A disgruntled British resident considers the Spanish and British authorities have left drivers in the lurch.
Dear Ed,
Anybody else been ‘abandoned’ by both UK and Spanish authorities over UK driving licences?
The Spanish in particular obviously care not one jot about us and the enormous amount of income we give the country…
We will now have to sell up and probably return to UK, the last thing I want to do at my age is undertake a Spanish driving test!
Toby
(Reader’s Letter: Obtaining a Spanish Driving Licence)
Patrick: Thanks, Patrick – I appreciate the feedback and quips from our readers. Spanish Guru appears to be run by three Americans back in 2014 and the site does have a lot of helpful information. Obviously, it good if our advertisers get some feedback, too (Paul mentioned José Luís in La Herradura, who’s very good at his job and speaks English).
Martin. To my best knowledge, the only thing you promote is a good sense of humour or mild sarcasm.
But thank you for letting me express or vent, as they say. ? Who are they. ???
The editor said I could mention Jose Luis Sanchez Parejo 657373107 who is in La herradura. Been my Saint for 7 years…he does taxes, licenses, residencies, house purchase, litigation…excellent service and perfectly fluent
I found my info on. Spain Guru es. With various links if you wish to use them.
As to paying taxes. From age 66 I have received my state pension. Was 65. But that’s another issue. State pension in UK not taxed. But my NHS Pension takes me over the tax threashold. Do for this April 2022 /2023 UK tax. But due to no double country tax agreement. I can claim it back eventually. But HMRC do like proof of paying taxes in Spain. For me year 2023 will be my first tax year. !!
Any exchange of driving license can be rectified if you go back via DVLA.
Patrick: We don’t normally allow readers to promote business as it would turn into a free-for-all, but in this case, given the interest, please go ahead… but don’t fill your boots 😉 : just give the name and anybody interested can look them up on Internet
Patrick
if you live in La Herradura I can reccomend a true professional but cant say it here. I pay about 200 euro preparation fee but that is a deductible expense.
by the way you only need a tax certificate if you file and pay UK taxes in order to get the refund (covered by the tax treaty)…. why pay UK taxes there if you dont live there.? I have to file US taxes even though I dont live there which is different to the UK, but I get a US tax refund cos of the tax treaty…..and dont pay any taxes in the US
Interestingly you mentioned the tax certificate – needed by HMRC – yet HMRC does NOT provide a tax certificate for the pension they pay you and me. My Spanish tax preparer accepts my written word and if we need we can just show bank statements. Love those Brits!
Thank you guys for your advice. I think I know the issue here. £6700 !!! Is about €8000 . So below that figure. No taxes to pay. Doh. £s not €s. !!
Anyway the point was. Without Residencia I could not have changed or exchanged my driving licence. !! But to get the Residencia I had been here more then six months. So had to register on the fiscal system. Just register. !! That meant I was considered to be liable on all earnings.
But no Residencia. No exchange.
Does that make sense. ??
I will happily pay Spanish taxes. If the sun comes back. ??
john, Oliver and Patrick – not sure what taxes have to do with driver licenses. Taxes are complicated and suggest you get professional advice…. cos everything you all say seems incorrect and each persons situation is different
Anyhow, I am a UK and US expat ( FYI- hardly pay any taxes because of double tax treaties) but we must consider why Spain?…..weather/climate, healthcare, safety/crime, food safety, quality of life, cost of living, culture, happiness, lifestyle. We can not make life decisions or judgements about sacrifices caused by obstacles and based on temporary inconveniences. Shouldnt we look at the big picture?
I personally wouldnt return to the UK or USA
Phew. Thank you Oliver and John.
I’m afraid I got my information on taxes from English speaking based in Spain accountancy firms web sites. I’d be really really glad to not pay taxes from €6700.
Bad enough this year. A year late at 66. That I’m losing tax in the UK on my ambulance pension. As I’m over the £12750 threshold. Let alone having to get a certificate from the Spanish hacienda next year. For my first Spanish tax year. In order to claim back UK over pay taxes. Where do you guys get your figures from. I’m not working for anybody or in business. So I’d be greatful to get a true figure . !!??
Oliver and Patrick
You can earn 13,115 in Spain without paying any tax.
You have both taken a piece of information that whilst relevant is not correct as you have taken it in isolation without considering other factors.
@ Patrick. Shouldn’t that be 12.000 €. 6700 € seems by far to low and is well under the yearly minimum income here in Spain. If you don’t have an income of at least 12.000€ a year you don’t even need to fill in your tax declaration. 9500€ it is when your income is generated by your own company.
I agree plenty of time to change a licence, however due bureaucracy, loosing my application and reapplying late I am still no further on my licence exchange after 19 months and now can not drive. I believe this delay is due to reciprocal exchange in the UK so hence the delay. The cynical side of me thinks the UK ministers involved just want a jolly up on the costas.
Before Brits complain about how Brits are treated in Spain, maybe they should consider how non-Brits are treated in the UK since Brexit? And fix that and then complain.
I changed my UK driving licence for a Spanish one a year ago and it wasn`t necessary to undertake a re-test.
The good things are…… Spanish folks and neighbors are kind and generous, they will help in an emergency. There are very good AlSA buses and local Fajardo buses. There is something called BLAH BLAH which is a ride sharing app too. If all else fails….Shanks pony is great and keeps you healthy. Chin up, stiff upper lip and rule Britannia!
I think some dont realise the issue is not for those who were residents prior to Brexit it is typically those who requested residence after Brexit. Those new to Full time Spain. Their applications for residence were delayed by COVID hence they couldnt apply to change the license without their completed residence.
If I’m correct. You can drive on a UK licence for up to six months. As long as you advise your insurance company and now a Green Card. ??
Now my information is that if you are out of the UK in Spain for more then 180 days.
You have to register as fiscal or Spanish tax payers. If you have enough to be taxed on, over €6700 ??
So sadly I will pay Spanish tax. I guess those that are under the radar will be a bit upset. After all €15300 before you pay tax in the UK is more attractive then €6700.??
Sadly facts are a bit confusing. I was told that in order to exchange my UK driving license. I had to. !!! Have Residencia.!!
Of course with Brexit looming . It made sense. NIE, done. Andalusia three year fishing licence, done. Health care one year private ,done. Residencia,done. Driving licence, using green residencia card ,done. I was advised no Residencia. No exchange of licence.!! The CAB ES gave loads of advice. Even I could struggle through.
We all had plenty of time to do these boring but required tasks. Agreed or disagree with the UK stance on Brexit. We have to now play a different game.
Some people have had plenty of time and some of those have been badly served by gestors who do not know what they are doing. Other people have been caught up in red tape and were told that they could not register to start things until they had residencia. Covid made it worse. Others have moved to Spain since the deadline. I would like to know what the problem is with the governments as to why it is taking so long to do what should be a relatively simple process. ‘Should have, could have’ is not helpful as we cannot change the past but questions to the authorities are needed as we can change the future!
People have had plenty of time to get a Spanish license