Tráfico Rey Expat Advisors

DRIVING LICENCE EXCHANGES
General information to prevent confusion

DRIVING LICENCE EXCHANGES

General information to prevent confusion:

- What counts is where the licence is from, not the nationality of the holder.

- You need to be legally resident in order to be able to exchange it. A copy of your residencia card is required for the process. It is not enough with NIE and padrón.

- EU driving licences: you will have 2 years to exchange it after you become legal resident in Spain.

- UK driving licences: you will have to exchange it within 6 months of becoming legal resident in Spain.

- Other non EU licences from countries that Spain has an agreement with: also you will have 6 months to exchange them after becoming legal resident here.

- If you took your original driving licence test in a country that Spain does not have an agreement with and then exchange it for another one from a country with an agreement, the exchange is not possible. For example: you took your driving test in South Africa, and then exchange the licence for an UK one. You will not be able to get the Spanish licence without taking a new full driving test in Spain, as we do not have an agreement to exchange licences with South Africa.

- In any other cases, you will have to take the Spanish driving licence test. It is possible to do the theory part in English. You will need to contact your local driving school for more information.

- The Spanish international driving licence can only be obtained if you have a regular Spanish driving licence. The international permit always have to go with the normal licence.

If you have doubts or need assistance, do not hesitate to contact us.
[email protected]