Driving with Type 1 on a non GB license

[Finn]

I'm not sure if this helps, but I'm a UK citizen who had a UK driving licence and I'm living in Germany.

I moved to Germany prior to Brexit and was able to exchange my UK licence for a German one with a simple form, no tests. I was sure to do this before Brexit because otherwise I would have needed to go through the German driving licence qualification process (although I would have ended up with both a UK licence and a German one; now I have a German licence, but no UK licence).

I'm not sure how diabetes fits into everything as I wasn't diagnosed when I exchanged my UK licence for a German one.

Is there the possibility of just starting fresh and applying for a UK provisional licence as if it's your first licence, with any diabetes declarations you need, and having the process go on as if you don't hold a Spanish licence? Post-Brexit, I'd assume your Spanish licence doesn't do as much good as it did before Brexit, but I'm not sure.

I'm certainly not suggesting skirting the rules. Just thinking of how the process in the UK might mirror that in Germany (and I appreciate it could be completely different).

 

[Elenka_HM]

I clearly missed something somewhere. I don't doubt that the medical condition is crucial. I would be concerned about @Elenka_HM getting her Spanish licence held by UK authorities - and not returning it. Even though they have no authority to do that. If Elenka should leave UK in the future for any other country, then, as a Spanish passport holder, trying to transfer a UK restricted licence to get a different national licence could become really messy.

But I recognise this is already muddy!

That's the part I'm concerned about! What would happen if I go back to my country in the future and want to drive there.

I know if I didn't have the medical condition my Spanish license would be totally valid here, I did check more than once. Also, to answer to your previous post, I am not planning to get British citizenship. I currently have temporary leave to remain in the UK and soon will be eligible for a permanent leave to remain (with the EU Settlement Scheme).

 

[Robin]

Post-Brexit, I'd assume your Spanish licence doesn't do as much good as it did before Brexit, but I'm not sure.

There are still legacy rules which recognise an EU licence in the U.K. If @Elenka_HM applied for a U.K. provisional, she’d have to take a test, but she has the right to hold on to her Spanish, or to swap it for a U.K. if she needs to, for example, for a job, without having to take a test. Then she’d definitely be liable to apply for a 3 yr restricted, the puzzle comes if she elects to keep her Spanish one,

 

[Elenka_HM]

Edited to add that I think Spain has similar rules to the U.K. regarding needing to do a medical form or similar if you’re Type 1 on insulin, so it’s possible that Elenka’s original Spanish licence might need attention anyway (ie need a special form, doctor report, declaration or whatever).

Yes, that's is correct. I think with diabetes you get a similar restricted license, tho from what I read it lasts 5 years instead of 3 (a regular Spanish license is renewed every 10 years).

 

[Inka]

Yes, that's is correct. I think with diabetes you get a similar restricted license, tho from what I read it lasts 5 years instead of 3 (a regular Spanish license is renewed every 10 years).

So if you returned to Spain tomorrow (not suggesting you should!) your licence wouldn’t be valid to drive anyway. I wonder if Spain has a similar reciprocal agreement with the U.K. re seeing U.K. licences as equal? That way, because you were diagnosed with Type 1 here, you could get a U.K. restricted licence and then if you returned to Spain, you could show the U.K. restricted one and still be ok to drive until it needed swapping for a Spanish restricted licence?

 

[Elenka_HM]

So if you returned to Spain tomorrow (not suggesting you should!) your licence wouldn’t be valid to drive anyway. I wonder if Spain has a similar reciprocal agreement with the U.K. re seeing U.K. licences as equal? That way, because you were diagnosed with Type 1 here, you could get a U.K. restricted licence and then if you returned to Spain, you could show the U.K. restricted one and still be ok to drive until it needed swapping for a Spanish restricted licence?

I would hope that if GB accepts Spanish license, Spain should accept British licenses. But I wouldn't take it for granted!

