23/06/2021
Great news! 🎉
*Updated: Validity of UK driving licences extended to 31 October 2021*
We know that many of you have been anxious that the recognition of UK driving licences was set to end on 30 June. We are pleased that the Spanish Government yesterday announced that UK licences will continue to be recognised until 31 October 2021. This applies both to those of you who were living in Spain before 30 December 2020 and those who have arrived since. It applies whether you registered your intention to exchange your licence with the DGT before 30 December 2020 or not. You can see the Spanish Government’s announcement here: http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/en/SalaDePrensa/NotasdePrensa/Paginas/2021_NOTAS_P/20210622_NOTA140.aspx?fbclid=IwAR2P1oSP9Ohs4xxvn-jlz22Xsq0KhUlwcZooZ1pZ2XxZFBbhEhsfKm1ppgo. Please note that if you arrived after 1 January, your licence will only remain valid for six months from your arrival in Spain.
This does not affect the current arrangements for driving licence exchange. If you did not register to exchange your licence with the DGT before 30 December 2020 and wish to exchange your UK driving licence now, you would need to follow the DGT process for non-EU nationals, which includes taking a driving test. However, negotiations are underway between the UK and Spanish Governments on arrangements for the future exchange of UK driving licences without the need for a practical test. As soon as we have further information on this we will share it here. And to stay updated on the latest information on driving in Spain, please sign up for alerts to gov.uk/livinginspain.