Driving in Spain
Whether you’re just visiting or planning to become resident in Spain, you need to know the rules about driving licenses and car ownership in Spain. This handy guide will help you do just that.
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Driving in Spain: Licences
Visiting as a tourist
If you are visiting Spain as a tourist you can either use your own country’s driving license, or your own country’s license plus the IDP (International Driving Permit), depending which country your license is from.
Countries that can use their own license without the IDP are: EU and EFTA countries, United Kingdom, Andorra, Algeria, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Japan, Morocco, Nicaragua, Peru, Dominican Republic, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, El Salvador, Philippines, Guatemala, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunisia, Ukraine, Monaco, North Macedonia, New Zealand
Countries that need the IDP alongside their own license are: All other countries not mentioned above.
Becoming a resident
If you decide to stay in Spain (ie to become resident in Spain) you should know that if your license is not an EU/EFTA license, then after 6 months you will need to get a Spanish one. This may involve simply exchanging it, if Spain has such an agreement with your country, or it may involve taking a Spanish driving test, if your country does not have an agreement with Spain.
Countries whose licenses can be exchanged with Spanish ones:
EU & EFTA countries (but not obligatory for those countries) plus: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Japan, Korea, Monaco, Morocco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay
Licenses from all other countries cannot be exchanged, so holders of those will need to take a Spanish driving test
Driving in Spain: Spanish Driving Test__
If you require an ETIAS authorisation to visit Spain, your ETIAS authorisation will allow you to remain in the area comprising all the ETIAS countries for up to 90 days in any rolling 180 day period. After this time, you must leave the entire area and go to a country which is not in the ETIAS area.
If you require a tourist visa to visit Spain, your tourist visa will allow you to remain in the Schengen Area countries for uo to 90 days in any rolling 180 day period. After this time, you must leave the entire area and go to a country which is not in the Schengen Area.
Driving in Spain: Car rental
If you require an ETIAS authorisation to visit Spain, your ETIAS authorisation will allow you to remain in the area comprising all the ETIAS countries for up to 90 days in any rolling 180 day period. After this time, you must leave the entire area and go to a country which is not in the ETIAS area.
If you require a tourist visa to visit Spain, your tourist visa will allow you to remain in the Schengen Area countries for uo to 90 days in any rolling 180 day period. After this time, you must leave the entire area and go to a country which is not in the Schengen Area.
Driving in Spain: Car ownership & Leasing
For stays of more than 90 days in Spain, you must do the following:
- Citizens of countries that require ETIAS or a Schengen visa to visit Spain: You must apply for the appropriate residence visa. Once you have this, you must also apply for a NIE and TIE. Find out more about residence visas here. Find out more about the TIE and other associated requirements here.
- Citizens of countries that do not require ETIAS or a Schengen visa to visit Spain (EFTA countries). You must apply for a certificado de registro and NIE. Find out more about these and other associated requirements here.
Driving in Spain: Changing your license
For stays of more than 90 days in Spain, you must do the following:
- Citizens of countries that require ETIAS or a Schengen visa to visit Spain: You must apply for the appropriate residence visa. Once you have this, you must also apply for a NIE and TIE. Find out more about residence visas here. Find out more about the TIE and other associated requirements here.
- Citizens of countries that do not require ETIAS or a Schengen visa to visit Spain (EFTA countries). You must apply for a certificado de registro and NIE. Find out more about these and other associated requirements here.
Driving in Spain: Taking your Driving Test
For stays of more than 90 days in Spain, you must do the following:
- Citizens of countries that require ETIAS or a Schengen visa to visit Spain: You must apply for the appropriate residence visa. Once you have this, you must also apply for a NIE and TIE. Find out more about residence visas here. Find out more about the TIE and other associated requirements here.
- Citizens of countries that do not require ETIAS or a Schengen visa to visit Spain (EFTA countries). You must apply for a certificado de registro and NIE. Find out more about these and other associated requirements here.
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