SPANISH DRIVING LICENSE ONLINE

Driving in Spain can be a real adventure. But getting a Spanish driver's license is a whole different story.

Buckle up and get ready to take the most important steps with me.

STEP 1 – KNOW WHO CAN DRIVE IN SPAIN
Child at the wheel
The legal minimum driving age in Spain is 18. Persons under 18 are not allowed to drive legally in Spain—even with a valid driver's license from their home country.

(Sorry, young US citizens—maybe you can drive at 16 in your home country, but not here.)

Anyone over 18 with a valid national driver's license from their home country can drive legally in Spain – initially. For non-EU/EEA citizens, this applies for the first six months after moving to Spain and obtaining a residence permit. For EU/EEA citizens, the period is two years.

After this initial grace period, your adventure in Spanish bureaucracy begins.

STEP 2 – LEGAL PROCEDURE ACCORDING TO YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION:
If you are an EU/EEA citizen (plus Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) and legally reside in Spain, you must apply for a Spanish driving license. You can do this either by exchanging or renewing your foreign driving license.

For the first two years of your stay in Spain, you can legally drive in Spain with your existing driver's license. Important: After six months, you must register with the traffic authorities. You can do this at the Central Register of Drivers and Infractors (Registro Central de Conductores e Infractores) of the Provincial Traffic Authority (Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico).

After registration, you must undergo a medical examination at an Authorized Conductor Recognizance Center.

The same conditions apply as for Spanish driving license holders. THIS INCLUDES:
Cross your arms
Carrying out all necessary medical examinations
Renewal or exchange of a Spanish driving license after the first two years of residence in Spain. Renewing an EU driving license in Spain effectively converts it into a Spanish EU driving license. This must be renewed every 10 years until the age of 65 and every five years after the age of 65.
If you do not obtain a Spanish driving license after two years of residence, you face a fine of €200.

To exchange your EU/EEA driving license for a Spanish one, you must contact the provincial traffic control center. Bring the following documents with you for processing:

Application form
Valid passport or identity card
Proof of residence (certificate of registration in the Central Register of Foreigners, i.e. your NIE number or Número de Identificación de Extranjero or Empadronamiento)
Valid driving license for exchange in Spain (original and copy)
Two recent photos (32 x 25 mm)
Written declaration that your driving license has not been revoked
Written declaration that you do not hold another driving license of the same class in another country.
IN SHORT
“Simplify” is written on the ground behind the car.
In other words, if you're an EU/EEA citizen, your process is significantly simplified. You also have a longer grace period than non-EU/EEA citizens. Enjoy it while you can! You'll save a lot of time, money, and energy by NOT having to take the Spanish driving test.

***For any UK citizens who would like to stay up to date on the possible impact of Brexit on their Spanish driving licence, I recommend keeping up to date via the GOV.UK website.

You can currently exchange your British driving license for a Spanish one, although this process is a little more difficult than usual due to Brexit.

Non-EU/EEA citizens (like me) need a Spanish driving license. You can do this either by exchanging your foreign license if your country has an agreement with Spain (lucky you!), or by taking a Spanish driving test (like me). This includes the theoretical (written) and practical tests.

THIS IS NOT ALL BAD NEWS EITHER!
All non-EU/EEA citizens may legally drive in Spain with their existing foreign driver's license for up to six months after moving to Spain, once they have obtained their residence permit. If your foreign driver's license is not in Spanish, you must always carry a certified translation or an International Driving Permit (IDP). This is only valid for one year and must be applied for outside of Spain, in your home country.

While you wait for your stay to be approved, you may drive legally for up to one year with your existing foreign driving license, provided you have your IDP and your valid driving license from your home country on hand.

So who are some of these lucky 20 nationalities who can simply exchange their driving license for a Spanish one?

