Main new European legal guidelines have an effect on UK motorists driving in Spain, Portugal and Italy
The UK Authorities has been locked in negotiations with quite a few European international locations in latest months in an try to make clear guidelines round UK-issued driving licences. Following Brexit, new guidelines needed to be launched to permit UK drivers with DVLA-issued driving licences to make use of them to drive in European international locations when dwelling there.
Portugal
As of right this moment, guidelines that apply to EU driving licences proceed to use to UK driving licences in Portugal till December 31, 2023.
Which means that till this date, it’s attainable to drive in Portugal on a UK driving licence issued by the DVLA (in England, Scotland and Wales) or DVA (in Northern Eire).
To proceed driving in Portugal as a resident, they need to register their driving licence with the IMT.
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The settlement additionally makes provision for change of expired licences (as much as a interval of 5 years/for as much as 5 years after their date of expiry) in addition to misplaced and stolen licences, topic to home procedures.
Mr Llewellyn, commented on the settlement, saying it was “nice information” for British residents and UK licence holders dwelling in Italy.
He added: “I’m delighted to announce that, after intensive work between London and Rome over many months, an settlement has been reached with the Italian authorities which can allow a UK driving licence to be exchanged for an Italian one for UK licence holders dwelling in Italy with out having to take any examination, both written or sensible.
“We are actually working laborious with the Italian Authorities to deliver the settlement into impact as rapidly as attainable after ratification on either side. Within the meantime, we’re making preparations with the Italian authorities to make sure that UK licences will proceed to be recognised past December 31, 2022 for an extra 12 months.
Spain
Since Might 2022, Britons dwelling in Spain have been banned from utilizing their UK driving licences on Spanish roads, a lot to the dismay of expats.
The “Brits in Spain” Fb web page is frequently updating drivers within the UK in regards to the developments within the negotiations and if any breakthroughs have been made.
In a Fb video posted earlier right this moment, Hugh Elliott, the ambassador of the UK to Spain, defined what progress had been made with the driving licence state of affairs.
He said that the settlement between British and Spanish authorities was performed, with “technical wording” nonetheless being resolved.
He mentioned that either side would proceed to work collectively to get the settlement signed, including that he would share extra data on the consulate’s web page as quickly as he knew it.
Mr Elliott added: “Particularly, the state of affairs is that on the UK facet, the required authorisations are in place, pending decision of some closing factors of technical wording. On which we’re ready for Spain to get again to us.
“Our very clear understanding is that any worldwide treaty should undergo this course of and we’ve been assured that will probably be a clean one.”
