Post-Brexit: Update On UK Driving Licence Agreement With Spain

The British government reiterated that it is continuing to talk with the Spanish authorities over the validity of British driving licences.

Spain and Italy remain the only EU countries that have not implemented laws which allow for the exchange of UK licences for Spanish or Italian ones.

On 18 November, UK Ambassador to Spain Hugh Elliott announced through the embassy’s social media channels some promising news that will give hope at the very least to the thousands of UK licence holders who haven’t been able to drive in Spain since 1 May 2022.

“I can tell you today that we have now made a very significant step forward,” Elliott began.

“You will recall that we have been in discussions with the Spanish for some weeks over two outstanding, complex issues and I’m pleased to tell you that we have now reached an agreement on those two points.”

Latest driving licence update 👇with information about a significant step forward pic.twitter.com/zdIi9T5HuG
— Hugh Elliott (@HughElliottUK) November 18, 2022

Update:

In another Facebook video posted on 21 December 2022, Hugh Elliott explained the progress made with the driving licence situation and confirmed that the agreement between British and Spanish authorities was done, with “technical wording” still being resolved.

He said that both sides would continue to work together to get the agreement signed.

“So we will now take forward the remaining steps including legal checks, securing ministerial approval on both sides, which for Spain is by the Consejo de Ministros (the Spanish Cabinet), and the necessary treaty processes and formal exchanges,” Elliott added.

“What I can’t tell you today is exactly how many weeks those final steps will take. But I can tell you the process is already underway and once those legal and political approvals are done, confirmation will be published in the BOE, or state bulletin.”

Although no concrete date has been provided, British authorities have assured that once the agreement is signed, citizens who hold a valid licence will once again be permitted to drive in Spain.

Once the agreement is confirmed, residents will have a 6 months grace period to swap their licence for a Spanish one without a practical driving or theory test.

After 6 months, anyone who fails to exchange their UK licence for a Spanish one will not be allowed to drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

While waiting for an update, here are provisional answers to frequently asked questions.

Question: Will UK citizens exchange an expired UK licence without taking a test?
Answer: Short answer is yes. The provision includes expired licences to be accepted for exchange, provided they were valid at the time you began living in Spain.

Question: Is there a need to give up the UK licence?
Answer: It is not possible to hold licences issued by the UK and Spain at the same time. If you return to live in the UK at any point, you will be able to exchange your Spanish licence for a UK one without taking a test.

Question: Is there any age restriction on who can exchange their licence?
Answer: There is no age restriction and your driving licence remains valid until it expires. However, in general, those aged 65 and above will be issued a licence valid for 5 years. Validity periods are different for driving different categories of vehicles.

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