Select a region
The Government says work is underway to resolve the "frustrating situation" that Jersey driving licences aren't recognised in Spain.
Though the UK and Spain recently reached an agreement to recognise each other’s driving licences, Jersey and other Crown Dependencies were not included.
Kerr Cameron, who lives in Murcia, is among those to have been affected by the issue.
“Jersey licences are not legal in Spain and we cannot exchange them for a Spanish one without taking theory and practical tests. However, if you are Spanish with a Spanish driving licence, our Jersey Motor traffic office will exchange it for a Jersey one," he explained.
“It is appreciated that this is a frustrating situation, but work is continuing, with the support of the UK Government and colleagues in our External Relations team, to include Jersey and the other Crown Dependencies in the agreement.”
Pictured: “Although Jersey accepts licences from many EU and EEA jurisdictions, this is not always reciprocated," explained the Government's Head of Transport.
Mr Dodd said that Crown Dependencies were not included in UK-Spain negotiations because Spain needed more time to consider the possibility.
“Whilst the UK Department for Transport have put an agreement in place, they have also provided an assurance that they will continue to seek the future inclusion of the Crown Dependencies,” Mr Dodd said.
To drive in Spain, tourists can use their Jersey driving licence, but have to get an international driving licence as a complement – an international driving licence is an official document that translates the original, and is required by a number of countries for foreign drivers.
However, people who move to Spain permanently have to exchange their foreign driving licence for a local one within their first six months of living in the country.
Spain does not currently accept Jersey driving licences, so Jersey drivers who move to Spain have to take theory and practical tests to get their local driving licence.
UK drivers were in the same situation, but since an agreement reached by the UK and Spain in March, it is possible to exchange a UK licence for a Spanish one and vice versa without sitting additional tests.
Other countries, including France and Germany, allow people to exchange their Jersey licence for a local one without having to take a test.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.