THE HAPPY COUNTRIES!
Lucky clover
Citizens of Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Japan, Korea, Macedonia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Peru, Panama, Paraguay, the Philippines, Serbia, Switzerland, T

Türkiye, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uruguay and Venezuela

Always check with your home country's consulate in Spain or with the Spanish transport authority, as agreements between countries are constantly changing.

Diplomats and international staff can exchange their driving licenses regardless of their nationality – contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for further information.

To exchange your driving license from a non-EU/EEA country, you will usually need the following forms (*some countries may require additional translations or forms from their consulate/embassy – please be sure to check this):

Application form
Valid identity card or passport (original)
Residence permit, identity card, or passport together with the certificate of registration in the Central Register of Foreigners (for EU foreigners) or the residence permit (for non-EU foreigners): Original. Valid residence card.
Medical certificate from a recognized medical center (e.g., the Center for Recognized Conductors)
Valid driver's license for exchange (original and copy)
Two recent photos (32 x 25 mm)
Written declaration that your driving license has not been revoked or suspended
Written declaration that you do not hold another driving license of the same category from another EU country.
Again, your process is significantly simpler than that of non-EU/EEA citizens whose country doesn't have an agreement on this procedure. Enjoy it while you can, and know that you'll save a lot of time, money, and energy by NOT having to take the Spanish driving test.

SO, SO, WE HAVE NOW COME TO THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS ARTICLE – THE SPANISH DRIVING TEST!
STEP 3 – THE SPANISH DRIVING TEST:

For many non-EU/EEA citizens, it can be frustrating to have to do this all over again to get a Spanish driving license. This is especially true if you have a license and driving experience in your home country. It's even more frustrating because most Spanish drivers do what they want and only follow about 60% of the rules.

MY ADVICE?
Pull yourself together, fight through it, and make it. We live in a country full of "titulitis" and bureaucracy, as well as "no pasa nada." It is what it is, unfortunately. But I had a great practical driving instructor and am grateful for the training I received for both exams.

I'm originally from the US and, unfortunately, belong to the generation that never learned how to drive a manual car. I loved learning another skill and pushing myself to learn it in Spanish (¡toma ya!).

MORE OPTIONS
In Spain, you can take the test in English (or a variety of other languages), as well as the practical test using only an automatic transmission car. However, this depends on where you live.

*Note: If you take the test with an automatic car, you will only be allowed to drive a car with an automatic transmission in Spain.
WHERE YOU CAN REGISTER
You must register for the exams at the Provincial Traffic Center (Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico). Most people then go to an autoescuela (official driving school), which takes care of everything for you. This includes registering you for all the necessary exams and providing the materials, which are included in the total price.

I registered through my local Autoescuela (kudos to Autoescuela 2000 in San Fernando de Henares & Coslada in Madrid).

I originally planned to take the written exam in Spanish. However, shortly after registering, I changed jobs and was working 40 hours a week in Spanish. Since my brain was completely exhausted by the end of the day, I decided to take the exam in English instead.

MY AUTOESCUELA
The autoescuela I attended didn't offer English classes. However, they were available to request the English textbook, and I received a free test booklet from the DGT.

*Note: This is available at ANY autoescuela, as the DGT distributes the books to schools. You simply need to ask your local autoescuela to order these two books in English from the DGT for you.
*Additional note: The English in these books is a strange mix of British English and a near-literal translation from Spanish. The questions were understandable in any case, and one should always pay attention to prepositions, as these tricks are used in the Spanish version of the test, and they did something similar in the English translation.
They offered unlimited Spanish lessons with a teacher to prepare for the written exam, which was included in the original price. Luckily, they also had a manual car simulator that I could practice on as much as I wanted. They also provided an online application with practice tests, which I used at school and at home.

I used all of these resources. But for the written (theoretical) test, I mainly read my English coursebook. I also reviewed the questions in the English test booklet, paying particular attention to the questions I answered incorrectly.

I used various apps for my Ph.D.

I was able to download it for free to study on the go. And yes, the questions were even in English!

