Permits and Licences

Exchange of driving licences issued in European Union Member States

Driving licences issued by EU Member States in accordance with Community regulations are valid in Spain, except that the minimum age for driving corresponds to the minimum age for obtaining the equivalent Spanish licence.

When the holder of a driving licence issued by another Member State establishes their usual residence in Spain, if they drive or intend to drive they must register their details in the Central Register of Drivers and Minor Offenders (Registro central de Conductores e Infractores) in any Provincial Traffic Department within six months of the date on which their habitual residence is formalised.

Once they have entered the licence details in the register the holders will undergo a test of their mental and physical abilities in the same periods laid down for licences issued in Spain.

The holder of a current driving licence issued by an EU Member State who has established their habitual residence in Spain may ask to exchange their driving licence for an equivalent Spanish licence at any time.

Documentation required

• Application on an official form provided by the Regional Traffic Department the applicant intends to obtain the licence from
• Photocopy of the current national identity document or, where applicable, the passport, and the foreigner's identity document (N.I.E) certifying their habitual residence or student status in Spain during the minimum period required, together with the original documents, which will be returned when they have been checked
• Two recent 35 x 25 mm photographs
• Written declaration stating that the applicant has not been banned or suspended from driving
• Written declaration stating that the applicant does not hold another driving licence, whether issued in Spain or in another EU country, of the same class as that requested
• The licence to be exchanged and a copy or photocopy of it
• Cost. Fee or price to the public (Amount varies annually)

Administrative Information

Spanish driving licences conform to the model approved by European legislation. Directive 96/47/EEC introduces a new model for driving licences that has been adopted into Spanish legislation by Royal Decree 1598/2004 of 2 July, by which Spain joins the other countries of the European Union that have it already, such as Germany, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, etc.

Application procedure

In addition to the documents currently required (application, copy of national identity card and mental and physical aptitude report), a citizen must submit a new document, called a photocard, which you will be given free of charge at the Traffic Offices and Headquarters, and to which will be affixed a current photograph and on which the identification details requested will be filled in, and which you will sign in the relevant box. 

This document will be digitalised and sent automatically to the Central Services of the Directorate-General for Traffic, where they will take the photo and signature and merge them with the cardholder's biographical data. The manufacture order will be sent automatically to the Royal Spanish Mint (FNMT-RCM). Driving licences will be printed there in a secure printing environment. Your driving licence will be sent to you by ordinary post.

Extension of Validity of Driving Licences

Driving licences of classes C1, C1+E, C, D1, D1+E, D and D+E and the BTP authorisation are valid for five years when the holder is under 45 years of age, three years if they are over this age but under 60, and two years from the latter age.

Classes D+E and the BTP authorisation are valid for five years when the holder is under 45 years of age, three years if they are above this age but under 60, and two years from 60 on.

Authorisation for the other classes and the driving licence, irrespective of its class, are valid for 10 years when the holder is under 45 years of age, five years when they are under 70, and two years from 70 on.

However, the normal period of validity of the various classes of driving licence may be reduced if, when they are granted or extended, the holder is found to be suffering from an illness or handicap which is likely to get worse, even if it does not prevent him/her from driving at the time.

A driving licence that has expired does not authorise the holder to drive. The title-holder may apply for an extension of the validity of a driving licence to the provincial and local traffic departments. The applicant must prove that they still have the mental and physical abilities required to obtain the licence in question.

Text last edited on: 06/2006

Source: European Union
© European Communities
Reproduction is authorised.