Tenerife forum

[Dave and Alli]

Hi Guys . . .just found out from the DVLA in Swansea that I can apply for a Spanish Driving Licence.
Just wondered if those that have done so could explain the procedure and where to obtain the forms and costs etc. etc. . . . . or if there's a sticky regarding this on the forum???

Thanks
Dave
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Alli and Dave

Life is what happens whilst you're busy making plans. John Lennon

[jenny]

There has been a thread about this (make a search) but it doesn't tell you the procedure. It used to be the case that you could get your UK licence stamped with your NIE number but apparently that has all changed (surprise, surprise!)

I will have a look on the government website and see if I can find the forms and costs involved.
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[jenny]

Right, the form is here: http://www.dgt.es/tramites/listado_impresos/impresos/2.40-Castellano.pdf
It states that you can fill it in on the net and print out two (one for Trafico and one for you).

This is the page telling you all about it: http://www.dgt.es/tramites/canjes/unioneuropea.htm

The cost is 17.80€
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I will make this day a happy one for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be.

[jenny]

Have made this into a sticky.
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I will make this day a happy one for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be.

[jenny]

When reading the details on Trafico's website I found this:

Los permisos de conducción expedidos por los Estados miembros de la Unión Europea con arreglo a la normativa comunitaria mantendrán su validez en España, con la salvedad de que la edad requerida para la conducción corresponderá a la exigida para obtener el permiso español equivalente.

which basically says that EU members' driving licences are valid in Spain, so I called Trafico in Santa Cruz, who tell me that as long as you register your licence with them then you do not need to change it.

I asked them to check again as I had been told otherwise but they insisted that this is the case.

I had mine stamped about 4 or 5 years ago and they checked my details and said that I was fine. It cost me about 6€ at the time.
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Who am I? Find out more here: http://www.myspacetenerife.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=17

I will make this day a happy one for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be.

[Dave and Alli]

You're a STAR Jenny ! . . . thank you so much for your help and I'm sure your efforts will certainly be appreciated by others with the same query.

Dave
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Alli and Dave

Life is what happens whilst you're busy making plans. John Lennon

[jenny]

You're welcome.
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Who am I? Find out more here: http://www.myspacetenerife.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=17

I will make this day a happy one for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be.

[synchronicity]

Well I had to do the notoriously difficult driving theory test, in spanish no less. It only took me 2 months of study, 40 hours of lectures, and 3600 practise questions to pass. You wouldn't believe the difficulty level.
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Life from an outsider’s perspective…

[rob]

I would....which is why I always advise getting a licence in your own country before coming here. I'm impressed that you did it so quickly.
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[synchronicity]

Thanks,

Well the spanish language isn't the problem, it's the trick questions that get you! Have a look at the link above if you're interested in reading the whole story! Boy oh boy oh boy it's tedious, to say the least.

Rob, the Spanish traffic authorities in Santa Cruz told me in person that my Australian licence was only valid for 6 months... but I only ever had a full motorbike license, so I thought "why not?".

Everyone I know (Canarian friends & family) has personally congratulated me...
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Life from an outsider’s perspective…

[SamK]

OK. that's my 3 months up so I now need to get my license changed.

I downloaded the form (thanks for the link Jenny as I couldn't find it myself) and have looked over the info page.

Just to clarify then - I need:

To take the form to the relevant Trafico office - exactly where is that?
Passport
2 x photos 32X25mm (smaller that UK passport pics 45x35)
Written declaration that I have the right to drive - no suspensions or pending suspensions
Written declaration that I don't have another license.
Original or copy of current license
Fee. €18,20 (I think) - Canjes de permisos de conducción por otros extranjeros o expedidos por autoridades militares.........18,20 Euros

questions -
Are the declarations on another form?
Is the fee payable in advance at the bank? If yes, is the form to pay only available from Trafico?
Where is the Trafico office?

Sam.
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online CV - SamKennedy.co.uk

[jenny]

I really don't think you need to get it changed, just get yourself registered at Tráfico.

I just looked on Google Maps for Trafico in Santa Cruz and it shows you were it is: http://maps.google.es/maps? f=q&hl=es&geocode=&q=trafico+santa+cruz &ie=UTF8&ll=28.455185,-16.285815&spn=0.007773, 0.014462&t=h&z=16&iwloc=B&om=0 (paste it all back together)
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Who am I? Find out more here: http://www.myspacetenerife.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=17

I will make this day a happy one for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be.

[SamK]

Thanks Jenny,
I'll take a trip up there next week sometime and update what happens.

Better take my folder full of documents just in case.

Sam.
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online CV - SamKennedy.co.uk

[jenny]

Good idea!! Things change so often here. It would be good to hear what they say.
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Who am I? Find out more here: http://www.myspacetenerife.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=17

I will make this day a happy one for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be.

[SamK]

Well, the official word from Trafico is that you do not need to do anything with your UK license.

However, after explaining to the clerk (we both spoke very good Spanglish) that I was here permanently and that the address on my license was no longer valid - I was given 2 options:

1. Change it for a Spanish license
2. Do nothing untill the license expires

My license has only a year left before renewal so I decided to go for the Spanish license option.
So he took copies of my Passport, Certificado de Registro, and driving license. What happens now is that they contact DVLA and if everything's OK I get a Spanish license. I'm assuming I will need to go back to Santa Cruz at this point and complete the application. More details to follow...

The Trafico office that deals with this is:
Jefatura Provincial De Trafico‎
C/ Heliodoro Rodríguez López 34,
38005 Santa Cruz De Tenerife
Tel: 922 227 840
(next to the kids play park and Hiper Dino, just down from the open air cafe)
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online CV - SamKennedy.co.uk