All steps to get a driving licence in Spain easily

Are you are foreigner (EU citizen or non-EU citizen) and thinking of getting your driving licence in Spain?

If so, the following guide will help you to successfully obtain your Spanish EU driving licence (‘permiso de conducir’ or ‘carné/carnet de conducir’).

In addition to the requirements to be met, you will learn about the individual steps required to get a Spanish driving licence.

You will also find important information on licence tests, costs, driving licence categories and the minimum age requirement in Spain.

At the end I mention how the Spanish point system works.

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What are the conditions for getting a driving licence in Spain?

In addition to the specific requirements for each type of licence, there are the following general requirements that must be met for all driving licences:

• Normal residence in Spain:

This is the case when you usually live in Spain for at least 185 days in each calendar year, because of personal or occupational ties.

• Health check regarding mental and physical aptitude (‘aptitud psicofísica’)

• The minimum age required for the respective driving licence category

• Passing the theoretical and practical/driving tests specified for each driving licence category

• Your driving licence must not have been restricted, suspended or withdrawn

• You may not be the holder of a driving licence issued in another member state of the European Union or in another contracting state of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway)

These steps are required to get a new Spanish driving licence:

1. Prepare for the tests

2. Carry out a health check on your fitness to drive

3. Register for the tests

4. Take and pass the tests

How do I prepare for the licence tests?

There are two ways to prepare for the driving licence tests in Spain:

1. Attending a driving school (‘autoescuela’), which is common, or

2. learning the required knowledge on your own through self-study

With regard to preparing for the theory test, there are online test exercises for all driving licence categories with real questions

Both the format and the number of questions are similar to a real test.

You don’t need to register anywhere and it’s completely free. Simply select the type of theory test and the language you want to take it in.

Other tools available are:

• Driving school check sheets (‘ fichas de seguimiento de enseñanza de la conducción’) to guide you through the theory and practical test

• Videos and resources to improve your risk perception with regard to the driving test.

Where is the medical aptitude check carried out?

You have to go to an authorised centre for the recognition of drivers (‘Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores’ – CRC). You will generally find such a centre at many medical clinics.

There you will state that you need a report on physical and mental aptitude (“informe de aptitud psicofísica”) to get a new Spanish driving licence.

The main things checked are your eyesight, hearing and reactions, as well as your general state of health.

The examination in my case was € 40.

This certificate is valid for 90 days. You must submit your application to take the driving licence test before the expiry date.

How do I register for the tests?

If you prepare for and take the test through a driving school, the driving school is responsible for submitting your application to take the aptitude test for driving.

Alternatively, you can register with the Spanisch ‘Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT)’ to take the aptitude tests.

In this case, you have two ways to submit your application:

1. In person, at any Spanish Traffic Office (‘Jefatura u Oficina de Tráfico’) with prior appointment (‘cita previa’).

2. Online, via the general electronic register (‘Registro Electrónico General’- REG) . An electronic certificate is required to access this register.

What documents are required to register for the tests?

In order to be admitted to the tests and be issued with a driving licence in Spain, you generally need the following:

• Official application form for aptitude test (‘Impreso oficial de solicitud de pruebas de aptitud‘)

• Valid proof of identity (original):
  • EU citizen: passport or identity card, or passport together with the registration certificate
  • Non-EU citizen: Residence permit (‘Autorización de residencia’)

• Mental-physical aptitude certificate (‘Informe de aptitud psicofísica’)

• Proof of payment of the fee

• Driving licence held (Spanish or EU or EEA): original and photocopy

At the time of the driving test, you must bring:

• Talón photo (official template for photo and signature) with a recent original colour photo in 32 x 26 mm format with a neutral background

How much does it cost to apply for a driving licence in Spain?

Driving licence for moped, motorbike, car, lorry or bus: Fee of € 94.05

• Category A driving licence if you have held an A2-driving licence for more than 2 years: € 28.87
• LCM and LVA-driving licences: € 44.58
• Getting your driving licence back after losing its validity: € 28.87

These fees do not include the costs of training at the driving school.

The fee paid entitles you to take two test attempts. If you fail twice, either in the same test or in different tests, you must submit a new application and pay a fee again.

If you are carrying out the procedure in person, you can pay the fee at the time the application is processed using any debit or credit card (never cash).

What sort of licence tests do I need to take?

Depending on which driving licence or permit you wish to get in Spain, you will have to take different tests with specific content.

You must pass a theoretical and practical driving test to prove that you have the necessary skills, knowledge and ability to drive the vehicle in question.

In some cases, depending on the driving licence, a manoeuvring test must be passed on a road closed to traffic, which demonstrates the driver’s skill in handling the vehicle.

The driving licence tests in Spain are carried out by the DGT.

The theory test consists of 30 questions. Each question has 3 possible answers, of which only 1 is valid. You can have up to 3 failed attempts.

As a rule, the theory test for the category B can also be taken in German, English and French.

The driving exam lasts about 25 minutes. It can only be taken in Spanish.

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Once you have passed the final test, you will be issued with a provisional driving licence which allows you to drive only in Spain.

