Licence Exchange - Spanish Traffic Law

Living in Spain? Don’t forget to exchange your driving licence!

If you’ve officially become a resident in Spain, one of the most important things you must do is exchange your foreign driving licence for a Spanish one.

Failing to do so can result in fines of up to €500, and you may not be legally allowed to drive once your initial grace period expires. Here’s everything you need to know:

🇪🇺 EU/EEA Countries:

You can use your licence until it expires, but once it does, you must exchange it.
In some cases (like medical restrictions), Spain may require an earlier exchange.

🌍 Non-EU Countries with Exchange Agreement

Spain has bilateral agreements with the following countries — you must request the exchange within 6 months of becoming a resident:

Click here an read the Full list of countries and the exchange costs from the DGT official website:
https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/permisos-extranjeros-y-de-fuerzas-y-cuerpos-de-seguridad/canjes-de-permisos/paises-con-convenio-de-canjes/

iii

Driving in Spain with a UK licence? Read this!

If you’re a resident in Spain and haven’t exchanged your UK driving licence, the fine is now €200, not €500 as some followers have been wrongly fined. The €500 fine applied before the exchange agreement between Spain and the UK was signed. Now, since the UK licence can be officially exchanged, the correct fine (for
Read More

20 April 2025
Planning to let a visiting family member drive your car this holiday?

We strongly advise our followers to fill out this simple document if someone from abroad will be driving your vehicle for several days. Include a photocopy of the vehicle owner’s ID along with the form. This document clearly shows that the driver has permission from the owner to use the vehicle, helping avoid unnecessary delays
Read More

19 April 2025