There are many confusing anomalies which exist for foreigners who want to get behind the wheel in Spain. Expatica reports.

The law is very simple, very straightforward; unfortunately the law is also very Spanish.

If you come from an EU country, you can swap your driving licence for a Spanish one; if you don't, you can't. Easy, eh?

Well, sort of, unless you happen to be an American. In America, streetwise Spanish exchange students used to get their licences at 16, come back to Spain, and swap them for a Spanish one, thus obviating the tiresome procedure of taking a Spanish driving test.

The authorities cottoned on, and decided to close the door by the simple expedient of invalidating US licences for exchange purposes.

This is annoying if, like Marvin Symons, you are a US college professor from Iowa with 32 years driving experience, and suddenly you get told you have to take a Spanish test.

Difficult even if you speak Spanish – very hard indeed if you don't.

Marvin doesn't; so, though normally a law-abiding sort of chap, he soon adopted a trick many others use, telling any police officer who waved him in that he was a tourist.

Expatica checked with a Policia Local officer, who said, yes, quite right, only EU member nations licences were valid.

We checked with a Guardia Civil officer, who said yes, absolutamente.

But then we spoke to an Argentinean solicitor; "No, I just swapped my licence when I got here, for a Spanish one." Que?

"I just took it into a oficina de trafico, no problema. Hey, don’t mention my name, will you?"

But, since when is Argentina in the EU?

Great Britain, which IS in the EU. So can Britons swap their licences?

Er, well, yes and no. Yes, they should and no, they shouldn't. Por que? But Britain's in the EU, surely?

This was the response: 'Yes, but you don't have Identity Cards in Britain, do you?'

Michael Holt, 43, a British estate agent who lives in Spain, was faced with this situation.

He just showed the officer his UK driving licence and said, 'What's this if not a UK identity card? The police saw his Spanish tarjeta de residencia  or residence card in his wallet but still fined him EUR 50.

He was annoyed, and eventually spoke to the British Embassy in Madrid. No, they assured him, you don't need a Spanish licence if you’re a UK national.

'But I was fined!', he told the embassy.

'Ah, but did you have the letter?' 

'What letter?'

'Ah, well, you see, the Spanish authorities in Madrid have agreed that UK nationals don't need a Spanish licence, but nobody's told the police, so they'll still fine you.'

'Legally?'

'They're the police – so of course it's legal. But if you ask us, said the Embassy, we'll send you a formal letter advising the police that they can't fine you any more.

'Will they refund my fine if I take it into the police station, then?'

'Erm, well . . . . . . .'

So that seems to be the law. For Americans: no chance, gotta take that test, buddy.

EU citizens: Should swap your licence or get a letter from your embassy.

Commonwealth Citizens? Depends if you can persuade the police that your Aussie passport means you're British.

 Latin American? The law seems to change every day; your odds are probably improved if you're young and pretty!

Everybody else; no entiendo, senor, soy turista!

Furtherinformation: Spanish Development Ministry

[July 2006]

Subject: Spain; Driving licences