Spanish driving licence classes to drive

[curatokid]

I have just changed from a UK driving licence to a spanish one and note that the classes listed on my UK licence have been omitted on the spanish one, I queried this and was told that If I want to drive anything other than a car or car with trailer I will have to pass a test on that vehicle, this does not seem correct can anyone throw any light on this please, one problem I see is that I sometimes hire a minibus in Spain but on my spanish licence I will not be able to do this, also I have not received the paper part or dont tell me they dont have them in Spain !!!! I thought we were all driving on the same European licence but obviously not.

[Beachcomber]

You can drive a minibus with less that nine seats on a Group B licence.

[El Cid]

I have not received the paper part or dont tell me they dont have them in Spain !!!! I thought we were all driving on the same European licence but obviously not.

Why on earth would you need a "paper bit"?

That is an archaic British thing so that they can write your offences on it. In Spain they are all on the main computer and Trafico have access to it online.

Sid

[Laslomas]

If you return to UK and change back to a UK licence, do you get all the classes back??

[El Cid]

The DVLA have records of those classes that you are eligible for. It should not be a problem as they are effectively reissuing your UK licence rather than exchanging a foreign one.

Sid

[Miro]

Why aren't other classes transferred, though? If you can drive a truck in the UK, you can drive a truck anywhere; tacograph laws are standardised throughout the EU now, I think, but perhaps each member can have additional rules, which could necessitate a theory test, but why would you have to do a practical?

[curatokid]

What happens when I return to UK and rent a car ? they always ask for the paper bit that would show any endorsements and state that " the complete licence including paper part must be produced " ....

[Miro]

never been asked that, never had a problem renting a car anywhere. As Sid said, the paper bit is a British thing, I don't believe rental companies in the UK are unaware of that, and would not ask for it if you present anything other than a UK licence.

[El Cid]

What happens when I return to UK and rent a car ? they always ask for the paper bit that would show any endorsements and state that " the complete licence including paper part must be produced " ....

But once you have a Spanish licence then you only have to provide what a Spanish tourist would provide when he hires a car in the UK - just the plastic licence.

Sid

[Beachcomber]

Spanish driving licences do not have a 'paper bit' but DGT insists on it when changing a UK licence to a Spanish one.

[curatokid]

Thanks all for your input much appreciated....

[Jool]

So when I renew my spanish driving licence this summer will I automatically get a new style plastic credit card type one and nothing on paper to go with it? Where will my bonus points for being a good girl be shown?

Or do I need to specifically ask for the credit card type, and can I ask for it to be done for 10 years or do I have to wait until the next renewal for that?

[Nimrod]

If you replace your UK licence with a Spanish one and there is a chance you might revert back at a later date,then it's wise to make a copy of the old UK one.If you remember where and when you passed this also helps.
Specialist forums are awash with tales of lost details at DVLA.

[Miro]

Jool, I renewed mine at Trafico Malaga last year. If you don't ask, you'll automatically be issued another paper one on the spot, but if you ask for the plastic card style, they give you a temporary piece of paper, and the card comes in the post 2-3 weeks later - no paper bit needed, all the info is stored on computers these days. Validity is the same whatever type you have, so if you are under 40, you'll get 10 years. Otherwise, it will be good until your 50th, or for 5 years if you're already over 45.

Is that clear? I think I've confused myself with that

[Campo Steve]

As stated by others, The UK is the ONLY country that has a paper part. It's the UK that is out of step.

As for missing catefories, I had the same problem and assumed it was DVLA losing them, as has happened in UK when people change from the old paper licences to the plastic ones. Happened a lot with motorbikes.

However, my Gestor checked with Trafico and it turned out Trafico had made a mistake and forgotten to put them on. Two weeks later I had an updated licence with all categories on it.

[Jool]

I have renewed mine now and it was really simple using the form I accesssed via this forum. I had to ask Trafico to include C1 as well.....but it was no problem and my temporary justificante has B, BE, C1, C1E btp..... on it.

Now I have to hope the photocard actually does arrive safely in the post as things do go awol.......

Thanks for all your help everyone......

By the way gestor told me DVLA and TRafico here are now linked and Guardia will be able to check points on a UK licence - its going to be interesting as UK licences have points added whereas Spain takes them off.......

[El Cid]

I also understand that the new traffic laws that come in soon mean that if a resident, using a UK licence, is convicted of a "points" offence, his UK licence will automatically be changed to a Spanish one so that the points can be added.

Sid

[Jool]

his UK licence will automatically be changed to a Spanish one so that the points can be added.

How can they do this change automatically? No medical, no up to date photo etc? How do they know you are a resident and not a holiday-maker as so many don´t pay tax etc here and we all need NIE numbers if you own property here......?

Wouldn´t it mean points would be taken off the spanish licence?

There is no escape.....we are becoming like Patrick Mc Goohan in The Prisoner.......

[El Cid]

I imagine they would just take it off you on the spot and tell you to apply for a Spanish one.

No medical is normally needed for exchange.

As for residency - it would be up to you to prove otherwise.

As for the points, yes they take them off - sorry!

Sid

[blondie]

Following on from the original question, I have also just received my new Spanish license having finally changed it.

I am worried however, since I have been riding a 125 on my UK license for the last few years, and need to know that this is still the case on the Spanish license, since there is also the A1 license in Spain which allows you to ride a 125.