Month 3
Time
1 hour at the DGT
Cost
€28.87
Difficulty
Medium
EU vs non-EU
EU/EEA: EU/EEA licences stay valid. You only must swap once yours expires, or register it with the DGT after 2 years of residence.
Non-EU: If your country has an exchange agreement (UK, most of Latin America, Korea, Japan…), it's a direct swap. The US and Canada are not on the list. You'd take the full Spanish exam.
What to bring
Your original licence
NIE / TIE
Padrón
A psychotechnical certificate (€35–60 from any centro de reconocimiento)
Your options
DGT (Jefatura de Tráfico)
The only place exchanges happen
€28.87
Book the cita previa at sede.dgt.gob.es. The Barcelona office is on Gran Via; slots are scarce. Check early mornings.
Driving school (autoescuela)
For non-exchangeable licences
€600–1200
If your country isn't on the agreement list, an autoescuela packages the theory (available in English) and practical exams.
Prices checked June 2026
Do it
- 1
Get the psychotechnical certificate
Any "centro de reconocimiento de conductores" — a 15-minute reflex-and-eyesight test, €35–60, results sent to the DGT digitally.
- 2
Book your DGT cita
sede.dgt.gob.es → "Canje de permiso". Bring patience; new slots drop at odd hours.
- 3
Submit licence + documents
They keep your original and issue a temporary paper permit valid in Spain. Pay the €28.87 tasa online beforehand to skip a queue.
- 4
Receive the Spanish licence
The plastic card arrives by post in 4–6 weeks. Track it on the DGT's miDGT app.
Common questions
How long can I drive on my foreign licence?
EU licences stay valid (register after two years of residence). Non-EU licences are generally only honoured for six months after residency — start the exchange early.
Will I need to retake the test?
Not with an EU licence or one from Spain's exchange-agreement list. Outside the list, it's the full Spanish theory and practical — budget months and real money.
Where does it happen?
The DGT, on cita previa like everything else. The psicotécnico (fitness check) happens at private centres first — do it before your DGT date.
Full checklist tracking and task completion live in the Settli app for Barcelona.