US Citizen Driving in Spain

Getting a Spanish car driver's license

[Re: experienced driver from other country getting license in Spain:]

Canadian here. I have lived through this. Prepare yourself for an absolute nightmare.

1. You have to go through the entire certification process as if you were an 18 year old Spaniard.
   
   
2. You have to sign up with an Autoescuela. There is NO REASONABLE WAY to get the license on your own.
   
   

A few tips:

• There is a simplified version of the theory test which uses simplified Spanish. You must request this version when you sign up. I think there are various language options as well but cannot confirm (I believe someone told me that the questions are poorly worded and confusing and therefore it is not recommended to do it this way).
  
  
• There is a process by which you can at least get the government to credit you for existing experience (for cheaper insurance rates). After you get your license you will need to bring a translated copy of your drivers history from home.
  
  
• The BEST way to prepare for the theory test is to do all of the sample tests on the DGT website.
  
  
• You can only fail two of the tests, so if you fail the theory twice, you have to pay and start over again. If you pass the theory the first time, then you have two tries at the road test.
  
  
• The road tests are very difficult - they are not checking to see if you are a good driver, just to see if you have prepared well for the road test, so I recommend at least a couple of hours with the driving instructor.
  
  
• Driving instructors in Spain are a special breed - I have had a few and they are all a bit special - hard to describe, but they seem to be determined to show you how inferior you are.
  
  
• Shop around for a cheap driving school. Phone 10. Don't go the Groupon route, as they end up being more expensive. Some of the schools have pretty reasonable package prices. I went to Laietana and was satisfied.
  
  
• You will need to do the farcical physical test - they will take your picture there.
  
  

I'm going through this right now (1/2015), and can add a few things to what's been said.

A local driving school gave me a price of 275€ for the theory classes and test, plus I can do practice sessions at around 40€ per. They recommended that I do one or two of those primarily so they can point out bad habits I've picked up over the years that will cause me to flunk the test (one hand on the wheel, not signaling soon enough, etc).

Be aware that the theoretical test is almost completely comprised of trick questions and misleading multiple-choice answers. You need to memorize the questions by rote from the practice tests.

There is an option to take the test in English but I wouldn't recommend it for an American (I had the English-language manuals from the RACC school a couple of years ago that included sample tests) - when they say English they mean it. Lots of bangers, barristers, boots and bonnets. I was completely lost. I have heard that the "simple Spanish" version isn't so tricky but haven't seen it.

Your US license will give you a couple of benefits: insurance will be cheaper because they take into consideration the length of time you've been driving, and you don't have to display the Loser sign in your car window.

People should be aware that the option to do the normal car licence multiple-choice theory test isn't in "proper" English, but only in a very very approximate google-style auto-translation of the original Spanish, which just makes a lot of the questions actually very difficult to grasp.

Additionally it's only the multiple-choice computerised theory exam for the CAR driving test that's available in this non-Spanish version at some driving schools. The theory exam for the Motorcycle licence and other special/additional vehicle licences is only in Spanish. And of course the actual practical driving test for all and any licence here in Spain that you must then take once you've passed the theory part, is always conducted in Spanish.

The special re-test course/exam ("curso de sensibilizacion y reeducacion vial") to get your licence back after you've been banned (eg for drink-driving) in Spain is in Spanish.

You have to go to autoescuela (not just because it's helpful, which it is, because there are things that are different from the US, but also because that's the law -- you can't get a license till you've gone to autoescuela). They teach you to pass the written test, then you have to do a certain minimum number of "practical" classes before you are allowed to do the driving test. Most kids need a lot more than the minimum, but if you already know how to drive you will get away with that amount (think it's 12). You also need to do a "psicotecnico", a medical exam that certifies that you can see and have reflexes, with a special private doctor, before you can begin practical classes. Altogether the thing's gonna cost you a good €1000.

