Professional driver, taxi and instructor licences

Terms used

• CAP — The CAP is the professional competence certificate that lorry and bus drivers need to drive for hire or reward.
• DGT — The DGT is Spain's traffic authority, which handles driving licences and records.
• VTC — VTC means chauffeur-driven hire cars booked in advance, a separate category from taxis.
• Ayuntamiento — The ayuntamiento is the town or city hall.

Key rules

• CAP course: The initial CAP for professional drivers takes a 280-hour course, and it is renewed every five years with a 35-hour course.
• Tachograph card: You apply through your region's transport authority, and the card lasts five years.
• Taxi: Taxi rules are local, so ask the town hall or regional authority where you want to work.
• VTC: A VTC needs its own authorisation, separate from any taxi licence, for the operator and each vehicle.
• Foreign instructors: Foreign applicants need validated qualifications and a valid Spanish licence.

Your ordinary licence is not enough for paid driving

Each type of professional driving has its own permit, issued by a different office. Work out which one you need before you pay for any course.

CAP: lorry and bus drivers

You need the CAP if you drive a lorry or bus for hire or reward. That means licence categories C1, C, C1+E and C+E for goods, or D1, D, D1+E and D+E for passengers. Some uses are exempt, such as certain military, emergency or non-commercial driving.

The initial CAP takes a 280-hour course at an authorised centre, plus an exam. If you already hold a prior qualification, a shorter 140-hour accelerated course may apply. Ask the centre whether you qualify.

You renew the CAP every five years with a 35-hour course. Once you hold it, the traffic authority (DGT) records it on your licence as code 95. Regional governments authorise the training centres and run the exams.

Tachograph card

The tachograph card is for professional drivers of lorries over 3.5 t and buses. You must be resident in Spain and hold a valid licence for the vehicles you drive. Apply to your region's transport authority or a body it delegates to. The card is valid for five years. The fee is usually modest, in the tens of euros, and differs a little by region. The documents list below shows what to bring.

Taxi

A taxi needs two things: a driver's qualification and a taxi licence (licencia de taxi).

• As a driver: you need a B licence, often held for a minimum period, a clean criminal record and a local or regional taxi driver certificate, which you earn by passing a local exam.
• To own a licence: city councils grant these, or a regional body such as the Área Metropolitana in Barcelona. The number is limited. You get one through a public tender, a waiting list, or by buying or taking over an existing licence where that is allowed. Conditions often include residence and a suitable vehicle.

Rules differ a lot from one town to the next. Ask the ayuntamiento or regional transport authority where you want to work.

VTC: chauffeur-driven hire cars

VTC (vehículos de turismo con conductor) is the category for chauffeur-driven hire cars. The operator needs a VTC authorisation, and each vehicle needs its own. The company must have a minimum fleet, a suitable premises, enough finance and professional competence. Drivers need a B licence. A taxi licence is not part of this.

Regions can regulate VTC, and the national limit of one VTC authorisation for every 30 taxi licences is being revised after a 2024 EU court ruling. Check the current national and regional position with your regional transport authority before investing in vehicles.

Driving instructor

To become an instructor (profesor de escuela de conducción) you need:

• A Bachillerato or equivalent.
• A clean criminal record.
• A B licence held for at least three years.
• A DGT-approved course at an authorised centre, plus an exam.

The DGT issues the authorisation once you pass. Foreigners must have their qualifications validated (homologated) in Spain and hold a valid Spanish licence. If you are from outside the EU, your work permit must also allow you to work. Check the current conditions with the DGT.

Where to go next

The documents list and FAQ below cover the paperwork and common questions.

Documents you need

Documents for professional driver permits

• Valid driving licence for the vehicles you drive, needed for the tachograph card application. Once you hold the CAP, the DGT records it on the licence as code 95.

• ID or NIE (foreigner identification number) for the tachograph card application.

• A photo for the tachograph card application.

• Proof of payment of the tachograph card fee, issued when you pay the transport authority.

• Official application form for the tachograph card, from your autonomous community's transport authority.

• Clean criminal record certificate, usually needed for a taxi driver certificate or licence.

• Local or regional taxi driver certificate, which you get by passing the local exam, needed to drive a taxi in most areas.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive a taxi with just a B licence?

No, a B licence alone is usually not enough to drive a taxi, because most places also ask for a local or regional taxi driver certificate or exam. Many areas also want a minimum period holding the B licence and a clean criminal record. Rules differ a lot between municipalities, so ask your ayuntamiento.

Do I need a taxi licence to work as a VTC driver?

No, VTC (chauffeur-driven hire cars) is a separate system from taxis, and the driver needs a B licence. The operator holds the VTC authorisation, and each vehicle needs its own. Rules for VTC vary by region, so check yours.

Can a foreigner become a driving instructor in Spain?

Yes, but you need your qualifications validated (homologated) in Spain and a valid Spanish licence. You also need a B licence held for at least three years, a clean criminal record and the approved course with its exam.

Who can get a tachograph card and where do I apply?

Professional drivers of lorries over 3.5 t and buses who live in Spain can get a tachograph card. You apply through your autonomous community's transport authority or a body it delegates to.