Driving licence: exchange (canje) or theory test
Reviewed on October 28, 2026
Summary
If you live in Spain with a driving licence from another country, you have two paths. If your licence is from the EU/EEA, it stays valid while it is in date. If it is from a country with an agreement (convenio) with Spain (for example Morocco, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia or Ukraine), you can exchange it (canje) without a test for fee 2.3 (28,87 €), and you can only drive with it for 6 months from when you have legal residence. If your country has no agreement, you must get the B licence in Spain: fee 2.1 (94,05 €), theory test and practical test.
Who is this for?
For foreigners who live in Spain (normal residence) and want to drive a car (B licence). It does not cover professional truck or bus licences (C and D), which have extra tests, or tourists passing through.
Key facts
- EU/EEA licence
- Valid while it is in date; exchange is voluntary
- Licence from a country with an agreement
- Valid 6 months from your legal residence; after that, exchange
- Licence from a country without an agreement
- Valid 6 months; after that, you must get the Spanish licence
- Exchange fee (2.3)
- 28,87 € (check the current amount)
- Test fee (2.1)
- 94,05 €: gives you 2 attempts (check the current amount)
- Theory test
- 30-question test; check with the DGT how many mistakes are allowed
- Languages of the B theory test
- Spanish, Catalan, Basque, Galician, Valencian, English, French and German; also easy-read
- Where
- Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico (provincial traffic office of the DGT), with cita previa (appointment) or digital exchange
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Official sources
- DGT – Countries with an exchange agreement (Países con convenio de canjes) · checked on October 28, 2026
- Sede DGT – Exchange of licences from non-EU countries (requirements, fees 2.3 and 2.1) · checked on October 28, 2026
- DGT – Press release: digital driving licence exchange service · checked on October 28, 2026
- Sede DGT – Exchange, registration, renewal and replacement of EU and EEA licences · checked on October 28, 2026
- Real Decreto 818/2009, Reglamento General de Conductores (BOE, consolidated text) · checked on October 28, 2026
- DGT – Requirements, preparation and applying for the test · checked on October 28, 2026
- Sede DGT – Applying for the test on your own (fee 2.1) · checked on October 28, 2026
- Sede DGT – Booking a cita previa · checked on October 28, 2026
Nuevo en España offers public information from official sources, quoted and dated. It is not legal advice, it does not book appointments (cita previa) and it does not carry out procedures on anyone's behalf. Rules change: always check the linked official source. For your specific case, consult a lawyer or a free support organisation for migrants.
Other guides
- How to register your address in Spain (empadronamiento)
- Renew your residence permit (including the Real Decreto 316/2026 permit)
- Social Security number (NUSS / NAF)
- Public health card (tarjeta sanitaria individual, TSI)
- Open a bank account
- Get your degree or diploma recognised (homologación or equivalencia)
- Path to Spanish nationality by residence