Get your Spanish driving license online
Driving in Spain can be quite an adventure. But getting your Spanish driving license is a whole different kind of adventure in itself.
Buckle up and get ready to walk through some of the essential steps with me.
STEP 1: UNDERSTAND WHO CAN LEGALLY DRIVE IN SPAIN
boy driving car
The legal driving age in Spain is 18 years old. Minors under 18 years old cannot legally drive in Spain, even if they have a legal license from their country of origin.
(Sorry, young US citizen, you may be able to drive at 16 back home, but not here.)
Anyone over the age of 18 with a valid national driving licence from their home country can legally drive in Spain, initially. For non-EU/EEA citizens, this applies for the first six months after moving to Spain and obtaining residency. For EU/EEA citizens, it is two years.
After this initial grace period, your adventure in Spanish bureaucracy will begin.
STEP 2: FOLLOW YOUR LEGAL PROCESS ACCORDING TO YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION:
If you are an EU/EEA citizen (plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) who is legally resident in Spain, you will need to obtain a Spanish driving licence. You can do this by exchanging your foreign licence or renewing your foreign licence.
You can legally drive in Spain using your existing driving licence during the first two years of residence in Spain. Although – important! – after six months you must register your details with the traffic authorities. You can do this in your Central Registry of Drivers and Offenders at the Provincial Traffic Headquarters (Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico).
Once you have registered, you will need to take a medical examination at an Authorised Driver Testing Centre.
YOU MUST MEET THE SAME CONDITIONS AS SPANISH DRIVING LICENCE HOLDERS. THIS INCLUDES:
Doctor crossing his arms
Carrying out the necessary/required medical tests.
Renewal or exchange of a Spanish driving licence after the first two years of residence in Spain. If an EU licence is renewed in Spain, it effectively becomes a Spanish EU licence. This must be renewed every 10 years until the age of 65, and every five years after the age of 65.
If you do not obtain a Spanish driving license after two years of residence, you may face a fine of €200.
To exchange your EU/EEA licence for a Spanish driving licence, you must go to the Provincial Traffic Headquarters. Bring the following documents to be processed:
Application form
Valid passport or ID card
Proof of residence (Certificate of Registration in the Central Registry of Foreigners, i.e. your NIE number or Foreigner Identification Number or Registration Number)
Valid driving license to be exchanged in Spain (original and photocopy)
Two recent photographs (32x25mm)
Written statement that you have not been prohibited or suspended from driving
Written declaration that you do not hold another driving licence of the same class in another country.
LONG STORY SHORT
Simplify written on the ground behind the car In other words, if you are an EU/EEA citizen, your process is much simpler. You will also have a longer grace period than any non-EU/EEA citizen. Live it up while you can! You are saving a lot of time, money and energy by NOT having to take the driving test in Spanish.
***As for any UK citizens currently looking for information related to how Brexit might affect their Spanish driving licence, I would recommend keeping up to date via the GOV.UK website.
You can also currently exchange your UK driving licence for a Spanish driving licence, although due to Brexit this process is less fluid than usual.
For any non-EU/EEA citizen (like me) you will need to get your Spanish driving license. You can do this by exchanging your foreign license if your country has an agreement with Spain (lucky you!) or you will need to take a Spanish driving license test (like me). This includes the theoretical (written) test and the practical test as well.
IT’S NOT ALL BAD NEWS!
Add Your Heading Text Here
All non-EU/EEA citizens can legally drive in Spain using their existing foreign driving licence for up to six months after moving to Spain, once you have received your residency. If your foreign licence is not in Spanish, you must always carry an official translation or an International Driving Permit (IDP) which is only valid for one year and must be applied for outside Spain in your home country.
While you wait for your residency to be approved, you can legally drive using your existing foreign driver’s license for up to one year, as long as you have your IDP on hand with your legal license from your home country.
So, who are some of these 20 lucky nationalities who can exchange their license for a Spanish one?
LUCKY COUNTRIES!
