By: DAISY SAMPSON
daisy.sampson@the-resident.com
EXPATRIATE DRIVERS are facing long delays in renewing their Portuguese driving licences, leaving them unable to travel outside the country.
The Resident has been contacted by several people complaining about the time it is taking, with some already waiting for nearly six months.
In the meantime, they have to make do with the temporary licences that are issued, which are fine for driving in Portugal but not recognised as a legal document outside of Portugal.
A spokesman at the Direcção Geral de Viação (DGV), the organisation responsible for licence renewal, told The Resident: “The delays are because the licences have to be checked and verified to see if they are fake and this process takes a considerable time.”
Long delays
A number of people have received up to three different temporary licences and have waited for many months for a new one, even though the details of the licences have been verified.
Every time a temporary licence renewal is required, people need to travel to Faro.
The Resident contacted the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in the UK and asked them for their opinion on changing British licenses for Portuguese and they said: “Checks are not done routinely on licences being exchanged.” A spokesman said: “The UK and other European Union countries have a mutual agreement that allows licences to be recognised Europe wide. As long as the licence is valid, then it can be used.”
However, the spokesman added: “If your UK licence expires while you are a resident in Portugal then you must renew it with a Portuguese licence and the Portuguese authorities have the right to encourage the exchange of a UK licence for a Portuguese one.”
Residents association AFPOP has had a number of complaints about this issue but a spokesman told The Resident: “There is really nothing we can do.” He said they had encountered the same explanation for the delays as The Resident had and could only offer to phone the DGV on behalf of their members to try and help.
It is advisable to contact the DGV as soon as possible if you intend to exchange or renew your licence, especially if you plan to travel abroad.
For more information, please visit www.dgv.pt (also available in English, French and Spanish).
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