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Trying to find out clear information about the laws on driving in Spain with a EU licence seems to be a very gray area. The EEC says that the UK licence is legal anywhere in Europe although when taking up residency the host country rules must be followed. Only because I researched into this over the last 2 days have I found out things that various sites are saying on the Net. One is : Apparently you do not need to change your UK licence to Spanish if residing in Spain. However various sites say :you do need to register your licence with the local Traficco. This is so that the details of your licence and the classes of vechicles that your licence entitles you to drive are clearly identified in Spanish on a form that should be carried with your licence. Some sites say : The EEC also states that in Spain you should have regular medicals which are carried out at special centers. The period for renewal of these is down to your age. The medical confirmation should also be carried with your licence.

HAVING READ ALL THIS ABOVE ON THE NET, IT IS STILL NOT CLEAR IF YOU ARE LEGALLY OBLIGED TO DO THIS UNDER EEC RULINGS. NIGHTMARE!!!

INSCRIPCIÓN DEL PERMISO DE CONDUCCIÓN DE PAÍSES DE LA UNIÓN EUROPEA, ISLANDIA, LIECHTENSTEIN Y NORUEGA

SÓLO SE PUEDE INSCRIBIR EL PERMISO EN VIGOR QUE NO SE HAYA OBTENIDO SIENDO RESIDENTE EN ESPAÑA.

1º. SOLICITUD: en el impreso de cuestiones varias disponible en las Jefaturas de Tráfico y en la página web de la DGT (www.dgt.es).

PASAPORTE junto con el CERTIFICADO DE INSCRIPCIÓN EN EL REGISTRO CENTRAL DE EXTRANJEROS para extranjeros comunitarios: original en vigor

− AUTORIZACIÓN DE RESIDENCIA para extranjeros no comunitarios: original en vigor.

5º. FOTOGRAFÍA: si el permiso tiene el formato en tarjeta de plástico, una original de 32 x 26 mm en color y con fondo liso, tomada de frente con la cabeza descubierta y sin gafas de cristales oscuros o cualquier otra prenda que pueda impedir o dificultar la identificación de la persona.

6º. DECLARACIÓN por escrito de no hallarse privado por resolución judicial del derecho a conducir vehículos a motor y ciclomotores.

REGISTRATION OF DRIVING LICENCE
OF EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES, ICELAND,
LIECHTENSTEIN AND NORWAY
ONLY YOU CAN REGISTER THE EFFECT THAT NO PERMIT WAS OBTAINED
STILL LIVING IN SPAIN.
THIS STEP IS VOLUNTARY AND CAN BE PURCHASED IN ANY MAIN
PROVINCIAL TRAFFIC CENTER
DOCUMENTATION
1 º. REQUEST: in the form of questions available in several Traffic Headquarters and on page
DGT website (www.dgt.es).
2 º. RATE IV.1: 8 €.
3 º. ACCREDITATION OF IDENTITY AND RESIDENCY:
- ID or Passport: original effect
- Residence Permit or ID in your country or
PASSPORT with the CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION
FOREIGN CENTRAL for EU foreigners: original effect
- Residence Permit for non-EU: original effect.
4 º. DRIVING LICENCE: original and photocopy effect.
5 º. PHOTO: If the permit is the plastic card format, an original 32 x 26 mm
background color and smooth, taken straight bareheaded and without dark glasses or
any items which may prevent or hinder the identification of the person.
6 º. STATEMENT writing not been banned by law from driving
motor vehicles and motorcycles.
SPECIAL CASES
REPRESENTATION: When the documentation is not submitted by the license holder, the person
representing you must provide your original identity card and authorization of the person concerned to carry out the procedure,
which expresses its free.

Not a great translation but will hopefully get some comments back on mistakes!!!

GRANADA

Contact information:Hours:

Winter hours: Monday through Thursday from 8:30 to 15:00. Friday 8:30 to 14:00.

Summer time (from 16 June to 15 September) and Christmas (from the first business day after Christmas until the first business day after Reyes): 9:00 to 14:00.

Winter hours: Monday through Thursday from 8:30 to 14:30. Friday 8:30 to 13:30
Summer and Christmas from 9:00 to 13:30.

No driving tests will be held on the following dates:

3 and 4 June, August 16, October 20 and 27 to 30 December 2010

Address: Carretera Alfacar, 1, CP 18071

Phone: 958 156 911 - Overview: 060

Fax: 958 153 912

A piece off the Internet regarding the Medical Test.

1. WHAT IS THE DRIVER MEDICAL TEST?

The Driver Medical Test in Spain is known as the Psicofísica. It is a very simple test which is designed to check vision and anticipation skills. The test usually lasts under 20 minutes and usually consists of two tests, a vision test similar to those in opticians, and an anticipation test at a computer (no computer skills or knowledge is needed, although if you do not understand Spanish, it may be a good idea to bring an interpreter or someone who can help you with the instructions).