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I'm in the process of getting it now. I just passed the theory test the other day. On the theory test there are 30 questions and you are only allowed to have 3 mistakes. I recommend that for the theory test you do a lot of practice tests. It helps to go to the classes in the autoescuela but the questions can be somewhat tricky and have technical vocabulary so the practice tests helped a lot.

The whole process is quite pricey. My driving school (to go to classes, the book, online access to tests, etc) cost 265 euros, the psicotecnico cost 50 euros, the fee for the theory/practical exams is 90.30 euros and at least at my driving school every practice driving lesson cost 22 euros without tax.

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I took the written exam without going to driving school and then had to matriculate in a school to do the driving portion. You can save some money via that route, and the questions on the tests are usually taken from the free online tests on their website.

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... you only have 6 months following receipt of residency approval to obtain your Spanish driver's license or you will be socked with a 600 Euro fine if pulled over! Next, here in Spain, you must go to a driving school and have them present you to Trafico for the examination and practical road test. Note: YOU CANNOT PRESENT YOURSELF as we do in the US. Someone from a school must request the appointments and take you. ...

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I paid about €400-500 and finished in less than 3 months. The Groupon deals are pretty good if you already know how to drive a stick and the school is close to you.

For those of you getting your license here in Spain and not wanting to spend a bunch of money, it's definitely doable for under 300€. I am doing the theory exam "por libre" which means I'm not going to an autoescuela. I borrowed the book from a friend and am studying it and doing exams on the dgt website to practice. The tasa for the exams is 90.30€ and that covers both the theory exam and the driving test. You must get a medical note (certificado medico) to apply to take your exam. That cost me 40€. I'll probably do a few practice hours with a driving school and I got a quote for 20€ an hour. Let's say I do 3 or so since I've driven here before that's 60€. Then the fee to use the examiners car for the exam - 40€ I believe. In total I'll be spending about 230€ to get my license.

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Theory:

1) First go get your certificado medico from one of these places: centros-de-reconocimiento-de-conductores. Note that this is ONLY valid 90 days so you must be taking your exams within those 3 months.

2) You need to make an appointment (or just go in depending on where you are) to the Jefatura de Trafico in your region: jefaturas-provinciales. You must bring a carnet photo, your certificado medico, a credit card to pay there (check on types of payment accepted in your jefatura) - or the tasa which you can get online, and the solicitud which you can get here (PDF) (note you may have to print 3 and just write the same thing on all 3 since it's not the carbon copy), plus your NIE.

At that appointment they will let you choose a date to take your theory exam. You pick a date and come it and take it at that time.

Driving lessons:

Go in and ask how much clases sueltos are, or if you want to buy a bono for 10 classes, most autoescuelas have those to purchase as well. Do as many classes as you feel you need, and then you'll have to apply to take your drivers test basically the same as the theory - you go in to jefatura and you pick a date - using the solicitud and tasa you've already filled out and paid above. You will have to pay the autoescuela to use their car for the exam like I stated above.

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The one drawback with doing everything through the autoescuela is that they charge you to go into the jefatura de trafico for you - about 40 euros each time they go in. That's 80 euros for them to go to two appointments. Since I had time, and little money, I couldn't justify paying that, but I have been in contact with an autoescuela here and the guy is letting me come in and sit through classes where they do tests so that's been nice! If I didn't have the time and had more money, I'd definitely go for the autoescuela because I know they definitely help a lot! Good ones that is - I've gone to a few here that were not very kind, so I kept searching and finally got lucky.

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Follow up: I went to the Jefatura de Trafico in Malaga yesterday morning to take the exam. They take you into a huge room with a ton of computers and you need your NIE with you. The exam is exactly the same as the practice exams on the dgt website in format. The questions were mostly easy - and then there are always 4 difficult ones. You take the exam and when you're finished, you just walk out. They post the results the following day on the dgt website.

So I passed! Doing it "por libre" was the best option for me. Just remember to do a lot of practice exams online. Also there's a website called todotest where you can practice more (although their exams are extremely difficult in comparison to the real exam - I was failing exams the day before the exam on their site, freaking out). But all is well!! Now on to do the behind the wheels.

