Exchanging your driving licence — did you have to retake the test?

Emma, we exchanged our UK licences in Portugal last year, and I'm happy to report that neither of us had to sit a test, which is a relief for everyone on Portuguese roads. It was an exchange, not a new licence, but it wasn't quick. We needed a medical certificate from a local doctor, translations of a few documents, and an appointment that took weeks to get. In the meantime we could keep driving on the old licences, but only for a limited period, so we started early.

My advice is to check whether your country has an agreement for straight exchange, because that decides everything. And do it before the deadline, not after, because if you miss it the rules can be very different.

In Australia my Pakistani licence needed a knowledge test and a practical test, which I passed on the second try, humbly.

Germany made me take the theory test with my Egyptian licence, but not the full lessons, which was a relief.

Whether a licence can be exchanged directly or needs a test depends on agreements between the two countries, and those change, so it's worth checking your specific case early. The Driving section for Spain covers exchanging foreign licences and how long you can drive on one after becoming resident.