Get your Spanish driving license online
Conducir en España puede ser toda una aventura. Pero obtener el permiso de conducir español es una aventura completamente diferente.
¡Abróchense los cinturones y prepárense para recorrer conmigo algunos de los pasos esenciales!
PASO 1: COMPRENDER QUIÉN PUEDE CONDUCIR LEGALMENTE EN ESPAÑA
La edad legal para conducir en España es de 18 años. Los menores de 18 años no pueden conducir legalmente en España, aunque tengan un permiso de conducir válido de su país de origen.
(Lo siento, joven ciudadano estadounidense, puede que puedas conducir a los 16 años en tu país, pero no aquí).
Cualquier persona mayor de 18 años con un permiso de conducir válido de su país de origen puede conducir legalmente en España, inicialmente. Para los ciudadanos de fuera de la UE/EEE, esto se aplica durante los primeros seis meses tras mudarse a España y obtener la residencia. Para los ciudadanos de la UE/EEE, el plazo es de dos años.
Tras este período inicial de gracia, comenzará tu aventura con la burocracia española.
PASO 2: SIGA EL PROCESO LEGAL CORRESPONDIENTE A SU SITUACIÓN ESPECÍFICA:
Si eres ciudadano de la UE/EEE (incluidos Islandia, Noruega y Liechtenstein) y resides legalmente en España, necesitarás obtener un permiso de conducir español. Puedes hacerlo canjeando o renovando tu permiso de conducir extranjero.
Durante los dos primeros años de residencia en España, puedes conducir legalmente con tu permiso de conducir actual. Sin embargo, ¡importante!, transcurridos seis meses debes registrar tus datos en la Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico. Puedes hacerlo en el Registro Central de Conductores e Infractores de la Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico.
Una vez registrado, deberá someterse a un examen médico en un Centro Autorizado de Pruebas de Conducción.
DEBE CUMPLIR LAS MISMAS CONDICIONES QUE LOS TITULARES DE UN PERMISO DE CONDUCIR ESPAÑOL. ESTO INCLUYE:
Doctor cruzando los brazos
Realizar las pruebas médicas necesarias/requeridas.
Renovación o canje del permiso de conducir español tras los dos primeros años de residencia en España. Si se renueva un permiso de la UE en España, este pasa a ser un permiso de la UE español. Debe renovarse cada 10 años hasta los 65 años y cada cinco años a partir de esa edad.
Si no obtienes el permiso de conducir español después de dos años de residencia, podrías enfrentarte a una multa de 200 €.
Para canjear su permiso de conducir de la UE/EEE por uno español, debe dirigirse a la Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico. Lleve consigo la siguiente documentación para su tramitación:
Formulario de solicitud
Pasaporte o documento nacional de identidad válidos
Prueba de residencia (Certificado de inscripción en el Registro Central de Extranjeros, es decir, su número NIE o Número de Identificación de Extranjero o Número de Registro)
Permiso de conducir válido para canjear en España (original y fotocopia).
Dos fotografías recientes (32x25mm)
Declaración escrita que certifique que no se le ha prohibido ni suspendido conducir
Declaración escrita de que no posee otro permiso de conducir de la misma clase en otro país.
EN RESUMEN
«Simplifica», escrito en el suelo detrás del coche. En otras palabras, si eres ciudadano de la UE/EEE, el proceso es mucho más sencillo. Además, tendrás un plazo de gracia mayor que cualquier ciudadano de fuera de la UE/EEE. ¡Aprovéchalo mientras puedas! Ahorrarás mucho tiempo, dinero y energía al NO tener que hacer el examen de conducir en español.
***Para los ciudadanos británicos que actualmente buscan información sobre cómo el Brexit podría afectar a su permiso de conducir español, recomiendo mantenerse al día a través del sitio web GOV.UK.
Actualmente también puedes canjear tu permiso de conducir británico por uno español, aunque debido al Brexit este proceso es menos fluido de lo habitual.
Si no eres ciudadano de la UE/EEE (como yo), necesitarás obtener tu permiso de conducir español. Puedes hacerlo canjeando tu permiso extranjero si tu país tiene un convenio con España (¡qué suerte!), o bien tendrás que presentarte al examen de conducir español (como yo). Este examen incluye tanto la prueba teórica (escrita) como la práctica.
IT’S NOT ALL BAD NEWS!
