Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

DRIVING

Driving in Spain: Who can exchange their licence and who has to resit the exam?

Which countries have bilateral driving agreements with Spain? Who needs to exchange their licence for a Spanish one or get an International Driving Permit? And which drivers have to take the Spanish driving test instead?

Published: 9 April 2021 10:21 CEST
Driving in Spain: Who can exchange their licence and who has to resit the exam?
Cars drive by on Madrid's emblematic Gran Vía.Photos: Yolanda García/Pixabay, Matan Ray Vizel / Pixabay

Drivers from the EU and EEA

Those with licences from the EU and the EEA are allowed to drive in Spain with their current licences, as long as they have not expired. If your licence doesn’t expire in less than 15 years, you can carry on using your EU licence, but are also free to exchange it any time you want. According to the DGT, this process is voluntary.

According to Spain’s DGT, if it expires in 15 years or more, or doesn’t have an expiry date on it, you should exchange it for a Spanish one. Whenever your licence does expire, you should also exchange it for a Spanish one. 

When you want to exchange your licence for a Spanish one or if it expires, you can do so through the DGT in a process called renovación del permiso comunitario. 

You must, however, register with their Provincial Traffic Headquarters or local DGT office within your first six months of residing in Spain. 

Once you have registered, you will be obliged to take a medical test in order to prove that you are fit to drive. You can get this done at one of the authorised centres (Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores Autorizado). 

If you do want to exchange your licence, you will need the following documents to present at your local DGT office. 

  • An application form
  • An ID card or passport
  • Proof of residence in Spain
  • A valid driving license
  • Two recent photographs
  • A declaration that you haven’t been banned or suspended from driving
  • A declaration that you don’t hold another driver’s license from another country

Those with UK driving licences

The conditions have changed for British licence holders driving in Spain, now that the UK has officially left the EU and the Transition Period ended on 30 December, 2020.

There are currently ongoing negotiations between Spain and the UK. The British government website states that it has offered EU driving licence holders the possibility of continuing to drive in the UK without the need to exchange their licences for British ones.

“You can drive in Great Britain until you’re 70. If you’re 67 or over when you become resident, you can drive for 3 years. After this time you must exchange your licence. You do not have to retake your test,” reads the British government website.

Whether this will be reciprocal with Spain will likely be decided in the coming weeks and months. 

The latest from the British Embassy in Madrid is: “If you live in Spain and have a valid UK driving licence, you will be able to continue using this to drive in Spain until June 30th 2021.

“If you want to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one, the process to follow depends on whether you registered your intention to exchange with the Spanish Traffic Authority (DGT) before December 30th 2020”.
 
1. *If you registered with the Spanish Traffic Authority (DGT) before 30 December 2020*
If you were resident in Spain before January 1st 2021 and registered with the DGT before December 30th 2020, you should request an appointment with the DGT to exchange your UK licence by June 30th 2021.
 
To exchange your licence you will need:
• proof you are registered as a resident in Spain (e.g. TIE – Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero; green EU residence certificate)
• your UK licence
Read DGT’s guidance on how to get an appointment (in Spanish with English translation) here. 
 
The DGT will exchange your UK licence for a temporary driving permit (‘autorización temporal para conducir’) until your Spanish licence is processed. This document is valid in Spain only.
 
2. *If you did not register with DGT before December 30th 2020*
If you did not register with DGT before December 30th 2020 and want to exchange your UK driving licence, you should follow the DGT process for non-EU nationals. This includes taking a driving test.
 
“The UK government is in discussion with the Spanish government on future driving licence exchange without the need for a practical test.”
 
Your valid UK licence will continue to be recognised in Spain until June 30th 2021.
 
3. *Driving in the UK with a Spanish licence*
You can use your Spanish licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test.
 
The UK Embassy will update the ‘Driving in Spain’ section of their Living in Spain guide if there are any changes to the rules, as soon as information is available here.
 

Citizens of Andorra, Switzerland, Monaco, Japan and South Korea

With driving licences issued in these countries, tourists can drive in Spain for 90 days. If you’ve moved to Spain, you can drive up for to 6 months after obtaining residency (also with the international driving permit).

After that period, licence holders from these countries have to exchange their licences for Spanish ones and can’t drive until the process is completed.

The licence exchange can’t be completed if the original licence was obtained after Spain signed an agreement with said country (check with your local consulate) and if it was obtained once the driver was already a legal resident in Spain (only in Korea’s case is it allowed to have been obtained the licence after being a legal resident in Spain).