In about a month and a half, you will receive your Spanish EU driving licence in standard format (credit card-sized plastic card) at your home address.

How much does a driving licence cost in Spain?

The prices for getting a Spanish driving licence depend very much on the following criteria:

• The town or city where you take the driving licence

• The driving school (if you prepare for the test through a driving school): Not every one charges the same price and not every one offers the same services.

• The number of driving lessons you choose: There are no compulsory driving lessons in Spain.

• Whether you have to repeat the test

According to the consumer organisation OCU, a Spanish driving licence at a driving school costs between € 665 and € 1,482 on average.

In addition, there is the fee charged by the traffic authority (see above) and the costs for the health check (€45 on average).

What are the Spanish driving licence categories?

The type of driving licence you need depends on the type of vehicle.

There are several categories of driving licences in Spain, depending on whether it is a moped, motorbike, car, truck or bus.

Driving licence category A: Motorcycles and mopeds/small motorbikes (‘ Motos y ciclomotores’)

The category A driving licence entitles you to drive all vehicles in categories A, A2, A1 and AM. With an A2 driving licence, you can drive all vehicles in categories A2, A1 and AM. With an A1 driving licence, you may also drive vehicles in category AM (mopeds).

Category B: Cars and light vehicles (‘Coches y vehículos ligeros’)

Category C: Lorries (‘Camiones’)

Category D: Buses

Category E: This is a driving licence issued to holders of driving licences B, C, C1, D and D1 and entitles them to drive vehicles of the corresponding licences with a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of more than 750 kg.

• Licence LCM: Vehicles with reduced mobility (‘Vehículos de movilidad reducida’)
• Licence LVA: Agricultural vehicles (‘Vehículos agrícolas’)
• Authorisation ADR: For the transport of dangerous goods (‘Mercancías Peligrosas’)

International driving licence:

To drive outside the EU and EEA, you must get an international driving licence. This is a supplementary permit that you should carry with you together with your valid Spanish driving licence.

It is valid for one year and is only valid for as long as your Spanish driving licence is valid.

What is the minimum age requirement?

The following minimum age applies for driving licences in Spain, depending on the licence category:

Age	Licence Category
14	LCM
15	AM: two- or three-wheeled mopeds (up to 50 cm³) and light quadricycles
16	A1: motorbikes with a maximum cylinder capacity of 125 cm³ and a maximum power of 11 kW LVA
18	A2: motorbikes with a maximum power of 35 kW B: cars with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 3 500 kg, designed for the transport of no more than 8 persons in addition to the driver Vehicle combinations of B + a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of more than 750 kg, provided that the maximum authorised mass of the vehicle combination does not exceed 4 250 kg Three-wheeled and four-wheeled motor vehicles BE: Vehicle combination of B + a trailer with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 3 500 kg C1: Vehicles other than those that may be driven with a category D1 or D driving licence and whose maximum authorised mass is more than 3,500 kg but not more than 7,500 kg C1E: Vehicle combinations consisting of C1 + a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of more than 750 kg, provided that the maximum authorised mass of the combination does not exceed 12,000 kg Vehicle combinations consisting of B + a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of more than 3,500 kg, provided that the maximum authorised mass of the vehicle combination does not exceed 12,000 kg
20	A: Motorcycles
21	C: Vehicles other than those which may be driven with a category D1 or D driving licence and whose maximum authorised mass exceeds 3 500 kg CE: Vehicle combinations of C + a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of more than 750 kg D1: Vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of not more than 16 persons in addition to the driver and not exceeding a maximum length of 8 m D1E: Vehicle combination of D1 + a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of more than 750 kg
24	D: Motor vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of more than eight persons in addition to the driver. DE: Vehicle combinations of D + a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of more than 750 kg

Driving licences for categories C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E can also be obtained at a lower age than the stipulated age, provided you have a certificate of professional aptitude (‘certificado de aptitud profesional’ – CAP).

How long is the Spanish driving licence valid for?

The period of validity depends on the age and type of driving licence:

Category A and B driving licences are valid for 10 years up to the age of 65.

After the age of 65, the licence is valid for 5 years.

Driving licences for categories C1, C1 + E, C, C + E, D1, D1 + E, D and D + E are valid for 5 years until the age of 65. After this age, they are valid for 3 years.

The period of validity of the various driving licences can also be shortened if the licence holder suffers from an illness or disability that is likely to get worse.

The validity of driving licences also requires that the holder has not completely lost his/her points.

How does the points-based driving licence work?

There is a points system for driving licences in Spain.

Each driver is allocated a certain number of initial points. As a rule, you start with a balance of 12 points.

However, novice drivers and drivers who get their licence back after a revocation start with 8 points.

Your score will change in the following cases:

• You will receive points if you are an excellent driver and/or take part in a driver safety course. The maximum number of points is 15.

• For serious or very serious traffic offences, points will be deducted until you have zero points. If you reach this level, your driving licence will be revoked and you will no longer be allowed to drive.

It is important to know that the points are linked to the driver and not to a specific type of driving licence. The points apply to all driving licences you hold. So if you lose all your points, you will no longer be allowed to drive a vehicle.

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