Spain holiday warning after Brit couple are STRANDED with their campervan over driving licence rule change
A BRITISH couple have been left stranded in Spain after cops claimed their UK driver’s licence wasn’t valid and clamped their campervan on the side of the road.
Dave Kenny and his wife Debra, 60, were left in shock after local police told them they could end up in jail if they tried to drive to the border.
The pair, from Swansea, South Wales, have a ferry to catch back to the UK next week – but they’ve been warned they would be breaking the law if they attempted to drive their van.
Despite the warnings, they’re planning to make a dash to the border with their three dogs under the cover of darkness.
The couple arrived in Spain on March 16 after deciding to set off on a six-week road trip in Europe after their home was burgled.
Last week, they got involved in a minor accident while Dave was trying to park the vehicle.
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He told The Sun Online: “There was no problem at all, I exchanged details with the person involved but because we are British they didn’t know how the insurance worked, so they called the local police.
“When the police came I presented my documents and they said everything was fine with my insurance – no problem with the accident whatsoever.
“But when I went to go, they stopped me and said ‘you’re not going anywhere’.
“They told me my licence wasn’t valid – I asked them what they meant as I had my licence replaced two years ago.
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“It’s a full UK licence, it still has the EU symbol in the corner.
“They said ‘no since Brexit it isn’t valid’.”
The couple were then escorted to the local police station by the cop car where their campervan was clamped and they were slapped with a €500 fine.
Eventually, their vehicle was driven back to their villa for them.
And when they reached out to the British Embassy and the consulate for help, they both confirmed Dave’s driving licence was valid in Spain.
They were told there was a change in the law in Spain just one week ago – meaning residents must now change their licence to a Spanish driving licence.
But it doesn’t affect tourists visiting to Spain from the UK – Brits can drive in the country for up to 90 days if they are not residents.
“We were told there was some confusion on the Spanish part and they’re just thinking any Brits driving here can’t drive on a British driving licence,” Dave said.
But the couple are now stranded at the holiday home, unable to get back to the UK or even drive to the local village a couple of miles away to buy groceries.
Keen to avoid the local cops, they have been jumping on a pair of electric bicycles to get food supplies.
“We’re been struggling day to day with the amount of food and water we can bring home,” Dave said.
DASH FOR THE BORDER
Dave, who works as a security guard, said they’re now planning to make a dash to the border.
He said: “We’ve got a ferry to catch next week and right now it’s illegal for me to drive according to the police – who actually told me if I drive my vehicle I can be stopped, arrested and even thrown in jail.
“I was threatened if I drive my vehicle there will be severe consequences.
“But I’m going to risk driving. We’re going to have to make a dash for the border – despite all the help we’ve had from Hugh Elliot and Kirsten Garry from the British consulate.”
Dave said he and his wife have felt “victimised” by the Spanish cops – and want to warn other British tourists about the situation.
He said: “We’ve been left with no choice. We’ve looked at trains or having someone fly over here, but we have the dogs so we don’t have any option.
“We’re literally stranded. We’ve been grounded by the Spanish police because they’ve misinterpreted the law.
“It’s not like we’re going to blend into the crowd in a motorhome with a British number plate.
“You can imagine the stress and worry involved. I just thought, ‘how is this happening?’
“I thought perhaps the government website hadn’t been updated or something. But we were told we are right about the licence and they are making a mistake. We’re feeling stressed, victimised.”
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Dave added: “I’ve been banned from driving in Spain for no apparent reason.
“I think Brits need to be made aware that this can happen to others too, in theory even in a hired car.”