will post another update when I go to collect my shiny new Spanish licence.

[Lexeus]

I am glad you seemed to get things sorted easily, but a word of caution for anyone trying to follow the same process....


To guarantee you are dealt with, you must make an appointment for "Canjes de Permisos de conducción"  (NOT Renovacion)

Right now on sedeapl.dgt.gob.es the next appointment available for converting a UK license is 30th September, not tomorrow as you have noted when you select "Renovacion de Permisos de conducción". I would be very annoyed if I drove up from the south only to get turned away because I made the wrong type of appointment....

When I converted my license in March 2019 I had to go back a 2nd time once they had received an email notification from the DVLA that my license was valid and notified me to return, but it sounds like they have a fully electronic system working now? I was told you only need to select the "Canje" option for the first appointment, and then you can select "Tramites de oficina" which is a much quicker appointment to get. 


With regards to the Medical appointment, the price does vary from place to place, but that one (which is convenient) is the most expensive. I paid €35 in Gran Tarajal at CEM.


Also, once you finally get your new Spanish License, CHECK IT THOROUGHLY! I wasn't feeling well when I got mine and just stuck it straight in my wallet, only to notice recently that they somehow put the wrong date that my first license was issued, instead of passing my test in Wales in December (12) I now have an extra 10 months as they put February (02)..... 

[McAdam]

Renewing or exchanging licence...
That is a good question.

Mine was up for renewal anyway, so I just did that.
But the guys there seem friendly enough to not turn someone away because they selected a slightly different appointment.

I picked mine up today, 2.5 months after applying.
I think it arrived a while ago since the guy had to go through quite a few envelops starting with M before he found mine.
I thought better to leave it longer, than keep popping in every week.

So I now have a Spanish Licence - Wohooo
Time for the TIE.

[Cotillo_Tom]

Hi McAdam, I have booked the same appointment as you booked, so I hope they are as accommodating when I turn up on Friday afternoon!!

Tom.