Getting a driver’s license in Spain is an important step for foreigners who plan to live and work in the country. Depending on your citizenship, your current driver’s license, and your residency status, the procedure for obtaining a license may vary. In this article, we will look at the key features of obtaining a driver’s license for foreigners living in Spain.
How to pass your driving test in Spain
How to pass the theory exam?
Preparation for the theoretical exam begins immediately after entering a driving school, and it must be passed before the driver gets behind the wheel.
The theory test consists of 30 multiple-choice questions. To pass, you must answer at least 27 of them correctly.
According to those who have already taken the exam, the questions are not too difficult and are selected randomly, but among the proposed answers, very similar ones are most often found.
To prepare for the exam, it is not necessary to attend all the theoretical classes at a driving school. For those who already know how to drive and have a solid driving experience, such classes intended for beginners may seem very boring and uninformative. In this case, you can prepare for the theoretical exam at home, taking online tests until the future owner of a Spanish license is convinced that he can easily answer any questions.
Those who do not yet have a perfect command of Spanish are allowed to take the theory test in English, German or Italian – this does not affect the result. However, you must indicate your desire to take the test in one of these languages immediately when registering for the test, otherwise the Spanish version will be offered by default.
The exam date is set by the driving school according to the days assigned by the DGT. As a rule, each driving school allocates two days per month when its students can take the theory exam, for example, the 15th and 30th of each month. The exam date is usually announced two to three weeks in advance. You can take the theory exam an unlimited number of times, but if you fail, you will have to wait for the next exam date, and it is possible that there will be no free seats on the next date and you will have to wait even longer. It should also be taken into account that after the first two attempts, you will have to pay for all subsequent attempts.
The exam results can be found online, as a rule, they are available 6-8 hours after taking it.
After the driver has successfully passed the theory test, he begins to prepare for the practical part of the exam. The driving school assigns dates for driving lessons, with priority given to those who have been studying at this driving school for a longer period. As a rule, lessons are assigned during the day. Many advise choosing the time of lessons so that the traffic on the roads is as busy as possible and it is possible to practice difficult situations.
Do people who already know how to drive need to take driving lessons?
This is not mandatory, but highly recommended. Why? Because all exams are taken in driving school cars, and it makes sense to drive them at least a few times to get used to them. It would also be useful to listen to the instructor’s advice.
Is it necessary to take the exam in a car with a “mechanics”? No, you can also take the exam in a car with an automatic transmission, but in this case, the license you receive will have a note stating that the owner has the right to drive only a car with an “automatic”. Plus, you need to take into account that not all driving schools have cars with an “automatic”.
When will it be possible to take the practical exam?
The exam date is set by the school. As a rule, two days a month are also allocated for taking it. There is usually a few weeks between taking the theory and practical part.
Is it difficult to pass a driving test in Spain? To answer this question, it is enough to say: most Spaniards who have a license have taken the test more than once. Those who want to take the test come to the test location in a driving school car and together with an instructor. As a rule, a group of 5-6 people gather at the same time, and the inspector assigns a turn. The instructor and two students sit in the car, who take turns taking the test. The test lasts 20-30 minutes, and during this time the instructor is not allowed to give any advice. During the test, the inspector-examiner gives instructions on performing certain maneuvers, and may also ask questions about driving the car and its equipment.
Those who have managed to pass the exam say that the main thing is to behave calmly, but at the same time be very attentive to the smallest details of the environment and listen to every word of the examiner. Naturally, the key to success is to follow the rules perfectly, even “with a margin”: give pedestrians more than enough time to cross the road, never exceed the speed limit, constantly monitor “blind spots” and do not forget to turn on the turn signals, etc. In essence, you need to be an exemplary driver who strictly adheres to even the smallest nuances of the traffic rules.
The exam has been passed. What’s next?
Typically, the exam results are announced the next day. If the driving school instructor has a good relationship with the examiner, he can inform his students of the results immediately after passing.
If the exam is passed successfully, the driving school issues temporary licenses that are valid for three months and exclusively in Spain.
What to do if you fail the exam?
By paying for the driving test, a prospective driver gets three chances to pass both exams.
