EU driving licence: The best way to exchange it!

If you are a citizen of the European Union and you are coming to live in Spain, here is what you need to know to be able to drive there and carry out formalities with your licence.
Before driving in Spain you should know whether your EU driving licence is valid for driving in Spain or whether you need to exchange it for a Spanish driving licence (“permiso de conducción”).
Read on and you will find out what procedure, steps and conditions are required in your situation.
General information
When I talk about a driving licence or an EU driving licence here, I am referring to a driving licence issued in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area – EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).
These regulations do not apply to driving licences issued by countries outside the European Union or the countries mentioned above.
Each person can only hold one EU or EEA driving licence.
Since 19 January 2013, all driving licences issued in the EU have a standard format (a plastic card the size of a credit card with a photograph and better security features) and a limited period of validity.
Unlimited driving licences without an expiry date that were issued before 19.01.2013 will therefore soon be a thing of the past.
Is my EU driving licence valid in Spain?
According to EU Directive, licences issued in countries of the EU and the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) are mutually recognised. Article 2 Directive 2006/126/EC
Therefore, your EU driving licence is fully valid in Spain and you can drive in Spain with your current licence as long as
- it is valid (for licences with an expiry date)
- your age required for driving corresponds the age required to obtain the relevant Spanish driving licence.
- your licence has not been suspended, restricted or revoked in the country of issue or in Spain. Art. 15 Real Decreto 818/2009
All driving licence formats issued in the EU (cheque card driving licences, grey or pink driving licences) must be accepted and recognised in Spain (provided they meet the conditions).
Exchanging your licence for a Spanish one is therefore completely voluntary.
In order to avoid problems with the Spanish police, the embassies recommend that citizens living permanently in Spain voluntarily exchange their driving licence for a Spanish one.
When do I have to exchange my driving licence in Spain?
If you move to Spain, you do not usually need to exchange your driving licence (immediately). As previously mentioned, you can use it for as long as it is current.
But if you take up normal residence (“residencia normal”) in Spain, you are obliged to have your EU driving licence changed in Spain in the following cases:
- Your driving licence has expired or will expire in the near future
- You hold a driving licence with indefinite validity period (does not have an expiry date) or a licence
- with a validity period of more than 15 years for cars and motorbikes (AM, A1, A2, A, B and BE) or
- with a validity period of more than 5 years for buses and lorries (C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE)
- and you have had your normal residence in Spain for more than 2 years.
- Your driving licence has been lost, stolen or damaged.
- You have violated the road traffic regulations in Spain (official exchange for serious traffic offences).
- In any case, EU driving licences are registered by the Spanish authorities for traffic offences that are subject to the deduction of points under the Spanish points system.
The holder of a driving licence with normal residence in Spain is subject to the driving licence regulations applicable there with regard to the period of validity, the control of mental and physical aptitude and the obtaining of a points account.
A driving licence with unlimited validity (without expiry date) must therefore be exchanged (renewed), as from 2 years after the date on which the holder has taken up normal residence in Spain.
Note
If you own a vehicle that you want to transfer from your country to Spain, you will have to re-register it in Spain in order to be able to drive it.
Which procedure do I have to carry out?
There are different procedures with the Spanish traffic authority (DGT) regarding the EU and EEA driving licence depending on the situation you are in:
- Voluntary exchange (“canje voluntario”)
- Renewal (“renovación”): Exchange for expiry of licences
- Replacement (“sustitución”): Exchange for damaged, lost or stolen licences
In the following, I will take a closer look at this renewal procedure.
When do I have to renew my driving licence?
Are you in a situation where
- your driving licence has expired or is about to expire, or
- the 2-year period has expired on your driving licence with indefinite validity period after you have taken up normal residence in Spain,
then you must have your driving licence renewed in Spain, in order to continue to be able to drive, which will involve exchanging your licence for a Spanish one.
This renewal of EU driving licences is carried out by means of the “renovación de un permiso de conducción comunitario” procedure.
The requirements for this formality are
- normal residence in Spain
- medical aptitude (fitness) test
- an application
- and the licence has not been restricted, suspended or withdrawn.
When do I have normal residence in Spain?
Normal residence is the place where a person habitually stays, i.e. for at least 185 days in a calendar year.
According to a press release from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, normal residence refers to the EU registration certificate.
This means that for EU citizens, the two-year period mentioned begins on the day of entry in the central register of foreigners (mandatory for a stay of more than 3 months in Spain). See my specialised article How to apply for EU registration certificate in Spain?
If you are not registered in the register of foreigners, the date of registration of your address with the municipality (“empadronamiento”) will be used.
At the latest, if you stay in Spain for more than 185 days in a calendar year, you take up normal residence there.
Which medical aptitude test do I need?
In order to renew your EU driving licence, you must undergo a health check-up regarding your physical and mental fitness to drive (“aptitudes psicofísicas”).
This medical aptitude test is carried out in a driver examination centre (“centro de reconocimiento de conductores -CRC”) or in any medical clinic that is authorised to carry out this kind of examination (“certificados médicos”).
You usually need an appointment and to bring your passport, driving licence and sometimes a passport photo (in my case, the photo was taken directly at the doctor’s)
The main things tested are your eyesight, hearing and reactions, as well as your general state of health.
