Green paper UK driving licence in Spain

bigfer

Planning to rent a car from Minarent in Malaga this summer. Used them before without issue. Noticed on their T&Cs the following:

Please note that if you do not have an EU driving licence you will need to bring an international driving permit along with your original licence to rent the car.
If your driving licence is written in non Roman Alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic, etc.), it must be complemented by an international driving permit.
Please note that you will need to present a valid boarding pass and proof of your return flight in order to collect the car. Please note that without this it won't be possible to collect the car.

I have an original green paper full UK driving licence (not photo ID card). I have never had any issue with using this previously, would it be accepted again this year? Also, not sure what the thing about present a valid boarding pass is all about. Ryanair only produce boarding passes 48hrs before take off, unless it means your arrival boarding pass? 

I have tried to contact Minarent for clarity, but with no reply as yet. I'm I just paranoid or have things changed this year? TIA

Emmia

An IDP (1949 convention, vaid for 1 year in spain) is £5.50 + passport photo cost from the post office, (but not all branches). I'm not sure if things have changed, but a photo component of the licence e.g. a photocard or the IDP is now more likely as the UK is not an EU member (and you can't get one once you're in Spain)

DullGreyGuy

There are two separate things, one if you legally need one for the country you are going to and secondly any additional things the hire car company decides it wants you to have.

The UK Government website states you may need an IDP if you have a paper license depending on the country you are visiting. Assuming you are going to Spain then it appears that you dont need one for less than 6 months but as stated, the hire car company can insist if they want to anyway but only they can clarify. From the terms stated it appears they do want you to have one but the wording is odd given the examples of Japanese etc 

Lavendyr

Legally you don't need one. However it's £5.50 from your local  PO. I got one because my hire car company in Italy said it wanted one. Easier to get one than travel all the way and find you need it. 

Lavendyr

PS if you don't have a photocard driving license you absolutely will need an IDP. 

soolin

My OH rented a car in Palma Majorca last October using a rather tatty green license, they accepted it but said it would not be accepted again and he would need a photocard license going forward. 

bigfer

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80026008#Comment_80026008

Thanks. Which type would I get for Spain & Portugal

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80028120#Comment_80028120

You need 2 - Spain needs 1949 convention format, valid for 12 months, and Portugal 1968 Convention format which is valid for 3 years - £5.50 each + passport photo

https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit

bigfer

Thanks. I'll probably bite the bullet and upgrade my driving licence to photo I'd then.

eDicky

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80028793#Comment_80028793

At age 70 you would have to replace the paper licence anyway.