I got my license in a mid-sized city. Studied in Spanish and took the test in English. My practice exams in English were translated horribly but the exam didn't have any mistakes on it. They must've hired someone to fix the issue.

In terms of price, it's cheaper in bigger cities. So maybe try and do it in a city with a lot of driving schools where there's more competition. Don't expect not to do any behind the wheel. You probably need between 5 and 10 to get used to the tricks of the city.

I passed my driving test yesterday. Cost me about 180 Euros for the theoretical and practical tests plus 250 Euros for 10 lessons at a driving school (single lessons would have cost 27.50 per 45 minute lesson). The lessons were well worth the money because even though I already knew how to drive the instructor showed me the minutiae of Spanish traffic laws that would have kept me from passing on my own, even if I was allowed to do it that way. The actual road test took about 20 minutes after 4 hours of waiting for my turn and, just like the theoretical, they don't let you know right away.

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I live in Almunecar and took the test in Motril. You have to be a resident to take the exam but they give the theoretical exam in English. The driving test is in Spanish but it's not like you have to carry on a detailed conversation on the ramifications of Brexit on the European Union. Left, right, change direction, first exit, second exit, etc. I had an instructor who spoke enough English to help me learn the rules and he spoke to me when needed like an examiner would. When I started they gave me a list of 35 words to learn but less than 20 of those were actually used.

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Just keep in mind that the tests are written to the level of 17 year olds with no previous driving experience. If you know how to drive a standard transmission car and have years of experience you are already way ahead of the average applicant. For me the hardest part was finding a school that had an English speaking driving instructor because Almunecar has very few expats. ...

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... I have a book but it was taking the practice exams over and over that got me passed. If I never had the book it would have been the same result. ...

Two-wheeled vehicles

Motorcycle and moped licenses

A 50cc moto can be used only on minor roads where maximum speed is 50 KPH or less (can't drive on highways or motorways).

From someone on "Expats in Spain" Facebook group:

The motorcycle licence is separate in Spain - separately tested and separately licenced. You can drive up to 125cc on a car licence.

Bsure's Motorbike Rules
Just Landed's "Motorcycles in Spain"
AngloINFO's "Spanish Driving Licences"

Bicycles

N332's "Cycling - Losing Points"

Electric bicycles (eBike, pedelec)

Electric-Bicycle-Guide's "What's the difference between pedelecs and e-bikes?"
Melissa Kirsch's "Should You Get an Electric Bike?"

Maybe try renting an electric bike (from Hertz ?), or going on a tour that uses them, before buying.

From someone on /r/Spain:

Anything that doesn't meet this criteria is considered a motorcycle and requires helmet, license and insurance:

"las bicicletas con pedaleo asistido, equipadas con un motor electrico auxiliar, de potencia nominal continua maxima de 0,25 kilovatios, cuya potencia disminuya progresivamente y que finalmente se interrumpa cuando la velocidad del vehiculo alcance los 25 km/h, o antes si el ciclista deja de pedalear; ni a sus componentes o unidades tecnicas, salvo si estan destinados a ser montados en los vehiculos previstos en la presente Directiva".

[I read that to say bicycles and pedelecs don't require anything, but throttled-electric does require helmet, license and insurance.]

From someone else on /r/Spain:

Madrid official website has links to both a compilation of the Spanish national traffic regulations ("Extractos del Reglamento General de Circulacion referentes al uso de la bicicleta") and the Madrid local ones. It's very important to remember that road regulations and city regulations are separate, and each city has a different set of rules, so you need to check both.

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Most of the information you seek is in this PDF. I'll give you a TL;DR:

• If your electric bike has a motor of more than 0,25kw of continuous power, then it's considered a motorbike. You need to wear a helmet at all times, buy insurance, and you can only use it in the causeway of normal roads (outside a city). It cannot be used in highways or expressways. Inside a city, it has to follow the same traffic rules as any other motor vehicle.
  