In other words, if he fails the theory, he can take it again for free, but then he will have to take the practical test on the first attempt. Having saved an attempt at the theoretical exam, he gets an additional chance at the driving test. If these three attempts are wasted, he will have to pay for taking the exams again. If the driving is “crashed” but the theory is passed, then in this case it is not necessary to take it a second time.
When can I get my rights?
Officially, licenses are issued within six weeks, but it is not uncommon to have to wait for them for as long as ten weeks.
How much does it cost to get a license in Spain?
If we take into account all the costs, the schedule is approximately as follows:
- certificate issuance – 25 euros;
- registration at a driving school – from 60 euros;
- passing the theory exam – 92 euros;
- practical exam – 123 euros.
These are the official and minimum costs that you will inevitably have to incur. In addition, you may need to pay for driving lessons. In general, the final amount will depend on how many attempts you manage to pass both exams. Practice shows that usually the license costs from 800 to 1200 euros.
Do I need to exchange my license for a Spanish one?
The first question that many foreigners have is: do I need to exchange my driver’s license for a Spanish one?
- Citizens of the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries can continue to use their driving licences in Spain until they expire. However, after two years of residence in Spain, you are required to register your licence with your local Tráfico office. This registration involves a medical examination to confirm your fitness to drive.
- Non-EU citizens must exchange their driving licence for a Spanish one within six months of obtaining residency. Spain has bilateral agreements with a number of countries, including most Latin American countries, some African and Asian countries, which make the exchange procedure easier. If your driving licence is issued by a country that does not have an agreement with you, you will have to take the exams to obtain a Spanish licence.
Driver’s license exchange process
For those eligible to exchange their driver’s licenses for Spanish ones, the exchange process involves several steps:
- Application : You need to go to your local DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) office and apply for the exchange of your license. You can do this by registering through the DGT online system or by visiting the office in person.
- Documents : You will need the following documents: Valid driver’s license.
Translation of the license into Spanish, certified by an official translator (if required).
Resident card (TIE).
NIE number.
Passport-sized photos.
Proof of payment of the fee. - Medical examination : You will need to undergo a mandatory medical examination to confirm that you meet all the requirements to drive a vehicle. This examination can be taken at accredited clinics.
- Exchange times : The exchange process can take from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the region and the workload of local offices.
Exams for obtaining licenses
If a rights exchange is not possible or you are from a country with which there is no agreement, you will have to go through the process of obtaining rights from scratch. This includes:
- Theoretical exam : Theoretical test on knowledge of traffic rules. It is conducted in Spanish, but in some regions it is possible to take it in English.
- Practical test : The practical part involves driving in city conditions. You need to register with a driving school and complete training, after which you will be admitted to the test.
Important nuances for foreigners
To successfully obtain or exchange a driver’s license, foreigners should consider the following points:
- Medical Requirements : Spain places great emphasis on the health of its drivers. To obtain or exchange your license, you must prove your ability to drive through a medical examination that tests your vision, hearing, and reflexes.
- Document Translation : All documents issued outside of Spain must be translated into Spanish and certified with an apostille.
- Validity period : Spanish driving licenses are issued for 10 years for drivers under 65 years of age and 5 years for those over that age.
Cost of obtaining and exchanging rights
The cost of exchanging a driver’s license for foreigners depends on a number of factors, such as the country you come from, the need to take exams and medical examinations. On average, the exchange procedure costs about 100-150 euros, including fees, medical examinations and notary services.
If you need to take the exams, the costs increase due to driving school tuition and exam fees. In general, getting a license in Spain can cost between 500 and 1,200 euros, including all stages.
Advantages of having a Spanish license
Obtaining a Spanish driver’s license provides a number of advantages for foreign citizens:
- Convenience : Having a local license makes life easier because you don’t have to worry about the expiration date of your foreign license or possible restrictions on use.
- Ease of renting a car : In Spain and other EU countries, rental companies often require you to show a local license, especially if you are planning a long-term rental.
- Improving your resident status : Obtaining Spanish rights demonstrates your serious intention to integrate into Spanish society and can improve your situation when requesting other documents.
Driving license in Spain: how the points system works
Driving licenses in Spain are regulated by a points system, which aims to reduce the number of road accidents (Accidents) and increase road safety. and which can be lost in the event of traffic violations.
