Exchange a foreign driving license in Spain: country by country

What nobody tells you — and what can cost you dearly

You arrive in Spain with your Latin American license and think: "I'll just drive with this for now". It's the most common mistake and it can get expensive fast: fines of up to €500 or, worse, losing your right to exchange it and having to take the full test from scratch as if you'd never driven a day in your life.

You have 6 months from the moment you get your TIE to apply for the exchange. Miss that window and the DGT can deny your application and require you to sit both the theory and practical exams. In Spain, that runs between €800 and €1,500 once you factor in lessons and tests.

Does your country have an agreement with Spain? Check here

This is the difference that changes everything: if your country has a bilateral agreement with Spain, you don't need to take any exam. You submit your documents and receive your Spanish license. No agreement means mandatory theory and practical tests.

The online process since May 2025

Since May 2025, the exchange is handled entirely online. You don't need to show up in person at any Provincial Traffic Office. Everything goes through the DGT's Electronic Office: sede.dgt.gob.es.

Before you start, make sure you have:

• A digital certificate, electronic ID, or Cl@ve PIN to verify your identity
• A scanner or clear photos of all your documents
• Your original license (they hold onto it once the exchange is complete)

Documents you'll need to gather

• TIE or NIE with valid residency authorization
• Original foreign license, either valid or expired less than 5 years ago
• Certificate of registration (empadronamiento) — request it at your local town hall, usually free
• Official translation of your license if it's not written in Spanish or readable Latin characters
• Medical fitness report from a center recognized and authorized by the DGT
• Digital ID photo, white background, recent

How much does the exchange cost?

The main DGT fee (form 790-062) is around €30. On top of that, add:

• Medical check-up at an authorized center: €30–€60
• Official translation if needed: €30–€80
• Certificate of registration: free at almost all town halls

Total: between €60 and €150. Compared to the €800–€1,500 it costs to get a license from scratch in Spain, the exchange is a bargain.

The most common trap during the process

When you submit your application online, the DGT keeps your foreign license. And the resolution takes between 2 and 4 months. During that time you're without a physical license — but you can still drive: always keep the receipt the DGT gives you when you start the process. It's your provisional document and you need to carry it in the car at all times.

Another frequent mistake: not activating electronic notifications on the DGT's website. If they ask for an additional document and you don't see it, the deadline to respond keeps running regardless. Fail to reply and your application can be closed.

If you're Cuban or Venezuelan: here's what you're looking at

Without a current agreement, your license can't be exchanged. You'll need to go through the full process: a 30-question multiple-choice theory exam and a practical driving test on public roads.

The strategy that works: start studying for the exam before your TIE arrives. That way you make good use of the waiting time and don't burn through your 6-month window juggling bureaucracy and studying at the same time.