Which countries can exchange their licence for a Spanish one?

Key rules

• No exam: You skip the exam only if your licence comes from an EU or EEA country, or from a country (or state) with an agreement with Spain.
• Categories: Your Spanish licence covers only the categories your foreign licence has and the agreement recognises.
• US, Canada, Australia: Eligibility depends on your state or province, not just your country.
• UK: The issue date of your UK licence, before or after 1 January 2021, changes the conditions.

The agreement lists and the UK, US, Canadian and Australian conditions change, so confirm them with the traffic authority (DGT) before you apply.

Can your country exchange without an exam?

Licences from EU and EEA countries can be exchanged without an exam. So can licences from non-EU countries that have an exchange agreement with Spain. If your country has no agreement, you must pass the Spanish theory and practical tests.

The list of agreement countries changes when agreements are signed, amended or lapse. Check the traffic authority's current list before you book anything. It includes many Latin American countries (for example Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic). It also includes Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Morocco, Andorra, Turkey, Ukraine and some Australian states, among others.

Which categories carry over?

Your Spanish licence is issued for the categories your foreign licence covers. The equivalences depend on your country's agreement, and they differ from country to country.

• Some agreements cover only car (B) and motorcycle.
• Lorry and bus categories (C, D) may need extra tests or medical checks.
• Some countries require a medical report for the exchange.
• Any restriction printed on your foreign licence carries over to the Spanish one.

Special cases

United Kingdom. The conditions depend on when your licence was issued. A UK licence issued before 1 January 2021 could be exchanged without a test. For a licence issued later, a later agreement allows exchange with conditions. Check the traffic authority for the current position before you apply.

United States. Spain has no agreement with the US as a whole. It has agreements with individual states, and the list has grown over time. If your state is on the list, you can exchange without an exam. If not, you must pass the Spanish theory and practical tests. Check the traffic authority's list for your exact state.

Canada and Australia. Neither country is covered as a whole. The agreements cover only certain states or provinces. If your state or province is covered, you can exchange. If not, you must take the Spanish tests. Check the list for your state or province.

The checklist and questions below walk you through these points.

Checklist

• Check the traffic authority's current list to see whether your country has an exchange agreement with Spain.

• Confirm that your licence can be exchanged without an exam, which applies to EU and EEA countries and to non-EU countries with an agreement.

• Check which of your licence categories the agreement covers, since some cover only car (B) and motorcycle.

• Find out whether your country requires a medical report for the exchange.

• If you hold a UK licence, check whether it was issued before 1 January 2021, then confirm the current conditions with the traffic authority.

• If you hold a US licence, check that your state is on the list of states with an agreement.

• If you hold a Canadian or Australian licence, check that your province or state is covered.

• If your country or state is not covered, plan to take the Spanish theory and practical tests.

Frequently asked questions

Can I exchange a US licence in Spain without an exam?

Yes, but only if your US state has its own agreement with Spain, because there is no agreement with the US as a whole. Licences from other states need the Spanish theory and practical tests. The traffic authority's list shows which states count.

Can I exchange an Australian or Canadian licence without an exam?

Only if your state or province is covered, because the agreements do not cover either country as a whole. Some Australian states can exchange, and Canada works the same way.

Does the date my UK licence was issued change how I exchange it?

Yes, UK licences issued before 1 January 2021 could be exchanged without a test, while later ones follow the later agreement, which allows exchange with conditions. Look at your issue date first.

Can I exchange a lorry or bus licence under an agreement?

Not always, because some agreements cover only certain categories, often car and motorcycle.