Thank everyone for your replies 🙂 I think at this point I need to contact DGT (DVLA's spanish cousin) and get their advice too. Will check if I would be able to drive on a UK license and also what I have to do regarding my diabetes if I do keep my original EU license.

I'm also thinking to send an email to my consultant. He didn't give any advice about driving because at the time I told him I didn't plan to do it, but it might be helpful now.

 

[Proud to be erratic]

So if you returned to Spain tomorrow (not suggesting you should!) your licence wouldn’t be valid to drive anyway. I wonder if Spain has a similar reciprocal agreement with the U.K. re seeing U.K. licences as equal? That way, because you were diagnosed with Type 1 here, you could get a U.K. restricted licence and then if you returned to Spain, you could show the U.K. restricted one and still be ok to drive until it needed swapping for a Spanish restricted licence?

My current thoughts are that there are probably 2 distinct issues here for @Elenka_HM: finding a route through this tangle that doesn't jeopardise her existing Spanish licence and keeping that cost-effective. I understand that these days getting a full UK Driving licence (which would automatically be a 3 yr restricted licence because of her D) from a UK Provisional licence start point can be really expensive.

I wonder if there is an interim route @Elenka_HM: for you to convert yourr existing National licence into one that reflects your T1 diagnosis and thus in the interim meets the principle of UK DVLA remit; but also just apply for a UK Provisional licence (with due reference to your T1) and use that while having the modest number of familiarisation lessons. Then whoever is helping with that familiarisation is covered in terms of insurance and general UK legality and some "time has been gained" while the option or necessity of you needing a standalone UK Licence is more fully explored.

By explored I mean:

understanding fully what the UK Restricted licence will cost you, rather than a UK passport holder;​

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understanding if anyone in DVLA has rhe right to "seize" your Spanish licence in order to replace it with a UK restricted licence; or can the UK Restricted one supplement rather than replace your National licence?​

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and how quickly and easily you can get your Spanish full (10 yr?) licence replaced by a Spanish restricted licence (5yrs?).​

I am still tempted to say ask your Embassy, @Elenka_HM; but I'm slightly nervous about this advice, since I've learnt the hard way not to ask a question to which you might not like the answer! However, on balance, if you are still keen to regain driving confidence and set yourself up for future driving in UK (or Spain) on your own (ie without L-plates or equivalent and without the mandatory experienced and licensed passenger to supervise you while driving under Provisional driving conditions) then getting your Spanish licence compliant is going to be essential - looking ahead. With that you could go on holiday somewhere and be sufficiently licenced to hire a car in your own right. Even if you didn't need or want to become a car owner in the immediate future. So getting authorities advice in writing is probably essential.

I guess it's something you need to decide how important it is for you in the long term to legally be able to drive, wherever you are living.

Sorry, still in muddy territory!

 

[Proud to be erratic]

My thoughts were preceded by your response by 6 minutes! I think we're on a similar path of options.

 

[Satan’s little helper]

I would hope that if GB accepts Spanish license, Spain should accept British licenses. But I wouldn't take it for granted!

Thank everyone for your replies 🙂 I think at this point I need to contact DGT (DVLA's spanish cousin) and get their advice too. Will check if I would be able to drive on a UK license and also what I have to do regarding my diabetes if I do keep my original EU license.

I'm also thinking to send an email to my consultant. He didn't give any advice about driving because at the time I told him I didn't plan to do it, but it might be helpful now.

I would wager that if your eyesight & hypo awareness aligns with DGT requirements. Get your consultant to liaise with DGT? Amend your Spanish licence for use in the UK. Would be a simpler solution.?
Good luck.

 

[Elenka_HM]

Thanks @Proud to be erratic for the suggestion. Will check first with DGT, my consultant and probably the driving instructor, while we are at it. Not keen on the idea of getting a UK license "from scratch". Is not only because of the money and the long wait for tests, I would find the whole process too overwhelming. It was enough to pass the practical test once (not on the first attempt, I must add. Or the second).