Driving in Spain

If you are a citizen of the EU-EEA, your can freely drive in Spain with your national driver's license. You can, if you wish, exchange your national license for a Spanish license but this is not mandatory. All you need to do is provide the Provincial Traffic Office with a valid ID (passport), proof of residence in Spain, your NIE, your original driver's license, two recent photographs and a statement that certifies that you have not been deprived of your rights to drive in your home country. You will then receive your Spanish license by post mail, renewable every 10 years up to 45 years old, every 5 years beyond 45.  

If your country has signed agreements with Spain, you may be able to exchange your national driver's license for a Spanish license (exchange possible for citizens from South Korea, Japan, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Morocco and Chile). All you need to do is provide the Provincial Traffic Office with a valid ID (passport), proof of residence in Spain, your resident card, your NIE, your original driver's license, two recent photographs and a statement that certifies that you have not been deprived of your rights to drive in your home country. You may be required to provide a certificate stating that you do not hold another driver's license issued in another country and a an official statement from your national consulate or embassy proving that your national driver's license is authentic and valid. You will then receive your Spanish license by post mail, renewable every 10 years up to 45 years old, every 5 years beyond 45. 

If you are a citizen from outside the EU-EEA and in the case you can not exchange your national driver's license for a Spanish driver's license, you are allowed to drive with your national license up to six months beyond the issuance date of your residence permit. After 6 months, you will have to take driving tests in Spain. 

For more information about driver's license exchange, visit the embassy or consulate of your country in Spain. 

 Useful links: 

Dirección General de Tráfico - Traffic Branch 

http://www.dgt.es/portal/ 

Real Automóvil Club de España - Royal Automobile Club of Spain 

http://www.race.es/

Add a note

Print

Send to a friend

Recommended links

Join the community and participate!

Choose an expatriate health insurance Spain. Free advice and quotation service.

A few tips about movers in Spain.

Ask your questions to expatriates in Spain on the Spain forum.

Make contacts in Spain with the expat network Spain.

Expats' advice: how to work in Spain and how to find an accomodation in Spain.

Find out more about living in Spain with the Spain blogs.

Have a look to the Spain pictures.