The documents required for the licence exchange are:

  • An application form
  • A valid national identity card or passport
  • A residence permit and valid residence card
  • A medical fitness report from a recognised medical center (such as the Authorised Drivers’ Check Centre (Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores Autorizado)
  • A current valid driving license
  • Two recent ID-sized photographs
  • A declaration in writing that you have not been banned or suspended from driving
  • A declaration in writing that you do not hold another driver’s license of the same class issued by another EU country
  • An official translation of your driving permit by a consulate or embassy for South Koreans
  • An official translation of the driving permit for those from Japan

In terms of the requirement for international driving permits, the DGT recommends that all licence holders from countries which do not have an exchange agreement with Spain should get an IDP. It is unclear whether this group would be required to get one (check with your consulate). 

Driving licence holders from non-EEA countries Spain has a bilateral exchange agreement with

Drivers from Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Dominical Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Macedonia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Peru, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Serbia, Turkey, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uruguay, and Venezuela can exchange their licences for Spanish ones within their first six months of residency in Spain.

They will need all the same documents for those from Andorra, Switzerland, Japan and South Korea, apart from the translations as necessary for Japan and South Korea. 

According to Spain’s Directorate General of Traffic (DGT), drivers with licences from these countries do not have to take out international driving permits to start driving in Spain either. 

Citizens of other non-EEA countries such as the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand 

Those with a driving licence from outside of the EU who are not nationals of the countries with special agreements with Spain (listed just above) are allowed to drive in Spain for a maximum of six months before they need to get a Spanish licence. The six month grace period starts from the time they register for residency.

If their foreign driving license is not in Spanish they must however get an official translation of it or apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP) before they start driving in Spain.

This includes those with driving licences from English-speaking countries such US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

So if you are staying in Spain long-term and become a resident here, you will have to resit your driving test in Spain (theory and practical), as Spain doesn’t have an exchange agreement with most non-EEA countries.

Non-EEA drivers who are spending sporadic periods of time in Spain should know that the IDP is only valid for a period of 12 months, but your current driving license will need to have at least 6 months of validity remaining. After this time however, it can be renewed. 

To get the IDP you need the following documents:

  • Signed copies of the front and back of your current driving license.
  • Two passport-sized photos (See application form for requirements)
  • A completed IDP application form 
  • To pay your fee

Taking a Spanish driving test

If you’ve been driving in Spain for a while, then you’re probably used to the road rules and differences of Spanish driving, but if you haven’t, then you will probably be expected to take a few lessons before re-sitting your exam.

You are able to sit your theoretical driving test in English, but the practical part of the test will be conducted in Spanish (although knowing just the specific driving vocabulary should be enough). Several driving schools can teach you both in English and Spanish to help you prepare and get to know the Spanish terms and vocabulary that your examiner might use.

READ ALSO:

Can I still drive in Spain if I’m a tourist?

Yes, but whether you need to take out an international driving permit before you hire a car in Spain will depend on the criteria listed above.

In theory, you could be prevented from renting a vehicle if you don’t have an IDP when Spanish law states you should have, but in practice plenty of car hire companies will still allow you to hire a car. If you’re stopped by police and you don’t have an IDP when you should, they could fine you €200.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

TRAVEL NEWS

EES: Could the launch of Europe’s new border system be delayed again?

After being postponed several times already Europe's new biometric Entry/Exit border system (EES) is set to be rolled out in October, but with fears of lengthy queues, problems with a new app and demands for more time, could it be postponed again?

Published: 26 April 2024 11:50 CEST
EES: Could the launch of Europe's new border system be delayed again?

Could the entry into operation of the EU entry/exit system (EES), the new biometric passport checks for non-EU citizens at the Schengen area’s external borders, be delayed yet again?

Originally planned for May 2022, EES has already been postponed many times.

The current launch date, set for October 2024, was chosen to avoid periods of peak traffic and France in particular had requested to avoid it being launched until after the Paris Olympics this summer.

When asked to confirm the October start date this week a spokesperson for the EU’s Commission told The Local that the “roadmap” for the EES IT system foresees it will be ready for Autumn 2024. But the actual start date, in other words, the day when passengers will have to register, would be confirmed nearer the time.

The spokesperson said: “The exact date will be determined by the European Commission and announced on the EES official website well in time for the start of operations.”

READ ALSO: Your key questions answered about Europe’s new EES passport checks

But the reasons are adding up to suggest an October start date is optimistic, perhaps even unlikely.

In the annual report on the ‘State of Schengen’ published last week, the European Commission spelt out that severe challenges remain if member states are to be ready on time.