  
• If it has a motor of up to 0,25kw, or no motor at all, then it's considered an ordinary bike. On a normal road (outside a city), bikes have to go wayside - unless it is considered dangerous, in which case you can ride them on the causeway temporarily - and you have to wear a helmet. They cannot be used in highways or expressways. Inside a city, the rules depend on that city. Most of them have banned their use on sidewalks. In some places you might be fined if you don't wear a helmet and in some others they don't really care. In general, you are required to have a front and back light, as well as reflective elements, when riding one at night.

I'd like to remark once more that it is important to check the rules of the city where you are using the bike. For instance, bikes are usually told to ride on the right side of the lane, but in Madrid the new rules say you have to do it right in the middle (which apparently has caused a fair share of arguments and confusion).

Electric-Bicycle-Guide's "Electric Bicycle - Laws, Insurances, Accidents and Initiatives"
Wikipedia's "Pedelec"
Pedelecs
CAB's "Electric Bikes - Differences and the Law"
CAB's "E-Bikes, E-Scooters - Insurance and ITV"
bikelec's "Acelerador o asistencia al pedaleo"

Christina Bonnington's "Learn to Ride"

Renting a car

Insurance

Importing, Buying, Selling a car

• Importing a car:
  
  Headlights and tail-lights have to be changed, large import fees, taxes, registration, etc. Maybe not worth doing. Typical cost around €1000 ? Varies by age and origin and engine size and emissions of car.
  
  From people on reddit:
  You may have to make modifications to make it legal in Spain. Most cars in Spain are smaller than those in the US - roads are narrower, parking spots smaller and generally less parking. Gas is more expensive. What will you do if the Spanish authorities will not accept your vehicle ?
  
  I think it would not be worth the time, trouble or money to ship a car to Spain. Save the shipping fee, sell your car and buy another in Spain.
  
  ...
  
  You need to homologate the car to local market regulations such as headlights, wipers, bumper height, headlight throw, different emissions, etc. Not to mention the car that you may may not even exist there; even if the same model does, the variant and engine choice may not. And then think about having to sell it or transport it back.
  
  It's a lot of paperwork and potentially physical work involved.
  
  From people on "American Expats in Spain" Facebook group:
  
  Re: moving to Spain and bringing cars with you:
  
  It is VERY important you apply for the change of residence discount within a few days of arrival at the tax office. There is a process which can be expensive, changing some lights on the car, etc. But you should pay no import tax if you have owned the car for a year and you apply correctly for the tax exemption.
  
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  I brought a German-made American Spec and a Japanese-made American Spec car over from America, so they knew right away they were American spec. Not only that, the Japanese car was unique, the only one of its kind in Spain. Homologation took about 90 minutes for both cars and cost about 100 Euros per car. The Nissan needed a rear fog lamp installed, about 100 Euros and it needed a different color turn signal lamp, less than 2 Euros. The Mercedes needed modification to the electrical system to add another lamp to fix the same problem the Nissan had, only it was much cheaper on the Nissan because it used separate lamps. About 100 Euros. Change of residence discount was a nightmare, which we never did get and when we found out how much we would have saved not even worth the time and money we wasted fighting for it. Total fees for 2 cars was around 4000 Euros. There isn't any scenario on earth where it would have been cheaper to replace our cars with similar models here.
  
  ...
  
  I don't understand how a change of residence, done in the correct time, asking for the car exemption at Hacienda, didn't get approved. I have done it several times for clients. You can ask for the exemption WAAAAY before you have all the new papers/changes done on the car, which they understand can take a while.
  
  ...
  
  Those of you wishing to bring cars might also want to consider your goal for the car. As I mentioned before we brought 2 cars last year. It turns out that the roads are a lot narrower, it is a lot harder to find parking, and traffic tickets are a major source of revenue for the government, so we don't do a lot of pleasure cruising like we did in the States. Our main mode of getting around is a 125cc motor scooter. Our hatchback is used for large purchases, airport runs and vacation trips because it has a smaller engine for better mileage. Our 5.0 liter 315 horsepower convertible sits in the garage mostly unused. I don't think we've put 500 kilometers on it since we passed ITV and I am seriously considering putting it up for sale the day it passes this year's ITV. If I knew then what I know now I would have left it behind when we moved here.
  