Lucky clover
Citizens of Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Japan, Korea, Macedonia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Peru, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uruguay and Venezuela
Make sure to always check with your home country’s consulate in Spain or the Spanish transit authority, as agreements between countries are always changing.
Diplomats and international staff may also exchange their leave regardless of their nationality; please contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information.
In general, to exchange your license from outside the EU/EEA, you will need the following forms processed (*some countries may require additional translations or forms from your consulate/embassy – be sure to always double check):
Application form
Valid ID or passport (original)
Residence permit, foreign ID or passport, together with the Certificate of Registration in the Central Registry of Foreigners for EU foreigners or residence permit for non-EU citizens: original effect. Valid residence card.
Medical fitness report from a recognised medical centre (such as the Authorised Driver’s Testing Centre)
Valid driving license to exchange (original and photocopy) Two recent photographs (32x25mm)
Written statement that you have not been prohibited or suspended from driving
Written declaration that you do not hold another driving licence of the same class issued by another EU country.
Again, your process is much simpler than that of any non-EU/EEA citizen whose country does not have an agreement regarding this legal process. Live while you can and know that you are saving a lot of time, money and energy by NOT having to take the driving test in Spanish
OK, WE HAVE REACHED THE MAIN POINT OF THIS ARTICLE: THE DRIVING TEST IN SPANISH!
STEP 3 – THE DRIVING TEST IN SPANISH:
It can be frustrating for many non-EU/EEA citizens to have to do everything again to get a Spanish driving licence. This is especially true if they are licensed and have driving experience in their home country. It is even more frustrating because most Spanish drivers do whatever they want and only follow around 60% of the rules.
MY ADVICE?
Just bite your tongue, push it through and do it. This is the land of “titulitis” and bureaucracy, as well as “nothing happens”. It is what it is, unfortunately. But I had a great practical training teacher and I am grateful for the training I received from both tests.
I’m originally from the US and unfortunately belong to the generation that never learned to drive a manual car. I loved learning another skill and pushing myself to do it in Spanish (go figure!).
OTHER OPTIONS
There are options in Spain to take the test in English (or a variety of other languages), as well as taking the practical test with an automatic car only. However, this depends on where you live.
*Note: If you take the test with an automatic car, you can only legally drive an automatic car in Spain.
WHERE TO APPLY
You must apply to have the tests done at the Provincial Traffic Headquarters (Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico). Most people end up going through an autoescuela (Official Driving School) that will do all of this for you. This includes signing you up for all of the necessary tests and providing you with supplies, which will be part of the total price.
I signed up through my local driving school (shout out to Autoescuela 2000 in San Fernando de Henares and Coslada in Madrid).
I initially decided to try and take the written test in Spanish. But I changed jobs shortly after signing up and started working 40 hours a week in Spanish. My brain was fried by the end of the day, so I decided to take it in English.
MY DRIVING SCHOOL
The driving school I went to didn’t have English classes. But they were able to request the English language book and the test booklet from the DGT at no additional cost.
*Note: This is available through ANY driving school, as the DGT delivers the books to the schools. Simply speak to your local driving school to request that they order these two books in English from the DGT.
*Additional note: The English in these books is a strange mix of British English and a sort of literal translation from Spanish. Either way, the questions were understandable and it should be noted that you should always be on the lookout for prepositions, as those are the tricks they use in the Spanish version of the test and they did it in a similar way when translating it to English.
They offered unlimited Spanish classes with a teacher to prepare for the written exam, included in the initial price I paid. Fortunately, there was also a manual car simulator where I could practice everything I needed. On top of this, they provided me with an online app with practice exams that I used at school and at home.
I took advantage of all these resources. But for the written test (theory) I mainly read my English textbook. I also reviewed the questions in the English test booklet and paid close attention to the ones I answered incorrectly.
I used several apps on my phone that I could download for free to study on the go. And yes, they even had the questions in English!
THESE ARE SOME OF THE APPS I USED ON MY PHONE TO STUDY FOR MY WRITTEN EXAM:
AeolCloud
AllTest
If you are looking for a driving school that has tests and all preparatory and driving classes in English, be prepared to pay for it.