Add Your Heading Text Here
All non-EU/EEA citizens can legally drive in Spain using their existing foreign driving licence for up to six months after moving to Spain, once you have received your residency. If your foreign licence is not in Spanish, you must always carry an official translation or an International Driving Permit (IDP) which is only valid for one year and must be applied for outside Spain in your home country.
While you wait for your residency to be approved, you can legally drive using your existing foreign driver’s license for up to one year, as long as you have your IDP on hand with your legal license from your home country.
So, who are some of these 20 lucky nationalities who can exchange their license for a Spanish one?
LUCKY COUNTRIES!
Lucky clover
Citizens of Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Japan, Korea, Macedonia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Peru, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uruguay and Venezuela
Make sure to always check with your home country’s consulate in Spain or the Spanish transit authority, as agreements between countries are always changing.
Diplomats and international staff may also exchange their leave regardless of their nationality; please contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information.
In general, to exchange your license from outside the EU/EEA, you will need the following forms processed (*some countries may require additional translations or forms from your consulate/embassy – be sure to always double check):
Application form
Valid ID or passport (original)
Residence permit, foreign ID or passport, together with the Certificate of Registration in the Central Registry of Foreigners for EU foreigners or residence permit for non-EU citizens: original effect. Valid residence card.
Medical fitness report from a recognised medical centre (such as the Authorised Driver’s Testing Centre)
Valid driving license to exchange (original and photocopy) Two recent photographs (32x25mm)
Written statement that you have not been prohibited or suspended from driving
Written declaration that you do not hold another driving licence of the same class issued by another EU country.
Again, your process is much simpler than that of any non-EU/EEA citizen whose country does not have an agreement regarding this legal process. Live while you can and know that you are saving a lot of time, money and energy by NOT having to take the driving test in Spanish
OK, WE HAVE REACHED THE MAIN POINT OF THIS ARTICLE: THE DRIVING TEST IN SPANISH!
STEP 3 – THE DRIVING TEST IN SPANISH:
It can be frustrating for many non-EU/EEA citizens to have to do everything again to get a Spanish driving licence. This is especially true if they are licensed and have driving experience in their home country. It is even more frustrating because most Spanish drivers do whatever they want and only follow around 60% of the rules.
MY ADVICE?
Just bite your tongue, push it through and do it. This is the land of “titulitis” and bureaucracy, as well as “nothing happens”. It is what it is, unfortunately. But I had a great practical training teacher and I am grateful for the training I received from both tests.
I’m originally from the US and unfortunately belong to the generation that never learned to drive a manual car. I loved learning another skill and pushing myself to do it in Spanish (go figure!).
OTHER OPTIONS
There are options in Spain to take the test in English (or a variety of other languages), as well as taking the practical test with an automatic car only. However, this depends on where you live.
*Note: If you take the test with an automatic car, you can only legally drive an automatic car in Spain.
WHERE TO APPLY
You must apply to have the tests done at the Provincial Traffic Headquarters (Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico). Most people end up going through an autoescuela (Official Driving School) that will do all of this for you. This includes signing you up for all of the necessary tests and providing you with supplies, which will be part of the total price.
I signed up through my local driving school (shout out to Autoescuela 2000 in San Fernando de Henares and Coslada in Madrid).
I initially decided to try and take the written test in Spanish. But I changed jobs shortly after signing up and started working 40 hours a week in Spanish. My brain was fried by the end of the day, so I decided to take it in English.
MY DRIVING SCHOOL
The driving school I went to didn’t have English classes. But they were able to request the English language book and the test booklet from the DGT at no additional cost.
*Note: This is available through ANY driving school, as the DGT delivers the books to the schools. Simply speak to your local driving school to request that they order these two books in English from the DGT.
*Additional note: The English in these books is a strange mix of British English and a sort of literal translation from Spanish. Either way, the questions were understandable and it should be noted that you should always be on the lookout for prepositions, as those are the tricks they use in the Spanish version of the test and they did it in a similar way when translating it to English.
They offered unlimited Spanish classes with a teacher to prepare for the written exam, included in the initial price I paid. Fortunately, there was also a manual car simulator where I could practice everything I needed. On top of this, they provided me with an online app with practice exams that I used at school and at home.
I took advantage of all these resources. But for the written test (theory) I mainly read my English textbook. I also reviewed the questions in the English test booklet and paid close attention to the ones I answered incorrectly.
