Wicksey wrote:El Cid wrote:On the other hand, as driving licence acceptance and changing one will almost certainly be covered by a unilateral agreement between the UK and Spain it will probably be OK.
Sid
Sid you're saying that presumably the UK will still accept EU licences for car hire without any question? I guess that would have to be reciprocated by Spain.
Spain does accept a number of other countries' driving licences. Apart from the EU and EEA, I think there's a number of South American countries too. Mind you, the way Brexit is going at the moment, I wonder if they'll ever fully leave!
Spain and the UK both accept a licence from every country in the world as long as it is accompanied by an international drivers permit or is in the format agreed by the 1968 Vienna Convention. This is a separate agreement nothing go to do with the EU. Just like if you show up in Australia on holidays and want to rent a car...Brexit will not change that.
However driving on an international drivers permit (accompanied by your original licence) is only valid to drive in Spain or UK for a period of up to 6 months (driving any car, including hire cars) if you are not a resident. Once you become a resident or are here for more than 6 months then you must a have a licence from an EU country.
The problem arises is that there is no other deal then your UK licence is only valid for holidays (up to 6 months) in Spain and not residency. The UK will have the same conditions for any licence from an EU country. Effectively we revert back to Vienna Convention rules.
Conversion/Exchange of licences (from non EU countries) is a matter for each country individually. Spain sets it's own rules,and unless there is an announcement from Madrid, if you hold a UK licence post Brexit you will be unable to convert it to Spanish. Therefore any UK licence holder who wants a Spanish licence will have to sit a test etc etc.