Driving licence debate solved

DGT traffic department website amends misleading Brexit advice

THE SPANISH government has confirmed British citizens resident in Spain have until December 31 this year to exchange a UK driving licence for a Spanish equivalent.

The official ‘Trafico’ website has been updated and ends confusion about the need to have started the process by last Friday - January 31, when Brexit took place and Britain officially left the European Union.

Last week, the warning pointing at January 31 as the last date led to numerous calls to the CBNews office. In turn we contacted the consulate and were informed that the DGT site was inaccurate and had to amend the wording.

The DGT has now changed the information and confirmed the December 31 deadline at the end of the transition period; the earlier information would only have applied if the UK left without a deal at the end of January.

A spokesman for the British Embassy in Madrid said, “The UK is set to leave the EU with a deal under the terms of the

Withdrawal Agreement. In practice this means that the rules around the exchange of UK licences will remain the same during the transition period.

“You will have until December 31 to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one under the current rules, so there is no need to worry if you were unable to start the process before January 31.”

However, the advice was also not to leave the change 'until the last minute' and to book an appointment via Spanish government website ‘dgt.es’ or to use a ‘gestor’ to help the process.

An appointment does not have to be where an applicant is officially resident and can be completed anywhere in Spain.

The spokesman added: “Once you have made the exchange, your Spanish licence will be accepted in the UK when you visit and you can exchange it for a UK licence again should you return to the UK permanently.”