HERE ARE SOME OF THE APPS I USED ON MY PHONE TO STUDY FOR MY WRITTEN EXAM:

AeolCloud
TodoTest
If you are looking for an autoescuela that offers both the exams and all preparation and driving courses in English, you should expect costs.

HERE IS A LIST OF SOME AUTOESCUELAS THAT CAN HELP YOU OBTAIN A SPANISH DRIVER'S LICENSE:
Madrid – Auto School Gala
Barcelona – AE Stop n Drive & Auto Escuela Corsa
WHAT YOU NEED TO REGISTER FOR THESE EXAMS:
A certificate of your mental and physical fitness from the Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores Autorizado
An application form
Two passport photos
Your residence permit
Proof of address in Spain
A statement that there are no suspensions or legal cases that prevent you from driving
A declaration that you do not already have a comparable driving license.
HOW MUCH DOES A SPANISH DRIVING LICENSE COST?

It all depends on:

Where you live
How many times you have to pass the written exam
How many courses you attend at your Autoescuela
And how often you have to pass the practical test
*Note: It's important to note that you can only fail an exam once. Otherwise, you'll have to pay an additional fee (tasa) to try again. Example: I passed my written exam on the first attempt. This allowed me to take the practical exam at least twice without having to pay again. I know others who failed their written exam on the first attempt and then felt very pressured to pass the practical exam.
HERE IS MY PERSONAL EXAMPLE:
Autoescuela matricula – 30 €
Theoretical exam – 92 €
Subscription for 10 lessons – €215 (I completed two of them before my first practical exam – a total of €430)
Two free lessons included in the price of my matriculation exam
Two additional lessons directly before the first practical exam – a total of €43 (i.e. €21.50 per lesson)
Practical exam 1 – 123 €
Five more lessons before my second practical exam – €107.50
Practical exam 2 – 123 €
My total costs were approximately €948, including medical examination and the like, approximately €1000.

I would consider that a general minimum. However, I know people who spent only €800 and others who spent almost €1,500.

It depends on how many lessons you and your teacher think are necessary and what your exam results are.

*Important – Don't be pressured, but there are time limits on the waiting time between exams. Your written exam results are valid for up to two years from the date you take them, but your practical exam results are only valid for up to six months.

What does this mean? After the written exam, you can take your time. However, once you've taken (and failed) your first practical exam, you need to keep up the momentum. If you wait more than six months between your next practical exam (you guessed it!), you'll have to pay another fee (tasa).
HERE IS MY PERSONAL EXAMPLE:
I registered in November 2015, but didn't take the written exam until December 2016.

I started practical lessons in spring/summer 2017 and took my first practical exam in October 2017 (which I failed because of a mistake! Argh!), and my second and final practical exam in December 2017.

Ultimately, choose what works best for you and your personal situation. But be mindful of your time limits.

*Note: You can (I had to) request a teacher change if you feel the teacher isn't a good fit for you. I had two initial lessons with one teacher, but his teaching style only made me more nervous and anxious. So I went to the reception of my autoescuela, and they made the change. Ultimately, it's your time and money—don't waste it!
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'VE SUCCEEDED IN GETTING A SPANISH DRIVER'S LICENSE!
A full driving license in Spain
Image source
Once you pass the practical test, you'll receive your provisional license. This is valid until your official license arrives at the Autoescuela. You'll also receive your green L plate, which you can display on the rear window of your car. You must display your green L plate there for one year (from the date you passed the test). Some companies waive this requirement, but this way you avoid fines or potential problems. I used mine and had no problems at all. And honestly, it helped me keep the crazy Spanish drivers at bay while I got used to driving in this crazy capital city. Use that giant L!

STEP 4 – CELEBRATE!
Whether you just had to do the paperwork or start from scratch, you did it!

Now celebrate your new Spanish driver's license by organizing a road trip somewhere without a city and enjoying your newfound freedom. And of course – always drive carefully!