Costa Blanca Magazin

Driving licence in Spain - Who has to exchange and how it works

Führerschein in Spanien: Wer umtauschen muss – und wie es funktioniert

Under certain conditions, international residents in Spain must convert their driving licence into a Spanish document. We explain the deadlines, procedures and differences.

Anyone who moves their main residence to Spain will sooner or later have to deal with the issue of driving licences. Whether and when an exchange is necessary depends primarily on the date of issue and the validity of the existing driving licence.

For open-ended driving licences - such as older paper formats or cheque cards without an expiry date - the following applies: The document must be converted into a Spanish driving licence no later than two years after registration in Spain. Temporary driving licences, such as those issued in many EU countries since 2013 with a 15-year validity period, are valid here until the expiry date and are only then replaced.
The exchange itself is not rocket science, but requires good preparation. The Spanish transport authority DGT is responsible. You will need an identity card or passport, the original driving licence, a registration certificate, a current passport photo, the application form and a certificate of the prescribed medical aptitude test. This test - usually carried out in authorised centres - checks eyesight, reactions and general fitness to drive. The administration fee is around 94 euros and the test costs between 30 and 50 euros, depending on the provider.

This is how the exchange process works
1st appointment: online or by telephone with the Spanish transport authority (DGT).

2. required documents:
Valid passport or identity card
▶ Original of the driving licence
▶ Proof of Spanish residence (e.g. registration certificate)
▶ Certificate of the medical aptitude test
▶ Current passport photo (32 × 26 mm)
▶ Completed application form

3. medical aptitude test: in authorised centres; testing of eyesight, reaction time and general fitness to drive.

4. costs:
▶ Administration fee: approx. 94 €
▶ Medical test: approx. 30-50 €

5. processing time: usually a few weeks after submission of all documents.

Once the documents have been submitted, the new driving licence is usually issued within a few weeks. The Spanish documents are valid for ten years for categories AM, A1, A2, A, B and BE, and only five years from the age of 65. One major difference to the German system is the points system: in Spain, you start with 12 points, new drivers with 8. If you drive for years without any offences, you can get up to 15 points. Points are deducted for offences - six for drink-driving or using a mobile phone, for example, and four for red light offences. Anyone who drops to zero points loses their driving licence and has to complete a special course with an exam.

A voluntary exchange is also possible and can bring advantages in everyday life, for example in police checks or when being recognised by Spanish authorities.

Further information, deadlines and appointment bookings are available directly from the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) - also online at https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/validez-de-tu-permiso-permiso-internacional/

▶ Start: 12 points / novice driver: 8 points.
▶ Points gained for good driving behaviour: +2 points after 3 years without offences, +1 point after a further 3 years (max. 15 points).
▶ Frequent offences and loss of points:

  • Alcohol over 0.5 ‰: 6 points
  • Mobile phone driving: 6 points
  • Running a red light: 4 points
  • No seatbelt: 3 points
  • Exceeding the speed limit: 2-6 points (depending on the extent)

▶ Loss of all points: Withdrawal of driving licence, re-acquisition only via course & test.