The rest is going to be taken care of by your autoescuela. You’ll have to call ahead to the place for an appointment, but they’re usually not too busy.Ĭongratulations, that’s it. Many people obtain this document right before they’re about to take their test. This document does have a 90-day expiration on it, so you have to take this test within 90 days of your driving exam. It’s a basic sight, auditory, and reflexes exam that takes about 20-30 minutes. The health document is something you obtain after going through a physical and mental test to make sure you are fit to drive. You can find the Expedición de permisos de circulación form HERE Receipt showing you have paid the correct fees (currently €92,20). Health document (obtained from any Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores) plus a photocopy While we’re all used to getting 1000 documents for any bureaucratic process here in Spain, you’ll be happy to know that the list here is quite small. For inexperienced drivers, expect to wait up to eight months. Personally, I started studying in September, passed both exams at the end of November, and received my licence in January.įrom studying to passing both exams, many people take about 5-6 months before they can breathe easy. Then, since you’re living here, you are legally required to get your actual licence.įrom start to finish, expect the entire process to take around six months. However, If you have residency in Spain you can only use that international permit for up to six months. It’s illegal but I met someone who had been doing it for 15+ years and never had an issue. I know people who have simply renewed that permit every year and never gotten their Spanish licence. If you ever get pulled over, you can show the police your international licence and passport. You can also drive with that permit as long as you have your accompanying passport. In the States, you can just go to the closest AAA office and get it there. Everyone knows what you’re supposed to do, but the probability of having a cop stop you for jaywalking is almost zero. You show your American licence, sign some papers, and you’re good. However, many rental car places, from my experience, just don’t care about that. In order to rent a car in Spain (and most parts of the EU), you need to have an international driver’s permit or IDP. Whether or not you need a licence is your choice, but let’s dispel some misconceptions real quick. So yes, it’s just as bad as everyone says. Personally, I was comfortable driving, had two years of experience driving in Spain, knew how to drive stick (manual for British readers), and I still hated the whole process. How long are you willing to wait on bureaucracy?ĭo you have roughly 1000+ Euros you’re willing to spend?Īre you OK with taking the driving and theoretical exam multiple times?ĭepending on how you answer those questions, your experience will vary. It depends on a lot of things, including but not limited to:Īre you familiar with Spanish road signs?ĭo you have experience driving in foreign countries? This question is the question I hear the most when I tell people I got my licence. What are the necessary steps? How long does it take? What do you need? Let’s go over the biggest questions and explain the whole process.
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