Brit expats in Spain to lose validity of UK driving licenses post Brexit

British expats who manage to stay in Spain post-Brexit will be forced to get a Spanish driving licences as their British licenses will no longer be valid.

According to EU officials, British driving licenses as well as vehicle registration documentation will no longer be valid, leaving British drivers without Spanish licenses banned from driving once Brexit is finalised. The law states that the UK’s status will revert to ‘third country’, with all previously enjoyed benefits, obligations and rights no longer available. If an agreement is not reached before the UK leaves the EU, drivers could be banned from using their own ‘unregistered’ vehicles in Europe as well as holidaymakers needing a special permit to hire a car whilst in Spain or any other EU member state.

The law will also apply to UK expat residents in Spain who’ve always driven using their UK licences, as well as causing huge complications for drivers employed by the haulage sector. Britons living permanently in Spain are now being urged to get their Spanish licenses well in advance of March 2019. The procedure takes some time, with avoiding a last-minute rush the best idea. According to expats who’ve been thought the process, it’s difficult and intimidating due to Spanish bureaucracy. At present UK expats can use their British licenses for a year, after which a Spanish license is required.

Attending a driving school and taking classes as well as passing a medical exam are mandatory requirements, and using the driving school’s car for your test is also mandatory. The written exam in English goes much further than the basic rules of the road, often including first aid, tech specs for various types of vehicle and questions on auto mechanics. The behind-the-wheel test can be challenging, depending on your location, and usually includes winding alleys, construction zones, hills and heavily trafficked zones.