UPDATE: No, Brits in Spain don't have to apply to exchange their driving licence before Brexit day

READ MORE: Brexit and Spain: What does it mean for travel after January 31st?

What do the British Embassy say?

On January 28th the British Embassy in Madrid issued a reassuring message on their Facebook page, Brits in Spain. 

It reads:

"We know there has been some confusion around the exchange of UK driving licences and whether you need to start the process by 31 January.

"The information currently on the DGT website referring to the need to register your details by 31 January would apply only to a no-deal scenario.

"The UK is set to leave the EU with a deal under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement. In practice this means that the rules around the exchange of UK licences will remain the same during the transition period.

"You will have until 31 December to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one under the current rules, so there is no need to worry if you are unable to start the process before 31 January."

It's worth noting that in comments below the Facebook post people, especially those living in the Malaga area, were still being advised to start the application process before January 31st.

It's a sign that while the British Embassy might offer reassuring statement Brits in Spain may find the situation on the ground slightly different.

And what do citizens campaign groups say?

Before the embassy's update John Carrivick from Eurocitizens told The Local: "The Withdrawal Agreement (WA) does not specifically address the question of driving licences but it makes clear that EU will continue to apply EU law to UK citizens in the EU (and vice versa) during the transition period. This January deadline would seem to breach at least the spirit of the WA but in practice civil servants are more likely to obey written instructions from their own department than stick their necks out and apply a personal interpretation of the WA."

What about making an appointment?

Many readers have complained that it is difficult to get appointments to exchange their UK driving licences for Spanish ones as the Brexit deadline of January 31st approaches.  

Even after the original Brexit date of March 29th was postponed and the October 31st date came and went,  last minute applications has meant it is a struggle to book an appointment at some DGT (Direccion General de Trafico) offices, especially those where there are a big concentration of British residents such as Alicante. 

Some people have tried to get appointments in other cities where there are less foreigners requesting the service and reportedly it is still possible to secure an appointment at the Bilbao office within a week.

What if I haven't even moved to Spain yet?

The Local understands that Spain will put something in place to cover those who move to Spain before the end of the transition period but it is yet to be officially announced by the Spanish government and the DGT traffic department.

Worst case scenario: 

After the end of the transition period British licences could be subject to the regulations for ´third countries´ and British driving licences will NOT be able to be swapped for Spanish ones unless a new bilateral agreement between Spain and UK has been drawn up.

Failure to swap your licence could, in the worst case scenario, mean that in order to drive legally in Spain one would have to sit the Spanish driving test.

What if I return to the UK with a Spanish driving licence?

Don't worry about the exchange being permanent either. If you return to the UK permanently then it is simple enough to request a replacement British driving licence from the DVLA:

And on visits back to the UK it should still be possible to drive with a Spanish licence as it is now, although check the insurance policy of the car you are using back in UK.

Conclusions?

If you live in Spain, then by law you will need to change your driving licence to a Spanish one, so make an appointment as soon as possible and hope that the DGT have told employees how to process it during the transition period.

To find out out to do that you can use our guide: Exchanging your British driving licence for a Spanish one: What you need to know

READ MORE: 

• Brexit: How to register as an EU resident in Spain
• Can Brits still move to Spain after Brexit day?