HERE IS A LIST OF SOME OF THE DRIVING SCHOOLS THAT CAN HELP YOU GET A SPANISH DRIVING LICENCE:
Madrid – Gala Driving School
Barcelona – AE Stop n Drive and Corsa Driving School
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO REGISTER FOR THESE TESTS:
A certificate of mental and physical fitness from the Center for
Authorized Driver Recognition
An application form
Two passport-sized photographs
Your residence permit
Proof of address in Spain
A statement that there are no suspensions or legal cases that prevent you from driving
A statement that you do not yet hold a similar license.
HOW MUCH DOES A SPANISH DRIVING LICENCE COST?
Well, it all depends on:
Where do you live
How many times does it take you to pass the written exam?
How many classes do you end up taking through your driving school?
And how many times does it take you to pass the practical exam?
*Note: It is important to understand that you can only fail one of the tests once. Otherwise, you must pay an additional fee (tax) to try again. For example: I passed my written exam on my first try. This meant that I was able to take the practical exam at least twice without having to pay again. I know others who failed their written exam the first time and felt a lot of pressure to then pass their practical exam.
HERE IS MY PERSONAL EXAMPLE:
Driving school registration – €30
Theoretical exam – 92€
10-class pass: €215 (I got two of these before my first practical test, so €430 in total)
Two classes that were free and included in the price of my registration
Two more classes just before the first practical exam: €43 in total (i.e. €21.50 each class)
Practical exam #1 – 123€
Five more classes before my second practical exam – €107.50
Practical exam #2 – 123€
My total cost was about €948, including the medical check-up, which brought me to about €1000.
I would estimate that as a general minimum. That said, I know people who spent only €800 and others who spent close to €1500.
It depends on how many classes you and your teacher think you will need, as well as how you do on your actual tests.
*Important: Don’t feel rushed at all, but there are time limits on how long you can wait between each test. Your written exam is valid for up to two years from the time you take it, BUT your practical test scores are only valid for up to six months.
What does this mean? You can take your time after your written test. But once you take your first practical test (and fail), you need to keep up the momentum. If you wait more than six months between your next practical test (you guessed it!), you’ll have to pay another fee (tax).
HERE IS MY PERSONAL EXAMPLE:
I registered in November 2015 but did not take the written exam until December 2016.
I started taking my practical classes in Spring/Summer 2017 and took my first practical exam in October 2017 (which I failed by mistake! Argh!) and my second and final practical exam in December 2017.
In the end, do what works best for you and your personal situation. But still, keep in mind your time limits.
*Note: You can (I had to) request a change of teacher if you feel the teacher isn’t working for you. I had two initial classes with one teacher, but his teaching style was making me nervous and more anxious, so I went and spoke to the front desk at my driving school and they made the change. In the end, it’s your time and money, don’t waste it either!
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE MANAGED TO GET YOUR SPANISH DRIVING LICENSE!
Full driving license in Spain
Image source
Once you pass your road test, you will receive your temporary license. This will work until your officer comes to the driving school. Then, you will also get your green L sign/plate to put on the back window of your car. You will need to have your green L sign/plate there for a year (from the day you passed your test). Some people choose not to do this, but it will help you avoid a fee or potential trouble. I used mine and had no problems at all. And to be honest, it helped keep the crazy Spanish drivers out of my hair while I was getting used to getting around this crazy capital. Take advantage of that giant L!
STEP 4: CELEBRATE!
Whether you just had to do paperwork or start from scratch, you did it!
Now go celebrate your new Spanish driving license by organizing a road trip to somewhere off the beaten track and enjoying your newfound freedom. And of course, always drive safely!
Is the purchased document registered?
Yes, of course, all the driving licenses we provide on this site, regardless of their categories, are registered in state databases and with the DMV or DVLA depending on the country or state driving licenses you need.
How is the document delivered?
The sent document is delivered to your home. So, order from your home and have it delivered to your home under discreet, secure and confidential measures.
What are the driver's license categories available on this site?
Here we provide all the driving license categories you want. You can read our article about driving license categories in your country.