How Long a US License Stays Valid in Spain
Many Americans move to Spain planning to keep driving on their US license. It works for a while, but Spanish law sets a clock on it, and the license itself has to meet a few conditions.
Below we explain how long a US license stays valid in Spain, when it needs an official translation and what to do when the six months end. The rules come from the Reglamento General de Conductores, the national driver regulation, and the Spanish traffic authority, the DGT.
When a US License Is Valid in Spain
Under article 21 of the regulation, a license from outside the EU is valid in Spain only when all of these are true:
- It is in force, so it has not expired.
- Its holder is old enough to get the equivalent Spanish license.
- No more than six months have passed since the holder acquired normal residence in Spain.
If you cannot prove normal residence, the six months count from your regular entry into Spain. Keep your passport stamp or boarding pass, because it may be the only proof of your start date.
Language and Translation
The license must also meet one of these tests: it is written in Spanish, or it comes with an official Spanish translation, or you carry an international driving permit issued under one of the international conventions.
The regulation lists who can produce an official translation: sworn interpreters, Spanish consuls abroad, the issuing country's consul in Spain and entities the authorities have authorized. For a US license, a translation by a traductor jurado, a translator appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is the form most offices recognize.
What Happens After Six Months
Once the period ends, the foreign license no longer lets you drive in Spain. To keep driving, you need a Spanish license, which means passing the required tests.
Some people can skip the tests through an exchange, called a canje. Spain allows it when a bilateral agreement covers the issuing country, and for some professional drivers with a work history in Spain.
The DGT page on exchange agreements lists the agreement countries, and the version we read does not name the United States. Confirm your own situation with your provincial traffic office before you plan around an exchange.
How to Plan the Paperwork
- Write down your date of arrival or of residence, and set a reminder for five months later.
- Check that your US license will still be valid on that date.
- Order an official Spanish translation if you will drive on your US license after arrival.
- Ask the provincial traffic office, the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico, which route applies to you and which documents it wants.
How BeTranslated Can Help
Our Spanish translation team translates US driver's licenses and the documents around them, such as driving records and identification documents. We can also arrange the apostille for the documents that need one.
When a Spanish authority asks for a traductor jurado, we work with translators appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Tell us which office will receive your license, and we will prepare the translation in the form it accepts.
Send us your documents for a free translation quote. We reply with a price and delivery date within 12 hours.
Moving to Valencia?
If Valencia is where you are headed, our relocation partner ValenciaMove helps Americans with the rest of the move: visas, the NIE, finding a home and the paperwork after you arrive. Read their guide to moving to Valencia from the USA.
FAQs
How Long Can I Drive in Spain on My US License?
For up to six months from the day you acquire normal residence in Spain, or from your regular entry if you cannot prove residence. After that, the license stops being valid for driving in Spain.
Do I Need an International Driving Permit?
Not if your license is in Spanish or comes with an official Spanish translation. The regulation accepts either route, and an international permit issued under the conventions counts too.
Can I Exchange My US License for a Spanish One?
Only where an agreement or a professional driving history allows it. The DGT list we read does not name the United States, so ask your provincial traffic office.
Who Can Translate My Driver's License?
The regulation names sworn interpreters, Spanish consuls abroad, the issuing country's consul in Spain and authorized entities. A traductor jurado is the safest choice for an office in Spain.
