Exchange from UK to Spanish driving licence

[willie5094]

My wife's licence was expiring end Feb 2019 but with moving over here last year we forgot about it, but remembered in the nick of time time to exchange it. Our interpretor contacted Trafico who advised that if she didn't renew in time she would need to sit a driving test. Anyway we got the appointments for medical and Trafico, I decided to change mine as we are here permanently so we done medicals together then went round to Trafico, my wife done hers first receiving the temporary paper bit and they took her UK licence from her and said return in a month for her Spanish one. This all took about 10/15 mins again with a lot of huffing and puffing.

Now here we go with mine, a different man dealt with me and he noticed my Residencia was done the previous week and said I needed to be resident for 6 months, What the heck. Anyway I'm thinking there's 45 euros down the swanney for my medical as he says I would need another in 6 months, so a bit of Spanish spoken with my interpretor and the chap that done my wife's and they all agreed that they would keep my docs in Trafico for 6 months when I should return with Passport and UK driving licence in hand and I will receive my temporary licence, excuse my French but what a *****ing palaver.

[DavidP]

Apologies to all for mis information:
The computer on duty at the weekend said 3 months.
BUT I have made an appointment this morning for next week.
Hey ho

[DavidP]

appointment cancelled!!
Apparently weekend computer quite correct.
Probably best done when UK 70+ just renewed.

[Captain Sensible]

The Spanish Government have approved a 9 month period of grace for people to change their licences to a Spanish one.  The deadline is now 31 March 2019.

[Johnrgby]

The Spanish Government have approved a 9 month period of grace for people to change their licences to a Spanish one.  The deadline is now 31 March 2019.

Morning Stephen

a 9 month extension from when? that would appear to be a 2 day extension?

[Johnrgby]

It will be for me Sam, totally unlike me but I have ignored it until a week or so ago and now could not get an appointment until mid April.

[Captain Sensible]

Sorry, I meant the 31st December 2019.

[Si Tie]

Read this on facebook,  thought it may be of interest to some

A Royal Decree was published by the Spanish authorities on Friday 1st March 2019 to explain what will happen to the validity of Driving Licences after 29th March 2019 - "Brexit".

Within section 4, the purpose of Article 22 is to find an adequate alternative for citizens residing in Spain and holders of a British driving licence, which is currently valid for driving in our country as it is a permit issued by a Member State of the European Union, but that will cease to be so with the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.i

For this, a transitory period of nine months has been set, during which the holders of a driving licence issued by the British authorities who have acquired their residence in Spain may exchange their driving licence for a Spanish permit, in accordance with the regulations in force in terms of Tráfico, which will allow them to continue driving in our country, despite the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, during this transitional period of nine months, this exchange will be possible as long as the current system of verification of driving licences established within the European Union is maintained, since if it were not maintained, it would no longer be possible to exchange driving licences issued by the United Kingdom.

After that nine-month period, driving licences issued by the British authorities would be subject to Spanish regulations for driving licences issued by third countries, and the exchange for a Spanish licence will no longer be possible until, in a future, a bilateral convention for the exchange of driving licences with the United Kingdom will be signed.

For the purpose of exchanging driving licences issued in other Member States or in third countries, Articles 18 and 21 of the General Drivers Regulations, approved by Royal Decree 818/2009, of May 8, require holders of the permits have established their official residence in Spain, a concept that is defined in the second additional provision of the aforementioned Regulation.

Article prepared and translated by Torrevieja Translators on behalf of the N332 Page

[Si Tie]

Sorry I didn't realise it had already been covered.

[gattaca66]

We went through the ‘Canje’ process in Tráfico a couple of weeks ago, did all the paperwork and paid, but at the end we’re given back our UK licences and told we would be called back in once our details had been checked with DVLA. Applications had reached a level where Tráfico simply could not do the confirmations ‘live’ on the DVLA system. The next working day we each received emails saying the same thing, that once our details had been checked with DVLA we could make a further appointment to collect the temp licence, taking in our UK licences. Knowing that others a week or so earlier had obtained their paper copies on the spot we were a little concerned, but others, including friends who had used gestores/advisors, confirmed they too had had their UK licences returned, and were waiting to hear from their gestor.

I’m just wondering if others on here are in a similar position? I’d hoped to have heard after a week or so. Has anyone had a second email calling them in yet? Would love to just get this sorted and out of the way!