What should I actually do with my Driving Licence in Spain?
Last Post Update: December 16, 2021
Here is the definitive answer about what you should do with your driving licence in Spain
BASIC NOTIONS
Regardless of your current status in Spain and the type of driving licence you own, in order to drive around Europe your current driving licence will need to fulfill the following requirements:
- it is valid;
- you are old enough to drive a vehicle of the equivalent category;
- it is not suspended or restricted and has not been revoked in the issuing country.
Having made this clear, for the last months we have been investigating the real answer to a very frequent question between expatriates: can I drive with my driving licence in Spain?
First, we need to distinguish between a resident and a tourist:
A) A resident is a person who lives in Spain, which means it stays inside the Spanish territory for at least 6 months per year. This person should be registered as an EU citizen in Spain and it should own a “green NIE”;
B) A tourist is a person who visits Spain for a period shorter than 6 months a year.
If you are an EU-tourist (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), you do not have to do anything else. If you are a non-EU tourist driving in Spain, you will need a valid International Driving Licence.
IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT
If you are resident living in Spain, during the first 2 years, you may just need to notify “tráfico” (provincial traffic department) that you became a resident in Spain and will drive here. It is called “Registration of driving licences from the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway” and can be requested at any provincial traffic department.
Although this is a voluntary procedure, there are some cases in which you are forced to exchange or renew your driving licence, depending on what type of driving licence you have. At any event, and this is very important, you will be forced to exchange your driving licence in Spain after 2 years of obtaining your residence card in Spain under the following cases (please read below).
Please just ignore all false or misleading information from old databases and rumours stating you have to exchange your driving licence after 6 months or anything similar.
As per Article 15, passage 4 of the Spanish Regulation General Drivers, it is also obligatory for resident drivers to reestablish their EU/EEA driving licenses after 2 years of residency, if:
- Their driving licence is not limited in time or
- Their driving licence is valid for over 15 years or longer for group 1 (AM, A1, A2, A, B and BE), and/or for over 5 years or longer for group 2 (C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE) or
- Their driving licence is due to expire or expired
IN SUMMARY…
If you are just visiting Spain or you are not registered as an EU citizen living in Spain, just be sure you have a valid driving licence to drive in Spain.
Instead, if you are a resident in Spain, you should register (not exchange) your driving licence once you become a resident in Spain, and you are forced to exchange (or rather renew) it after 2 years living in Spain under any of the circumstances above, in compliance with European Laws.
sue
October 18, 2017 @ 12:55 pm
Hi there, Is it possible to put a date on posts. So we know if they are current or not.
Thanks very much
Javier Rodríguez
February 12, 2018 @ 12:33 pm
Hello Sue,
Yes it is a good advice. It’s done. Thank you!
Sylvia Cheal
February 4, 2018 @ 12:48 pm
Hello
My husband (British Citizen) but has been living in Canada for 40 years only has a Canadian Licence. Does he really have to do a driving lessons and tests
He is 73 years old and has been driving for 55 years !
We are Residents of Spain and have been living here for just one year.
Thanks
Sylvia
Javier Rodríguez
February 12, 2018 @ 12:50 pm
Hello Sylvia,
I guess he brought an International Driving Licence when he came to Spain one year ago. And this IDV lasts one year. After that period, he would not have any driving licence to drive around Europe.
John Donaldson
February 19, 2018 @ 10:23 pm
Hi Javier,this is Sylvias’ husband John
(see Sylvias last post for me) and thanks for that advice except my Canadian D/L is STILL valid and I can renew my International Drivers Licence on line for another year as it has JUST expired.
BUT BEFORE I go ahead and renew it WILL I be OK to use it here ?.
PS. We are now Spanish residents & we are both UK citizens and I get a UK pension as well as a Canadian one))
John
Javier Rodríguez
March 12, 2018 @ 1:47 pm
Hello John,
Once you become a resident in Spain, you are not allowed to drive with an IDL in Spain, I am afraid.
Kind Regards,
Javier
Paul Coulthard
July 27, 2018 @ 12:39 pm
This is very Useful Javier. I now know that I have 2 years (from obtaining Residency last week) to exchange my UK licence for a Spanish one. But I will do it sooner – to avoid any problems. Thank you.
Javier Rodríguez
July 27, 2018 @ 3:12 pm
Hello Paul,
I am glad you found it useful. Thank you for commenting.
Yolanda Gilchrist
August 3, 2018 @ 3:07 pm
Hello,
I am from the USA, have been here a year and getting ready to renew my non-lucrative visa for two years. Was wondering if I re-new my International Driving Permit will I be able to drive with that or is just having a valid US driver’s license enough to drive until I have to get a Spanish Driver’s License.
Best regards,
Yolanda
Javier Rodríguez
August 7, 2018 @ 11:15 am
Hello Yolanda,
I am afraid that once you become a resident in Spain (through a non-lucrative visa, for example) you will not be able to drive until getting a Spanish Driving License. This is according to the law, of course.
I hope it helps,
Javier
David Cruickshank
September 25, 2018 @ 6:12 pm
Hi Javier
Have just obtained Spanish Residency and would like to change my licence to a Spanish one, however I want to drive a Motor home over 3.5 tonnes, (C1, C1E), which I legally can do in UK, but was worried as I hear the Spanish don’t always transfer the categories?
Any help appreciated
David Cruickshank
Javier Rodríguez
September 25, 2018 @ 6:37 pm
Hello David,
You can keep your C1, C1E categories when exchanging your driving licence in Spain. However, you will need to take a medical fitness test (nothing great) for each category you want to keep over the B one.
I hope it helps.
Javier Rodríguez