How the points system works in Spain
The points system in Spain works like this:
- The standard starting balance is 12 points;
- New drivers and those reinstating their license in Spain after a revocation start with 8 points. Drivers can check their points balance at any time via the DGT website.
- The change in the points balance occurs as follows:
– Positive behavior on the road and completing special courses lead to the addition of points.
– Violating traffic rules results in the loss of points until their score drops to zero. In this case, the procedure for revoking the driving license is initiated. However, it is possible to restore points before the revocation procedure begins.
It is important to note that points are tied directly to the driver, not to a specific category of driving license. This means that losing all points will result in a ban on driving any type of vehicle, regardless of your category of driving license.
Is it possible to have more than 15 points?
The number of points can reach 15:
- If no violations that result in a loss of points are committed within 3 years, 2 points are added to the initial number, reaching 14.
- After the next 3 years without violations, another point is added, resulting in a total of 15.
New drivers or drivers who have re-registered in Spain after their license has been revoked start with 8 points. They will receive 12 points after 2 years without violations. other driver described above.
Penalty points in Spain
Points are deducted after a driver is penalized for committing serious or very serious violations. For a single violation, you can lose 2, 3, 4 or 6 points, depending on its severity.
The main reasons for losing points are:
– speeding
– Not using a seat belt
– Using a mobile phone while driving
– Alcohol and drug use (very serious violations)
As a rule, you cannot lose more than 8 points in one day, but there are exceptions when it comes to very serious violations.
Loss of all points within one day is foreseen in the following cases:
– driving a vehicle with a high blood alcohol concentration or with traces of drugs in the body.
– Refusal to undergo alcohol or drug testing.
– exceeding the established speed limit by more than 50%.
– driving that poses a particular danger.
– Participation in unauthorized car races.
– exceeding the standards for driving and rest time by more than 50% for persons engaged in professional transport activities.
What happens if you drive without points?
- Driving with a license without points is considered a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment for a term of 3 to 6 months or a fine for a term of 12 to 24 months, or community service for a term of 31 to 90 days.
Every driver whose balance reaches zero receives a notice from the Road Traffic Department with a decision to suspend their driver’s license. The driving ban takes effect upon receipt of such a notice, so you can still drive until that point.
Restoring lost points
The process for restoring points depends on the number of points remaining in your account. If you still have points, you have the following options for restoring them:
Restoring points if there is a balance
- No further violations: If you do not commit any violations that lead to the loss of points for two years, your balance will be restored to the original level of 12 points.
- Taking a points restoration course: For those who want to avoid losing their driver’s license and retain the ability to drive, an educational course is offered. This course allows you to restore up to 6 points, but no more than the original number of points on your account.
- The course is divided into two parts: general road safety education (7 hours), which includes a safety culture and an hour of reflection with group discussion, and a specialized part (4 hours), aimed at addressing specific gaps in the participant’s knowledge.
- Courses can be taken once every two years, and professional drivers once a year.
Temporary suspension of driver’s license
Temporary suspension of a driver’s license requires that individuals convicted by a court of law of violations that result in the deprivation of the right to drive for a period of up to two years complete a specialized educational course.
This course, aimed at correcting behavior in the context of road traffic, consists of 24 academic hours. Participation in this course is possible during the execution of a court sentence. Restoration of the right to drive a vehicle is allowed after the end of the sentence, provided that evidence of successful completion of the specified course is provided.
Obtaining a new driver’s license in Spain after complete loss of points or a court decision to deprive the driver of his rights
1. A driver may face loss of driver’s license validity for one of the following reasons:
- Loss of all points due to several serious or particularly serious traffic violations.
- Court decision on deprivation of rights
2. Process features
- If points are lost, the driver will receive a notification and has 10 days to file an appeal.
- A new certificate starts with a balance of 8 points.
- The waiting period before taking the theory test is 6 months for ordinary drivers and 3 months for professional drivers.
- In the event of a repeated loss of validity of the license, a new license will not be issued for up to 12 months (or 6 months for professional drivers).
3. To restore driving privileges, the driver must:
- Complete a 24-hour driving rehabilitation course: Includes general and specialized topics related to road safety issues and behavior correction.
- Take a theory exam