“In 2023, efforts to ensure the entry into operation of the Entry-Exit System in the autumn of 2024 were accelerated… While important progress has been made across the Schengen area, some Member States are still falling behind, notably regarding the effective equipment of border crossing points. The Commission calls on all Member States to urgently accelerate preparations to ensure the timely implementation of the system…”

A map in the report shows that preparation is still “in progress” in 13 Schengen area countries, including Germany, Norway and Switzerland. “Outstanding issues” still impact Portugal, Malta and Bulgaria.

The state of play for the preparations for EES across EU and Schengen states. Image: European Commission.

There are also reports that EU heavyweight Germany is trying to persuade Brussels to delay.

Matthias Monroy, editor of the German civil rights journal Bürgerrechte & Polizei/CILIP claimed on his website that “the German government is lobbying in Brussels to postpone the date once again, as otherwise the German tests of the EES cannot be completed in full. Other EU countries are also behind schedule, with only eight of them having reported successful integration.”

Even on a French government website it talks of EES being rolled out some time “between the end of 2024 and 2025” rather than stating October 2024.

And according to recent media reports, French airports have been advised to be ready for November 6th, rather than October. 

READ ALSO: EES and Etias – what are the big upcoming travel changes in Europe?

A planned EU app, believed to be essential to the smooth operation of EES because it would allow non-EU visitors to register in advance of travel will not be ready, Gwendoline Cazenave, Managing Director of Eurostar International, the company operating train services via the Channel Tunnel, has told the BBC. The EU however insists the app does not need to be up and running before EES is introduced.

In the UK, which will be heavily impacted by EES due to the fact it is no longer in the EU and so British travellers are no longer EU citizens, the House of Commons European scrutiny committee is conducting an inquiry on the potential disruption the introduction of the EES will cause at the border.

Several respondents have recently raised the alarm about the possible delays the system could cause, especially at the UK-France border, which is used by millions of passengers each year who head to France and other countries across Europe.

Ashford Borough Council in Kent has warned of the possibility of more than 14 hours queues to reach the Port of Dover, which has already been struggling increased checked after Brexit.

The BBC reported that back in March, a P&O Ferries director said the IT system should be delayed again.

Airlines have also complained about the fact pre-travel EES requirements would make last minute bookings impossible.

The Union des Aéroports Français (UAF), which represents airports in France, has simply said more time is needed.

In other words, it would be little surprise if the roll out was delayed again beyond October 2024.

But the Commission spokesperson told The Local that “the timeline for the entry into operation of the EES took into account all the necessary activities to be performed by all relevant stakeholders to ensure a timely entry into operation. 

“The Commission is working very closely with eu-Lisa [the EU agency in charge of the IT system], the Member States and carriers to ensure that everything is ready for the timely and successful launch of the Entry Exit System.

“The roadmap for the delivery of the new IT architecture foresees that the Entry/Exit system will be ready to enter into operation in Autumn 2024.”

New digital border

The EES is a digital system to register travellers from non-EU countries when they cross a border in or out of the Schengen area, the travel-free area. It will be deployed in 29 countries across Europe including 25 EU states plus Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Ireland and Cyprus are the only EU members who won’t apply the EES system.

It doesn’t apply to non-EU nationals who are legally resident in an EU/Schengen area country or those with dual nationality of an EU /Schengen county. The system was designed to increase security and to ensure that non-EU nationals visiting the Schengen area short-term do not stay more than 90 days in any 180-day period.

Instead of having the passport stamped, travellers will have to scan it at self-service kiosks before crossing the border. However, fingerprints and a photo will have to be registered in front of a guard at the first crossing and there are huge concerns the extra time needed could generate long queues in the UK, where there are juxtaposed border checks with the EU.

Preparations are ongoing throughout Europe and some countries have made good progress.

In France, Getlink, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, has recently reported that new EES infrastructure is finished at its French terminal of Coquelles, which will allow travellers to register their biometric data while travelling.

Eurostar is also installing 49 kiosks in stations for the registration of passengers. But the Union des Aéroports Français (UAF), which represents airports in France, said more time is needed.

Exempted

Meanwhile, the Polish government has urged UK citizens who are beneficiaries of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement to get a residence permit “in the context of EES/ETIAS”, even though there was not such an obligation to stay legally in Poland post-Brexit.

“Having such a document is beneficial as it will exempt from future Entry/Exit System (EES) registration when crossing external borders and from the need to obtain an ETIAS travel permit in relation to short-term travel to EU/Schengen countries,” the government page says.

This article as published in collaboration with Europe Street news.

SHOW COMMENTS