If you’re a British national resident on Lanzarote, you should now have exchanged your UK driving licence for a Spanish one. You may also have learned that rules for renewing a driving licence in Spain are different than in the UK, and these apply to all drivers.
Your licence (carnet de conducir) should be renewed before the expiry date that appears on it. If you wait until after it expires, you will be unable to drive.
The most common class B licence (for normal cars) should be renewed every 10 years until the age of 65, when a five-year term begins. However, this is not automatic, and the period may be reduced if you suffer from medical conditions that may affect your driving.
On Lanzarote, the process will usually take place at an authorized medical centre, of which there are four in Arrecife. You’ll first be given a brief interview about your medical history by a doctor, and will have to do a short eye test.
Then you’ll be required to play the video game- This is a test of visual/manual skills that requires you to keep two short lines within a road as it scrolls down. It’s not as easy as it seems and you’ll probably make a few errors, but this doesn’t usually affect the result. You’ll also be photographed.
Once the test is finished, you’ll need to pay the tax for the renewal (usually €24 + fees for the medical centre) and will receive a temporary authorisation to drive until your new licence arrives by post.
TAKE:
– Your old driving licence
– Residency/TIE document
– Any recent medical reports
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