Are you a resident of Spain and do not yet have a Spanish driving licence? You may be required to apply for a Spanish driving licence. You will find more information in this article.
How long will my current driving licence remain valid in Spain?
You have a European driving licence with an expiry date. As long as you have a valid, unexpired European driving licence, you are not obliged to apply for a Spanish driving licence. However, if your European driving licence is approaching its expiry date, you are obliged to obtain a Spanish driving licence in time, within the expiry date of your European driving licence. The expiry date on your European driving licence is therefore basically your deadline to hold the Spanish driving licence.
If the expiry date is longer than 15 years for driving licences AM, A1, A2, A, B and BE or 5 years for driving licences C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE, you must be within 2 years after your emigration to Spain to have the Spanish driving licence.
You have a European driving licence with no expiry date. In case you have a European driving licence without an expiry date, you should also apply within 2 years after your emigration to Spain to have a Spanish driving licence.
You have a local driving licence, e.g. a Belgian licence issued before 1 January 1989. In that case, either exchange your Belgian driving licence for a European driving licence or apply for a Spanish driving licence as soon as possible after your emigration.
Learn more about emigrating to Spain here.
What is the procedure to exchange your driving licence?
The procedure to exchange your current driving licence with a Spanish one is administrative. You will need to make an appointment online with the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) and the attached form to fill in. In addition, you will need proof of residence and may have to undergo a short medical test at a recognised institution.
How does the Spanish points system work?
In Spain, driving licences work with a points system. Basically, every driver gets 12 points. Based on the severity of a traffic offence, you lose points, resulting in the final revocation of your driving licence. You can recover all your points if you do not commit any offences for 2 years. Alternatively, you can take a course and earn a maximum of 6 points back.
Losing your licence takes 6 months (3 months for professional drivers). After this, you need to participate in a course with a test to get your licence back.
Do you have questions about emigrate to Spain Or about the exchange of your driving licence? If so, please feel free to contact on.
