Negotiations between the Spain and the UK, on the exchange of UK driving licences for Spanish Driving licences without taking a test, have stalled.
From tomorrow, May 1, if you have been resident for more than six months and have not yet exchanged your UK driving licences for a Spanish one, your UK driving licence is no longer valid for driving.
These are the rules from tomorrow May 1:
If you moved to Spain before January 1, 2021, your valid UK driving licence is not valid for driving in Spain.
If you moved to Spain after January 1, 2021, your UK driving licence will be valid for driving in Spain for the first six months from the date you obtained residency.
These rules do not affect tourists and short term visitors.
The British Embassy has confirmed that the British and Spanish Governments continue to negotiate on long term arrangements for exchanging UK driving licences without having to take a practical test but advises:
«If it is imperative that you drive you should not wait for the outcome of these negotiations. You must follow the DGT (Spanish Traffic Authority) process for non EU residents to obtain a driving licence. This includes taking a theory and practical test.»
