Exchanging driving licences
To obtain a Spanish driving licence you must meet the following requirements:
Reside in Spain. If you are a foreign student from outside the European Union, you must demonstrate that you have been residing in Spain for a minimum period of six consecutive months.
If you belong to a European Union or European Economic Area country, or your country has a bilateral agreement with Spain and you hold a driving licence, you do not need to obtain a new one. You can exchange the one you already hold.
You must not be disqualified by a court order from driving motor vehicles and mopeds, or suspended or under an administrative ban from doing so.
You must meet the mental and physical fitness requirements for the category of licence you are applying for.
Not be the holder of a driving licence issued in another Member State of the European Union or in another State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, nor have had your driving licence restricted, suspended or cancelled in another Member State.
To be declared fit by the Provincial Traffic Department in the theoretical and practical tests relevant to each class of driving licence.
You must be of the age required for each licence.
UK CITIZENS WITH RESIDENCY
From 16th March 2023, the Spanish Government signed an agreement to allow the exchange of UK driving licences without the need to take a test.
Uk licence holders have a six month grace period that allows them to drive using their Uk licence, during this time they are allowed to exchange for a Spanish Licence, without having to take a test.
How to Exchange Your UK Driver's License for a Spanish Licence.
First you will need to take the "psicotecnico" medical test, this is nothing to worry about, it tests coordination, eyes,(Yes you can wear your glasses) Reflexes and concentration, some will do a general fitness test, here you must tell them if you want more than the basic Car test as you will have a more intense test if you want all your categories that allow you to drive other vehicles.Here is a link to the categories https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/clases-de-permisos-de-conducir/ This is a list HERE, for the centres for the medicals, they are only valid for 3 months Be aware these are recommended from the DGT, local ones may be available cheaper
2. You will need an appointment at your local DGT office, either online or use 060 to telephone them.
3. Get your permit verification code. Before the day of your appointment at the DGT, you must get your permit verification code. For information on the UK click here and for Northern Ireland click here.
4. Once these are obtained you and you have your TIE card, a photo(this must be a passport size in colour on a plain background) your up to date Padron(within 3 months) your Medical test results and passport.
5. You will then be required to pay a Fee on the day of €28.87
and they do not accept cash.
6, You will be issued with a temporary licence (Piece of Paper!) this is valid for 3 months, keep it safe, the new licence will be emailed to you within 6 to 8 weeks, again depending on how busy they can issue them, you can check the status on the DGT website
EU MEMBERS
Exchanging a licence involves approval of the driving licence you already hold. The licence you held is exchanged for the equivalent Spanish licence. The procedure is much simpler to follow than obtaining a new licence.
Driving licences issued in any Member State of the European Union (EU), and in the European Economic Area (EEA – Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) are valid for driving in Spain as long as they are current and have not been withdrawn for any reason. The only proviso is that the age required for driving must be the same as required to obtain an equivalent Spanish driving licence.
As long as your EU and EEA driving licence is current, exchanging it is entirely voluntary.
The exchange means we replace the driving licence you held with an equivalent Spanish licence.
During this procedure, your original licence is withdrawn and we issue you with a provisional licence. You will receive your definitive licence in approximately one-and-a-half months. You do not need to visit your police station or DGT office; we will post your licence to you at home.
Who can do this?
Anyone who holds a driving licence from:
An EU Member State;
The EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway); and is ordinarily resident in Spain.
The licence holder, or any appointed proxy, must make the application for renewal.
Cases of walk-in care:
1. People over 65 years of age.
2. People with motility problems as long as the Medical Center cannot process the renewal of their driving licence and they must go to the Traffic Headquarters.
If you are 65 years old or older, you can come to our offices during the opening hours indicated for each Headquarters and complete your procedure in person without having to make an appointment. Keep in mind that the procedure you come to carry out has to be for you, you cannot come to carry out a procedure on behalf of another person. Our staff will assist you and explain how to make the arrangements easily.
IMPORTANT: The exchange of permits for countries with an agreement cannot be carried out without an appointment; verification with the country of origin of the permit requires that the procedure always be carried out by appointment.
In the same way, people with motility problems who, after going to the driver recognition centres to process their driving licence, must go in person to the Provincial Traffic Headquarters to continue the processing, will not need to request an appointment and may Go during the preferential service hours established by each Headquarters.
OTHER NON EU COUNTRIES WHO CAN EXCHANGE WITHOUT A DRIVING TEST
COUNTRIES WITH EXCHANGE AGREEMENT | DATE ENTRY INTO EFFECT | PERMITS THAT NEED PROOF |
07/22/1998 | - | |
07/07/1999 | - | |
01/14/2000 | - | |
01/21/2000 | - | |
07/31/2002 | Only circulation for permits: C, C+E and D | |
07/31/2003 | Circulation and theory for permits: C, C+E and D | |
09/26/2003 | Circulation and theory for permits: C, C+E and D | |
11/11/2003 | Only theoretical for C1 permits. Only circulation for permits: D. Circulation and theory for permits: C and C+E. No test necessary for D1 | |
01/28/2004 | Only circulation for permits: C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E | |
06/08/2004 | Circulation and theory for permits: C, C+E, D, D+E | |
10/13/2005 | Only circulation for permits: C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1 and D. No test is necessary for D1+E and D+E | |
04/10/2006 | Circulation and theory for permits: C1+E, C, C+E, D and D+E | |
02/08/2007 | Circulation and theory for permits: C1, C, C+E, D1 and D | |
10/28/2007 | Circulation and theory for permits: C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E | |
12/20/2007 | Circulation and theory for permits: C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E | |
09/21/2008 | Circulation and theory for permits: C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E | |
09/21/2008 | Circulation and theory for permits: C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E | |
03/07/2009 | Circulation and theory for permits: C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E | |
03/11/2009 | Circulation and theory for permits: C, C+E, D and D+E | |
06/24/2009 | Circulation and theory for permits: C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E | |
04/29/2011 | Circulation and theory for permits: C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E | |
05/10/2011 | Only circulation for permits: C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E | |
07/27/2011 | Circulation and theory for permits: C, C+E, D and D+E | |
12/27/2011 | Circulation and theory for permits: C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E | |
06/04/2013 | Circulation and theory for permits: C1, C, C+E, D1, and D | |
11/13/2013 | - | |
07/11/2014 | Circulation and theory for permits: C1, C, C+E, D1, and D | |
08/10/2020 | Only circulation for permits: C1, C, C+E, and D | |
03/16/2023 | - | |
06/02/2023 |
If you need help and are looking for an effortless way to exchange your driver’s license, please get in touch with us Expayonline@outlook.com
We can prepare your code from the DVLA,
Make an Appointment at your regional office
Provide the paperwork and instructions for your appointment.
Costs €55+iva.
Information is taken from the DGT website