Driving in Spain without a physical licence

[metaled]

Has anyone been pulled in Spain with no physical licence?
I’ve driven here via France. Got stopped by the gendarme for speeding and had my licence confiscated.
I’ve read mixed advice ranging from it’s fine to no way.
Would be great to hear from anyone that has driven in Spain or anyone that knows if there’s anything I can do to be able to drive without the physical licence. Cant get through to the DVLA.

Cheers

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

There's some doubt whether you might also need an International Licence. (you will deffo soon)

Before it all went wibbly wobbly we were planning a road trip. I discovered that France & Spain require different International Licences.


It's like all risks, you might get away with it. It's only a problem if there's a problem!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Re driving permits:

You may need extra documents from 1 January 2021.

You might need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in some countries.

So, OK for rest of year with usual UK licence.

(But not sure about no licence )

[metaled]

I’m pretty sure you don’t need an IDP at the moment for Spain or France. The gendarme were certainly not bothered I didn’t have an IDP. Obviously this may all change next year...
My issue is that I’m left with no physical licence and here for another 2 weeks unsure whether I can drive legally !

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

metaled said:

I’m pretty sure you don’t need an IDP at the moment for Spain or France. The gendarme were certainly not bothered I didn’t have an IDP. Obviously this may all change next year...
My issue is that I’m left with no physical licence and here for another 2 weeks unsure whether I can drive legally !

As above re permit, OK until Jan.

When I've had my licence "kept" I've always been given a receipt which serves as a licence in the interim?

Edited by 2 sMoKiN bArReLs on Thursday 30th July 19:24

[vonhosen]

Your licence was seized for speeding in France?
And then you drove through France to Spain after that?
What did the Gendarme say, were you fined at the roadside, were you alone in the car & how much were you over the limit?

[Monkeylegend]

They will expect you to have a full valid driving licence, proof of insurance and a valid ID, ie passport.

Not sure what they would do though if you got stopped and didn't have them with you.

We had our hire car towed by the police a few years ago and needed to show them all three to get the car back with a nice 160 euro fine. Luckily we had them with us.

[metaled]

Licence seized in France, I’m banned from driving in France for 2 months (i think). Partner drove the rest of the journey until Spain.
The gendarme advised that I would be fine to drive in Spain. I didn’t realise that you’re supposed to have your licence on you.
Let’s just say I was doing double the limit in France and got caught by an unmarked car with radar. Lucky I didn’t have to go to the police station to be honest. Just a fine at the side of the road.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

metaled said:

Licence seized in France, I’m banned from driving in France for 2 months (i think). Partner drove the rest of the journey until Spain.
The gendarme advised that I would be fine to drive in Spain. I didn’t realise that you’re supposed to have your licence on you.
Let’s just say I was doing double the limit in France and got caught by an unmarked car with radar. Lucky I didn’t have to go to the police station to be honest. Just a fine at the side of the road.

No receipt for what was taken?

I'd let her do the rest of the driving.

[vonhosen]

metaled said:

Licence seized in France, I’m banned from driving in France for 2 months (i think). Partner drove the rest of the journey until Spain.
The gendarme advised that I would be fine to drive in Spain. I didn’t realise that you’re supposed to have your licence on you.
Let’s just say I was doing double the limit in France and got caught by an unmarked car with radar. Lucky I didn’t have to go to the police station to be honest. Just a fine at the side of the road.

Well I suspect then that you are banned in France but not the UK or Spain. I also believe that you can be fined for not carrying a licence with you if you drive in Spain.

[StuntmanMike]

So the holiday is going well op.

Sorry, but I can just imagine the st my wife would give me for that.

[metaled]

vonhosen said:

Well I suspect then that you are banned in France but not the UK or Spain. I also believe that you can be fined for not carrying a licence with you if you drive in Spain.

Yep I think you are right.

Yep holiday is great - the mrs had to drive halfway across France having never driven the car before

[sunbeam alpine]

Just a thought (and apologies if it's a stupid idea), but what about popping into a Spanish police station and reporting the "loss" of your driving licence?

It probably fell out of your pocket somewhere...

You might be lucky and get a document which you could then show if required.

By the way, DO NOT be tempted to risk driving back through France - they take driving while banned very seriously!

[metaled]

sunbeam alpine said:

Just a thought (and apologies if it's a stupid idea), but what about popping into a Spanish police station and reporting the "loss" of your driving licence?

It probably fell out of your pocket somewhere...

You might be lucky and get a document which you could then show if required.

By the way, DO NOT be tempted to risk driving back through France - they take driving while banned very seriously!

That’s a good idea, I’m concerned that they’ll run a check online and it will flag up the fact that the french police have retained it... chance that their databases talk to each are slim I guess.
Yep I’m taking the ban in France seriously - luckily I’m getting the ferry back.

[sunbeam alpine]

metaled said:

sunbeam alpine said:

Just a thought (and apologies if it's a stupid idea), but what about popping into a Spanish police station and reporting the "loss" of your driving licence?

It probably fell out of your pocket somewhere...

You might be lucky and get a document which you could then show if required.

By the way, DO NOT be tempted to risk driving back through France - they take driving while banned very seriously!

That’s a good idea, I’m concerned that they’ll run a check online and it will flag up the fact that the french police have retained it... chance that their databases talk to each are slim I guess.
Yep I’m taking the ban in France seriously - luckily I’m getting the ferry back.

There is zero chance of the Spanish being able to check on a French ban.

[jm doc]

I still have my old UK licence which I carry as a "spare" just in case.