  From someone on "American Expats in Spain" Facebook group:
  
  What you realize after owning a car in Europe is that Europeans take car inspections and specifications VERY SERIOUSLY. All cars must pass a SUPER rigorous technical inspection. Every year or every two years depending on how old your car is. This is not like our American "inspections" and "emissions testing". The American testing and inspections are truly a joke!
  
  Here in Europe they test absolutely every single part of your vehicle from wiper blades to windshield chips/cracks, to brake wear, to seat belts, to horns and rust under your car. shocks and struts, steering and emissions performance are all tested as well. If anything is not up to standard you don't pass and cannot drive your car legally until you do pass.
  
  The reason this is important is because modifying your vehicle for the EU standards is not just a simple one over. You need to realize that you will need to constantly pass inspection and that these modifications put into question your ability to pass that inspection if one of these modifications fails, etc.
  
  One thing that's a very common problem with inspection here are HID Xenon and LED lighting systems which require headlight washers and auto leveling mechanisms in Europe while this is not the case in American market DOT spec vehicles.
  
  The list of items goes on and on.
  
  I would NEVER consider importing a car from America for "sentimental" value unless you are a collector of classic cars.
  
  It makes no sense otherwise. Just sell it and get a new one here or lease while you're in Spain.
  
  Apart from that. You'll find yourself driving a LOT less in Spain. Living in a country that has invested heavily in public transit, regional and high-speed transportation networks really makes a big difference. Making it even less worth it to import in my opinion.
  
  Just Landed's "Importing a car"
  Ibex Insurance's "Re-matriculation to Spanish plates"
  Expat Agency Spain's "You are forced to change the car plate in Spain"
  
  
  
• Buying a new car:
  
  If you get €1000 government rebate for efficient car (PIVE), that money is taxable on your income tax return.
  
  Autofacil's "Cuanto pagaras a Hacienda si te has acogido al Plan PIVE?"
  Benidorm Seriously's "How to - Buy a Car in Spain"
  Agencia Tributaria Canaria's "Valoracion fiscal de vehiculos" (taxable value of car)
  
  
  
• Buying a used car:
  
  From someone on "Expats in Spain" Facebook group 8/2016:
  Used car prices are much higher in Spain than the UK. For instance, a 2004 Opel Astra with 84,000 miles from a dealer will set you back around €4,500 and a 2004 Kia Picanto with 102,000 miles is around €2,000. I think a dealer has to provide a warranty by law here, so worth checking. These prices do not include transfer charges, which are around €200 - €400. ... used cars do tend to be more reliable here, not being exposed to the harsh UK climate ...
  
  Summarized from discussion on "Expats in Spain" Facebook group 12/2016:
  Fees to Trafico will be (ITP of) 4% to 6% of the value (as they value it, not what you paid for it) plus €60 or so. There is a Banco de España listing (official state notice) for latest values.
  
  Just Landed's "Buying a Car"
  Just Landed's "Selling a Car"
  BlogCocheSegundaMano's "Como calcular el impuesto de transmisiones de un coche de segunda mano"
  Agencia Tributaria Canaria's "Valoracion fiscal de vehiculos" (taxable value of car)
  
  
  
• Selling a car:
  
  Make sure the buyer actually does submit the paperwork to the government, else you may get billed for taxes and violations years later.
  
  Whoever owns a car on January 1st has to pay the Impuesto Sobre Vehiculos de Traccion Mecanica (IVTM) tax for that year.
  
  Expats in Spain's "Buying and Selling a Car in Spain" (PDF)
  Agencia Tributaria Canaria's "Valoracion fiscal de vehiculos" (taxable value of car)
  
  
  

Miscellaneous