When you are preparing to move to another country you are faced with a lot of worries. Have you moved to Spain or are you thinking of moving? Is your driving licence one of your worries? Do you know if you will be able to drive with your original licence on Spanish roads? Stay with us and read on to find out everything you need to know about the conditions for driving in Spain.
European Union citizens
If you are an EU citizen, you are in luck. All EU citizens can drive in Spain with their country’s driving licence. However, you should be aware that after 6 months of residing in Spain, you will have to exchange your original licence for a Spanish driving licence. This rule also applies to licences that do not expire (such as the old German licences).
How do I exchange my driving licence for a Spanish licence?
If you are an EU citizen resident in Spain, or if your country has agreements with Spain, you can exchange it. The countries that have agreements with Spain are the following:
- South Korea
- Japan
- Argentina
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Morocco
- Chile
To change it, you must present the following documentation at your Provincial Traffic Headquarters:
- Valid identification document
- Residence card in Spain
- NIE
- Original driving licence
- Two recent passport-size photographs
- Statement certifying that you have not been deprived of the right to drive in your country.
As additional documentation, you may also be asked to provide a certificate stating that you do not possess another driver’s licence issued in another country and an official statement from the consulate of your country of origin proving that your driver’s licence is national and authentic.
Once you have submitted all the necessary documentation, you will receive your licence for driving in Spain. You will need to renew this licence every 10 years until the 45th year of issue and every 5 years thereafter.
Citizens from outside the European Union
Non-EU citizens or citizens from countries that do not have an agreement with Spain can drive with their original licence for up to 6 months after the issue of their residence permit. Once this time has elapsed, they must take a practical driving test in Spain.
Basic rules for driving in Spain
The maximum speed on Spanish roads is limited to 120 km/h. As for the blood alcohol level allowed for driving, a maximum of 0.5 grams of alcohol per litre of blood is permitted. In the case of drivers with less than two years’ experience, this limit is lowered to 0.3 grams of alcohol per litre of blood.
You can read other interesting posts in our blog:
– Employment rights and obligations in Spain
– What is the European Blue Card for?
Remember that we are available to answer all your questions about your mobility process.
No responses yet