THE government has acknowledged Islanders’ frustration that Jersey driving licences are not valid in Spain.
Although the UK and Spain recently reached an agreement to recognise each other’s driving licences, Jersey and other Crown Dependencies were not included in the arrangement.
‘Jersey licences are not legal in Spain and we cannot exchange them for a Spanish one without taking theory and practical tests,’ said Kerr Cameron, who lives in Murcia and recently wrote to the JEP to raise the issue.
‘However, if you are Spanish with a Spanish driving licence, our Jersey Motor traffic office will exchange it for a Jersey one.’
Tristen Dodd, the government’s head of transport, said: ‘Although Jersey accepts licences from many EU and EEA jurisdictions, this is not always reciprocated.
‘It is appreciated that this is a frustrating situation, but work is continuing, with the support of the UK government and colleagues in our External Relations team, to include Jersey and the other Crown Dependencies in the agreement.’
Mr Dodd said that Crown Dependencies were not included in UK-Spain negotiations because Spain needed more time to consider the possibility.
‘Whilst the UK Department for Transport have put an agreement in place, they have also provided an assurance that they will continue to seek the future inclusion of the Crown Dependencies,’ Mr Dodd added.
To drive in Spain, tourists can use their Jersey driving licence, but have to get an international driving licence as well. These official documents offer a translation of a driver’s original licence, and are required by a number of countries for visitors.
Those who move to Spain permanently have to exchange their foreign driving licence for a local one within their first six months of living in the country.
Spain does not currently accept Jersey driving licences, meaning that Islanders who move to Spain have to take a theory and practical test to obtain a local driving licence.