The examination cost me 40,- €
After a positive examination, you will receive a medical certificate of aptitude to drive (“informe de aptitud psicofísico” or “psicotécnico” for short).
You must enclose this certificate with your application for renewal.
In which country do I have to renew or exchange my driving licence?
If you move to another EU country and your EU driving licence expires or is lost, stolen or damaged, you must have it renewed, replaced or exchanged in the country where you usually reside.
The country of ordinary residence is responsible, not the country where the driving licence was issued
Where do I have to submit the application?
In person at the provincial Traffic Departments (“Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico”).
An appointment (“cita previa”) is required. For applying go to the “Sede electrónica de la DGT” or call 060.
When can I apply for renewal?
You can apply for the renewal of your driving licence from 3 months before the expiry date.
How much does it cost to renew (exchange) a driving licence in Spain?
Fee: 24,58 € (2024)
Special cases:
- Drivers aged 70 and over do not pay the fee.
- If, on medical grounds, the deadline for renewing the driving licence is shorter than the established period of time, lower fees apply in stages.
There are 3 payment options:
- at the Traffic Departments directly at the counter when you present your application. You can pay with any credit or debit card. Cash payment is not possible
- online at the “Sede electrónica Pago de Tasa” by credit or debit card or bank transfer. Note: You will need a digital confirmation (“certificado digital”) and a Spanish bank that co-operates with the traffic authority and accepts this payment.
- at a bank that co-operates with the traffic authority: cash or bank transfer using “modelo 791“, available at the provincial traffic authorities and online.
What documents do I need to submit (required documents)?
- Official application form (Mod.03 TRÁMITES DE CONDUCTORES), completed and signed. Available online or at the Provincial Traffic Departments
- Proof of identity and residence in Spain:
- Valid passport or identity card
- Registration certificate (“Certificado de Inscripción en el Registro Central de Extranjeros”) and
- any other document required by the traffic authority as proof of residence (certificate of registration at the municipality – “Volante de empadronamiento”)
- Medical aptitude certificate (“Informe de Aptitud Psicofísica”) issued by the authorised “centro de reconocimiento de conductores”
- Your EU driving licence (original and copy)
- A recent photograph of the applicant:
- Size 32 x 26 mm; in colour and with a plain background; from the front with the head uncovered and without dark glasses or any other item of clothing that prevents or makes it difficult to identify the person.
- For applicants whose religion requires them to cover their hair, a photo with a head covering is permitted. The only requirement is that the oval of the face from the hairline to the bottom of the chin must be completely uncovered so that identification of the person is not prevented or made more difficult.
- Number or confirmation of payment of the relevant fee
- Talón foto, It can be obtained at the Jefatura de Tráfico (Provincial Traffic Departments):
this document must be filled in and signed within the appropriate box.
In the application form (at the end) you will be informed that the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) will electronically consult your data regarding identity, municipal registration and legal residence. However, if the DGT does not obtain valid information, you must correct it by providing documentation.
What will I be issued with?
After completing the formalities at the traffic authority, your original driving licence will be retained and sent back to the country of issue.
You will be issued with a provisional driving licence. You can use this licence to drive temporarily within Spain for 3 months. It is not valid outside of Spain.
Before the traffic authority exchanges your driving licence, it will contact the competent authority in the country of issue to check that your driving licence has not been restricted, suspended or revoked.
Registration in the Spanish driver’s register
When the Spanish driving licence is issued, the driver is entered in the Spanish driver register. (“registro de conductores e infractores”) and is assigned a penalty point account with 12 points.
When will I receive my new driving licence?
Normally, your new Spanish driving licence (“permiso de conducción”) will be sent to you by post within 45 days.
Regardless of whether your old driving licence was in the old or new format, you will receive the new standard format (credit card-sized plastic card with photo) when you renew or extend your licence.
After exchanging your original driving licence for a Spanish licence, you will be subject to the regulations of that country (for example with regard to the period of validity or medical examinations).
What is the validity period of a Spanish driving licence?
The validity period of Spanish driving licences is basically dependent on age and driving licence category.
Group 1: Class AM, A1, A2, A, B, B1 and BE driving licences: 10 years
from the age of 65: 5 years
Group 2: Driving licences for categories BTP, C1, C1 + E, C, C + E, D1, D1 + E, D y D + E: 5 years
from the age of 65: 3 years
Furthermore, the state of health with regard to fitness to drive plays a role in how long the driving licence is valid.
Conclusion
If you move your normal residence to Spain and
- you have a EU driving licence with expiry date:
- you do not need to exchange it in Spain. As it already has the limited period of validity. This driving licence will be recognised in Spain under the conditions mentioned. Only when the driving licence expires do you need to have it extended or renewed in Spain. And you will then obtain an equivalent Spanish driving licence.
- you have an old EU driving licence valid for life or a driving licence with a validity of more than 15 years (issued before 19.01.2013) and you have been a resident in Spain for more than 2 years, you must exchange it for a Spanish driving licence.
- your driving licence is lost, stolen or damaged, you must apply for a new one equivalent to the one you had in Spain.
A voluntary exchange is possible at any time.
If you do not comply with the obligation to exchange your licence, you will not lose your driving licence, but you will have to pay a fine of over 200,- €.