Driving in Spain with a Foreign Licence?

If you’re planning to stay in Spain for the medium or long term—whether for work, retirement, or a new lifestyle under the sun—you’ll eventually need to address the issue of your driving licence. Can you keep using your current licence? Do you need to exchange it? Will you have to take a Spanish driving test?

At SGM Abogados, we assist international clients with every step of relocating to Spain, including legal procedures related to driving licences. Here’s a clear, up-to-date guide to help you understand your obligations—and how we can help.

1. EU and EEA Driving Licences

If your licence was issued in an EU or EEA country, you’re in luck. You can drive in Spain using your existing licence as long as:

• It is valid and has not expired.

• You register with Spain’s DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) within six months of becoming a resident.

Once you are registered, you’ll need to take a medical fitness test at an authorised driving centre before proceeding with the exchange process, known as the renovación del permiso comunitario.

To exchange your EU licence, you’ll need:

• Application form (provided by DGT)

• Valid passport or ID

• Proof of Spanish residency (e.g. padrón or NIE certificate)

• Your original EU/EEA driving licence

• Two recent passport photos

• A declaration that you have not been banned from driving

• A declaration that you don’t hold another valid licence from a non-EU country

2. UK Driving Licences (Post-Brexit Rules)

Since the UK is now considered a third country, different rules apply.

• UK licences are valid only for six months from the date of gaining Spanish residency.

• Thanks to a bilateral agreement signed in 2023, UK licence holders can exchange their licence for a Spanish one without taking a driving test.

⚠️ Important: Your UK licence is not valid for driving in Spain once the six-month period ends, even if you’re in the process of exchanging it.

Note: If you have a licence issued in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you cannot exchange it and will need to take the Spanish driving theory and practical exams.

3. Non-EEA Countries with Exchange Agreements

Spain has bilateral agreements with several non-EU countries, allowing residents from those nations to exchange their licence without taking a test, provided the application is made within the first six months of residency.

These countries include:
Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Macedonia, Morocco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Peru, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

You will generally need the same documents as above. For licences from Japan and South Korea, a certified translation is also required.