I used several apps on my phone that I could download for free to study on the go. And yes, they even had the questions in English!
THESE ARE SOME OF THE APPS I USED ON MY PHONE TO STUDY FOR MY WRITTEN EXAM:
AeolCloud
AllTest
If you are looking for a driving school that has tests and all preparatory and driving classes in English, be prepared to pay for it.
HERE IS A LIST OF SOME OF THE DRIVING SCHOOLS THAT CAN HELP YOU GET A SPANISH DRIVING LICENCE:
Madrid – Gala Driving School
Barcelona – AE Stop n Drive and Corsa Driving School
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO REGISTER FOR THESE TESTS:
A certificate of mental and physical fitness from the Center for
Authorized Driver Recognition
An application form
Two passport-sized photographs
Your residence permit
Proof of address in Spain
A statement that there are no suspensions or legal cases that prevent you from driving
A statement that you do not yet hold a similar license.
HOW MUCH DOES A SPANISH DRIVING LICENCE COST?
Well, it all depends on:
Where do you live
How many times does it take you to pass the written exam?
How many classes do you end up taking through your driving school?
And how many times does it take you to pass the practical exam?
*Note: It is important to understand that you can only fail one of the tests once. Otherwise, you must pay an additional fee (tax) to try again. For example: I passed my written exam on my first try. This meant that I was able to take the practical exam at least twice without having to pay again. I know others who failed their written exam the first time and felt a lot of pressure to then pass their practical exam.
HERE IS MY PERSONAL EXAMPLE:
Driving school registration – €30
Theoretical exam – 92€
10-class pass: €215 (I got two of these before my first practical test, so €430 in total)
Two classes that were free and included in the price of my registration
Two more classes just before the first practical exam: €43 in total (i.e. €21.50 each class)
Practical exam #1 – 123€
Five more classes before my second practical exam – €107.50
Practical exam #2 – 123€
My total cost was about €948, including the medical check-up, which brought me to about €1000.
I would estimate that as a general minimum. That said, I know people who spent only €800 and others who spent close to €1500.
It depends on how many classes you and your teacher think you will need, as well as how you do on your actual tests.
*Important: Don’t feel rushed at all, but there are time limits on how long you can wait between each test. Your written exam is valid for up to two years from the time you take it, BUT your practical test scores are only valid for up to six months.
What does this mean? You can take your time after your written test. But once you take your first practical test (and fail), you need to keep up the momentum. If you wait more than six months between your next practical test (you guessed it!), you’ll have to pay another fee (tax).
HERE IS MY PERSONAL EXAMPLE:
I registered in November 2015 but did not take the written exam until December 2016.
I started taking my practical classes in Spring/Summer 2017 and took my first practical exam in October 2017 (which I failed by mistake! Argh!) and my second and final practical exam in December 2017.
In the end, do what works best for you and your personal situation. But still, keep in mind your time limits.
*Note: You can (I had to) request a change of teacher if you feel the teacher isn’t working for you. I had two initial classes with one teacher, but his teaching style was making me nervous and more anxious, so I went and spoke to the front desk at my driving school and they made the change. In the end, it’s your time and money, don’t waste it either!
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE MANAGED TO GET YOUR SPANISH DRIVING LICENSE!
Full driving license in Spain
Image source
Once you pass your road test, you will receive your temporary license. This will work until your officer comes to the driving school. Then, you will also get your green L sign/plate to put on the back window of your car. You will need to have your green L sign/plate there for a year (from the day you passed your test). Some people choose not to do this, but it will help you avoid a fee or potential trouble. I used mine and had no problems at all. And to be honest, it helped keep the crazy Spanish drivers out of my hair while I was getting used to getting around this crazy capital. Take advantage of that giant L!
STEP 4: CELEBRATE!
Whether you just had to do paperwork or start from scratch, you did it!
Now go celebrate your new Spanish driving license by organizing a road trip to somewhere off the beaten track and enjoying your newfound freedom. And of course, always drive safely!
Is the purchased document registered?
Yes, of course, all the driving licenses we provide on this site, regardless of their categories, are registered in state databases and with the DMV or DVLA depending on the country or state driving licenses you need.
How is the document delivered?
The sent document is delivered to your home. So, order from your home and have it delivered to your home under discreet, secure and confidential measures.
What are the driver's license categories available on this site?
Here we provide all the driving license categories you want. You can read our article about driving license categories in your country.