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🚗 Guide · Driving Licence

Exchanging your foreign
driving licence in Spain.

Spain has agreements with several countries that allow you to exchange your licence without sitting a test, but there's a deadline and conditions. Everything explained here.

You have a deadline to exchange your licence without sitting a test.

6 months from obtaining legal residence

After that deadline, your foreign licence stops being valid to drive in Spain and you must start the full licensing process from scratch: over 12 months and more than €1,000.

The reciprocity agreement

Spain has agreements with many countries that simplify the exchange.

Depending on your country of origin, you may be able to exchange your driving licence for a Spanish one without sitting the theory or practical test, just paying a €27 fee and meeting the requirements.

This is one of the most important processes to sort in your first months in Spain, and one of the most overlooked, with serious consequences for those who miss the deadline.

Important: A foreign driving licence allows you to drive temporarily in Spain during the first months after arrival, but there are specific conditions and deadlines that vary depending on your type of residence. Verify your exact situation in advance.

Two very different situations

What changes if you exchange in time or not.

If you miss the deadline
Full licensing from scratch
  • Process of 12 to 18 months
  • Mandatory theory and practical lessons
  • Estimated cost of €1,000 to €2,000
  • Theory exam in Spanish
  • Unable to drive legally during the process
If you exchange in time
Exchange without a test
  • Simple and fast process
  • No theory or practical test
  • Fee of just €27
  • Keeps the categories of your original licence
  • Spanish licence valid throughout the EU
Step by step

How to exchange your licence.

01
Check you're still within the deadline
The deadline starts from the date you obtain legal residence in Spain. If you don't yet have a NIE or formal residence, the exchange process isn't available yet, but it's important to plan ahead.
02
Gather the required documents
You'll need your valid foreign licence (original and copy), passport, NIE, proof of residence and a photograph. The full list is in the section below.
03
Pay the DGT fee
The exchange fee is €27, paid via the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) Tasa 790 form, available online or at DGT offices.
04
Submit the application at the DGT
The application is submitted in person at a Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico. Your foreign licence is held during the process.
05
Wait for your Spanish licence
The processing time is usually between 1 and 3 months. While you wait, you receive a provisional document that allows you to drive in Spain.
Documentation

What you need to gather.

🪪
Valid foreign driving licence (original)
Your licence must be in force. It is held during the process, you receive the Spanish licence in exchange.
📘
Passport + NIE
Original identification documents and photocopies.
🏠
Proof of residence
Empadronamiento (municipal registration) or rental contract with proof of current address.
📸
Passport-sized photograph
Recent photo with white background, size 3.5 × 4.5 cm.
💳
Tasa 790 paid (€27)
Proof of DGT fee payment. Can be paid online or at banks.
🏥
Medical fitness report
Medical and psychotechnical exam at a DGT-approved centre, required for the Spanish licence to be issued.
Practical tips

Important things to know.

⚡
Don't wait until the last month of the deadline. The process can take time and bureaucratic delays are common, start as early as possible.
🚗
While the process is underway, you can take out car insurance with your foreign licence, as long as it's still valid. You don't need to wait for the Spanish licence to insure the vehicle.
🇪🇺
The Spanish licence issued through the exchange is valid throughout the European Union, a real advantage if you plan to travel or work in other European countries.

You can insure your car before you have a Spanish licence.

If you already have or are about to buy a car in Spain, I can help you take out insurance with your foreign licence, while the exchange process is underway.

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