DRIVING IN SPAIN AFTER BREXIT

The issue for British driving licence holders to carry on driving legally in Spain has been on everybody's mind since Brexit was announced.

The deadline in order to comply with Spanish Legislation was, until now, the 30th of June...only a few weeks away!

 

Any British citizens who held a UK driving licence and who were resident in Spain before the end of 2020 had to register their licence exchange application with the DGT (Spanish DVLA) by the 30th of December 2020 in order to subsequently proceed with the exchange (which had to be done before June 30th 2021).  

 Many proceeded but were ultimately stopped by a legal barrier. The law and procedure were originally thought for applicants whose residencias (or TIE) had been ISSUED before, and not APPLIED FOR before the 30th of December.

This became an issue when UK driving licence holders who received their TIE after 2020 were refused the licence exchange, and subsequently saw that their only option to legally carry on driving legally in Spain after June 30th was to retake a theory and driving exam.

 It has now been confirmed by the DGT that a new agreement has been reached, and that UK citizens who have applied for their residencias before the end of 2020 will be able to apply for their UK driving licence exchange until December 30th 2021 (as long as they have proceeded with the preliminary application before December 30th 2020).

Therefore:

 * If you are resident in Spain and a UK driving licence holder and have applied for the exchange of your licence before December 30th 2020: Your application should be accepted (even if your residencia/TIE was issued in 2021) and the deadline for physical exchange has been moved to December 30th 2021.

 

* If you are resident in Spain and a UK driving licence holder and have NOT applied for the exchange of your licence before December 30th 2020: You will need to retake a theory and driving test in order to be issued a Spanish driving licence and to carry driving legally in Spain (this applies with the current legislation, and could change if/when an agreement with the UK Authorities is reached)

 

Should you need assistance for either of the above mentioned procedure, or for any possible doubts or queries, do not hesitate to contact our firm by email (info@aplslegal.com), by phone (0034968334178), o by Whatsapp (0034690051321)