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If you
have a
driving
licence
from
any
other
EU
country,
it is
automatically
valid
in
Spain.
All
other
countries
(including
the
USA),
can
drive
for
just 6
months
in one
calendar
year
but
must
then
obtain
a
Spanish
licence.
A
driving
school
will
handle
all
the
paperwork
for
you.
To
apply
for a
test
you
will
need
to
present
a copy
of
your
residencia,
passport
photographs,
a
completed
application
form
and
the
fee of
160.95€
and a
medical
certificate
obtained
at an
official
medical
centre
(24€
fee).
Driving
Licences
for
residents
of
Spain
If
Resident
in
Spain
you
have
to
either
change
your
driving
licence
or put
an
inscription
on
your
EU
licence
at
your
nearest
'Jefatura
Provincial
de
Tráfico'
(in
Madrid
at
C/Arturo
Soria
143,
Tel:
913
018
500)
If you
are a
resident
by
means
of
working
i.e.
you
don't
hold a
residents
card,
but
are
paying
taxes
and
Social
Security
in
Spain
and
working
for
more
than
185
days
in
Spain
per
year,
you
have
to
either
change
or put
an
inscription
on
your
EU
Licence.
Spanish
Driving
Licence
-
Documents
needed:
Residents:
Copy
of
residencia,
Driving
licence
(original),
2
photos
and a
signed
form
which
can
obtain
from
police
station.
If it
is
being
renewed
at the
same
time -
an eye
test
from a
doctor.
Working
resident
documents
needed:
All of
the
above
but
instead
of
copy
of
residencia,
the
following:
copy
of
passport,
copy
of NIE
certificate,
copy
of
contract
(minimum
of 6
months),
if
self
employed
proof
of
Social
Security
payments,
justification
of
address
(cert
Empadronamiento
/
proof
of
residence
of
min. 6
months).
Time:
2
Weeks
(approx.).
Price:
46.40
euros
Inscription
on
Driving
Licence
-
Documents
needed:
Residents:
copy
of
residencia,
Driving
licence,
signed
form.
Non-residents:
copy
of NIE
certificate,
copy
of
passport,
justification
of
address
(cert
Empadronamiento
/
proof
of
residence
of
min. 6
months).
Time:
Photo
card
driving
licence
2-3
months
(approx.)
or
Paper
licence
2-3
weeks.
Price:
46.40
euros
In
both
cases
a
justificate
(copy
documentation)
will
be
given
to the
client,
which
is
valid
for 60
days
and
proves
that
the
original
is
with
the
traffic
police.
This
can be
extended
if
necessary.
Where
to go:
Your
nearest
'Jefatura
Provincial
de
Tráfico'.
The
Law
changes
on
foreign
EU
driving
licences
(at
last):
On
September
9th,
2004,
the
Law in
Spain
was
effectively
changed
as the
result
of a
decision
handed
down
by the
European
Court
of
Justice
(it
has
still
to be
written
in the
Statute
Book)
as
follows:
-
Was -
foreign
EU
licences
had to
be
changed
for
Spanish
ones
if you
took
out
residencia
(or
legally
work
for a
company
here),
and
drove
a
Spanish
registered
(plated)
car,
or the
licence
had to
be
registered
if you
stayed
over
three
months
or
bought
a
Spanish
plated
car,
but
did
not
live
here.
Spain
was,
in
fact,
in
contravention
of the
EU
Directive
on
this
subject.
New
Effective
Law
from
9th
September
2004:
-
Please
note
that
the
Law
has
yet to
be
amended
in
Spain,
but
the
judgement
handed
down
means
that
it is
virtually
effective
now,
as any
fines
would
be
pointless.
I have
no
news
of an
appeal,
which,
in my
opinion,
would
be
pointless.
Please
read
on.....
Your
EU
foreign
licence,
the
one
with
the
ring
of
stars
on the
front
and,
for
the
UK, is
of a
credit/bank
card
size,
but
for
all EU
countries,
it can
be the
folded
card
as
still
at
this
time
used
in
Spain,
is
legal
to use
in
Spain
(or
anywhere
in the
EU)
whether
you
are a
visitor
or
live
here
as
your
principal
place
of
residence
(taken
out
residencia).
However,
you
have
to
comply
with
the
Laws
in
Spain
where
the
licence
will
expire
according
to
Spanish
Laws
as
detailed
are in
my
book,
Motoring
in
Spain,
Part 6
- 4.
The
older
pre-EU
type
licences
must
still
be
changed
for a
Spanish
one or
an EU
one
from
your
home
country,
if
this
is
still
possible.
The
card
has
been
available
in the
UK for
some
time.
In
Spain,
it is
expected
that
they
will
be
issued
from
2005.
If you
are
stopped
by an
official
who
attempts
to
issue
you
with a
denuncia
in
connection
with
this
subject,
you
may
quote,
" Case
C-195/02
of the
European
Court
of
Justice,
decison
9th
September
2004".
In
Spanish:
-
La
decisión
del
Tribunal
de
Justicia
Europea,
numero
C-195/02,
9 de
septiembre
de
2.004.
COMMENT.
Many
drivers
have
been
issued
with
denuncias
and
heavy
fines
as
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