2. DO I NEED TO TAKE THE TEST?

A law was passed in Spain on 8th May 2009, which has the following paragraph in Spanish (translation below):

´El titular de un permiso de conducción expedido en uno de estos Estados que haya adquirido su residencia normal en España quedará sometido a las disposiciones españolas relativas a su período de vigencia, de control de sus aptitudes psicofísicas y de asignación de un crédito de puntos´.
(click here to download the PDF document of the full law from the Trafico Website in Spanish).

This translates as follows: ´The holder of a European Driving License who is normally resident in Spain is required to adhere to Spanish regulations relating to the period of validity, to the control of their psycophysical aptitudes, and to the assignment of point credit´.

Regarding the Medical test, this appears to effectively mean that:

If you have a Residencia Card / Certificate and are normally resident in Spain, then your UK driving license will only be valid (and therefore your insurance will only be valid) if you take a Psicofísica Test in the same way that a Spanish person would.

If you are a Resident and have never taken this test while living in Spain, then the law would appear to suggest that your driving license and therefore your insurance are entirely invalid. If you have already taken this Medical test in the past, then you should take another test:

- Every 10 years if you are aged between 18-45,
- Every 5 years if you are aged between 45-70,
- Every 2 years if you are aged over 70.

Our local centre is Albuñol Constitution Avenue 9

A document from the British Consulate translated to English from Alex

Following the Court of Justice of European Communities 09.09.2004 relapse in Case C195/02, disappeared the obligation to register the license in the Register of the General Directorate of Traffic, which affected permit holders driving licenses issued in any Member State of the European Union six months after the establishment of normal residence in Spain.
Pending the approval of the appropriate amendment to the Regulations on Drivers for information to the citizens of that State, without prejudice to that in takes place via the Internet, is part of the following:
1. The registration of the license is no longer compulsory from the very date of the Judgement (09/09/2004).
2. The registration requirement does not affect all models driving force both in paper and plastic card.
3. From the date of acquisition of normal residence in Spain, driving license holders in Group 1 of Directive 91/439/EEC shall be subject to a Period of validity of 10 years up before reaching age 45, 5 years from that age up until the age of 70, and 2 years after it. Validity periods for Group 2 permits are for 5 years even before reaching 45, 3 years from that age up until the age of 60 and 2 years from this age. In any case, a request for review or extension of validity must include a report of medical fitness issued by a Driver Recognition Center of the province where the person concerned is your home.
4. Drivers who have voluntarily registered their permission, if they have not changed your address or have submitted the changes, if any, will be advised of the expiry of the validity of his license at least one month in advance.

The following was taken from a Law Firm's website in Tenerife

Either
to Inscript your UK licence ie advise the Spanish driving authorities of your permanent address here in Spain. After they have checked with the DVLA in the UK(about 6 weeks delay currently - Sep 2011) to make sure you don't have points or a ban, then they give you a printed piece of A5 paper which you then keep with your UK licence.
OR
you exchange (canje) your UK licence for a Spanish one you still have the wait for DVLA to confirm your driving status and then you hand in your UK licence for a temporary Spanish one. You then receive your new plastic licence through the post direct to your home.

You ARE required to follow medical examination rules (see below) after you have been in Spain permanently for 6 months, but you do not HAVE to inscript or canje (exchange) for a Spanish one unless you wish to, or unless you have lost your UK one or it has been stolen or the picture component of the UK licence has expired and you are unable to get a replacement in the UK because you no longer have any ties there.

Driving fitness medical examinations

Whether you have not done anything with your UK licence or you have inscripted your UK driving licence or are now the holder of a Spanish one, whilst you remain resident in Spain you are subject to Spanish regulations regarding driving fitness medical examinations which have to be taken at various intervals dependant on age. Since 2006 these fall in line with European Regulations. Spanish licences will be renewed, whilst holders of UK and inscripted licences will only be required to take the medical test.

Vehicle Category







	Age when renewal falls due



	Up to age 39 every 10 years

	age 40 - 44 expires on 50th birthday
	ie: 40 years old 9 years plus months till birthday or
	43years old 6 years plus months till birthday.

	age 45 to 66 renewable every 5 years

	67 - 60 expires on 72nd birthday

	ie. 68 years old 3 years plus months till 72nd birthday

	age 70 and above renewable every 2 years

Vehicle Category	Age when renewal falls due

	Up to age 42 every 5 years

	age 43- 44 expires on 48th birthday
	ie: 43 years old 4 years plus months till birthday

	age 45 to 58 renewable every 3 years

	age 59 expires on 62nd birthday

	age 60 and above renewable every 2 years