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Recently I have had to renew my driving license in Javea, fortunately as far as the paper work goes this is relatively painless. If you have not received an automatic renewal form then it is best to use a gestor who will send off the completed forms along with 60 Euros fee to traffic(this is variable depending on age – over 70 is free). You have to add to this 2 passport photos, a certificate of padroniamento if you need to change the address and a valid medical certificate. The medical is obtained at clinic Cune in the Amanacer building on Ctr Antonio Banuls (near Thursday market place) All you do is turn up after 5pm on a Wednesday, with your old driving license and photos, check in at the desk, then you wait in turn – very efficient- until called by the examiner.
You are given a basic eye test and blood pressure check. Then you are asked to use what looks like a video game machine. This checks your peripheral sight and your reaction. It is quite simple in that all you have to do is keep the line on the path. However the right and left path do not move the same!! This needs concentration. For us oldies who don’t play computer games we are given a practice go. Then the examiner watches as you control the lines for approximately 3 minutes. From here you go to the desk to collect your stamped and signed medical form. This usually costs between 38 and 45 Euros!! Up to now the procedure is easy – the difficult part is getting your new licence which will be sent to the address on the license. This can take anything up to 3 months from Alicante traffic office. My daughter applied for hers in Valencia and it was returned within a week!!! I myself used a gestor in August 2006 to renew my license, I received my provisional within a week . This ran out (3months) before my proper license arrived, we asked for a duplicate in the December, still no license in January 2007. Finally on the third attempt (2nd duplicate for which I had to pay another 40 Euros) and requesting delivery to the gestors office I got my license within a week, without an address printed on it All was well until I had an accident and the police informed me that the address for my license was Denia – even though I had sent a certificate of padroniamento with my correct address. In December 2007I applied again for a duplicate(another 60 Euros) with yet another certificate of padroniamento. I am still waiting!!! What I find incredible is that you have to surrender your old license to get the new one so I am driving around on a photo copy signed by the gestor!!! Ido love Spain!!! |
