Monday, March 22, 2010 - Changing to a Spanish license

Today I eventually took the bull by the horns and decided to get underway with changing my UK driving license to the Spanish version. Having read in several places that you are allowed to drive in Spain on a UK license I have stuck with mine since we arrived here, but I have recently discovered that even if you are driving on a British license you are required to pass a medical and present the certificate to the police, not having this certificate if you are resident in Spain can invalidate your insurance. So if I have to do that I might as well apply for the license as well. Spanish bureaucracy is always intimidating, and I set off for the new "Trafico" building (just further on from the Palacio del Ferias on the right hand side), which in spite of being brand new and dealing with all things relating to the internal combustion engine has been built out of town, so you have to drive, and conveniently there is NO PARKING. Although you can park in the Feria ground over the road and cross the dual carriageway. The "Informacion" desks use the disneyland queuing system but if moved reasonably quickly and the lady on the desk had very little English but was extremely helpful and supplied the appropriate (simple) forms and instructions on my next move, which was to cross the room queue again and pay the fee. This was just over 25 euros and I was given the receipt and a "Su Turno" ticket and pointed further into the building. This time there was no queue and all of the paperwork was dealt with pleasantly and efficiently and I was told that they would telephone me in about 6 weeks when I should return to exchange old for new licenses. When I should also bring my medical certificate which would validate the license for 10 years. Outside the "Trafico" building and just about 50 metres down the road there is a cluster of Offices/surgeries that specialise in the drivers medical. The fee for this was 35 euros and quite amusing, but I suppose that it proves that you are not quite dead yet. A Summary eye test and a colour blindness test followed by a blood pressure check, and a tap on the knee to check reflexes and answer a few questions about your general health and you are presented with the stamped and certified certificate. As with all of these things in Spain you will need to go prepared, take along the original and copies of: Your current driving licence Photocard and Paper version. Residencia. Passport. 2 passport sized photos And in case you don't find the friendly ladies who speak English you are going to:- El centro de reconocimiento de conductores and the form you need is Solicitud de canje del permiso de conduccion.

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