Renewing A Spanish Driving Licence: When, How, The Fee And The Medical Test

A car or motorcycle licence lasts 10 years until you are 65 and 5 years after that. Lorry and bus licences last 5 years until 65 and 3 years after that. This guide explains when and how to renew, the documents, the fee, the provisional authorisation, and what to do if your licence has already expired or you are abroad. The DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) is Spain’s traffic authority.

When to renew: how long a licence lasts

The expiry date is printed on the front of your licence. How long each renewal lasts depends on your age and the class of licence:

• Mopeds, motorcycles and cars (AM, A1, A2, A and B): 10 years until you are 65, then 5 years
• Lorries and buses (C1, C, D1 and D, with or without a trailer): 5 years until you are 65, then 3 years
• A shorter period can be given if the medical finds a condition that does not stop you driving now but could get worse

If you are 65 or older, our guide to driving licence validity for the over 65s explains what changes with age.

You can apply from three months before the expiry date. Renewing early costs you nothing: the new period is counted from the date the old one ends, not from the day you renew. In exceptional, justified cases the DGT can accept an application earlier than that. If you hold a lorry or bus licence, renewing it renews your car and motorcycle classes at the same time.

One condition: a licence that has lost all of its points cannot be renewed until it has been recovered. See our guide to driving licence points in Spain.

How to renew: three ways

• At an authorised driver medical centre. This is the simplest way and you do not need to visit a traffic office. Go to any Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores (CRC) authorised by the DGT and say you want to renew your licence. The centre carries out the medical, takes your photo, collects the DGT fee, sends everything to the DGT and gives you the provisional authorisation.
• At a DGT traffic office (Jefatura or Oficina de Tráfico). You need an appointment, booked on the DGT website, and you must already have the medical report from an authorised centre. The fee is paid online beforehand or by card at the office; cash is not accepted.
• Online. Once a centre has issued your medical report, you can send the application through the DGT’s electronic register using a digital certificate, an electronic DNI or Cl@ve. The DGT gives no guaranteed time for applications sent this way and deals with them in order of arrival.

You do not resit the theory or practical driving test to renew.

Documents you need

• Your original, valid identity document: your passport or national identity card, with your Spanish residence document (the EU registration certificate, or the residence card if you are from outside the EU)
• The medical fitness report from an authorised centre
• The DGT’s official application form, which the centre completes with you if you renew there
• Proof that the DGT fee has been paid, unless you are exempt

You do not need to take a photo to the centre, because it is taken there. It makes sense to take your current licence with you as well.

Is there a medical test every time?

Yes. Every renewal needs a medical fitness report (informe de aptitud psicofísica), often called the psicotécnico, from an authorised driver medical centre, and the test is the same at any age. The report is valid for 90 days. Our guide to the psicotécnico medical test explains what is checked, where to take it and the possible results.

The DGT fee and who pays less

The DGT renewal fee is €24.58 (fee 4.3, the amount shown by the DGT in November 2026). Fees can change at the start of a year, so check the amount before you pay.

• Over 70: drivers over 70 pay no DGT fee to renew. They pay only for the medical.
• Shorter renewals for medical reasons: if your licence is renewed for less than the normal period because of a health condition, the fee is lower: up to 4 years €19.67, up to 3 years €14.75, up to 2 years €9.83 and up to 1 year €4.92.

The medical is charged separately by the centre. There is no official price for it: each centre sets its own, so ask for the price when you book.

The provisional authorisation and when the card arrives

When the renewal is done you are given a provisional authorisation. It lets you drive for six months, in Spain only. It is not valid abroad: to drive in another country before the card arrives you need to ask the DGT for an International Driving Permit.

The new card is sent by post to the address the DGT holds for you, at no extra cost, and usually arrives about a month and a half after the renewal. To avoid problems:

• Make sure the address the DGT holds for you is correct before you renew
• Keep the provisional authorisation with you until the new card arrives
• Check the DGT portal to see how your licence is progressing
• If the card has not arrived after a reasonable time, go back to the centre where you renewed so that it can report the problem

Renewing a licence that has already expired

You can still renew an expired licence in exactly the same way, and you do not have to sit a driving exam again. What you cannot do is drive on it: an expired licence does not authorise you to drive. The DGT treats driving on one as a serious offence with a €200 fine, and the licence can be taken from you on the spot. Renew first, then drive on the provisional authorisation.

Renewing from abroad

If you now live in another EU country, or are studying there for at least six months, you renew the licence in that country, with its own traffic authority, not in Spain.

If you are elsewhere abroad when your Spanish licence expires, the application is made through the Spanish embassy or consulate. In that case the medical report is issued by a doctor in the country where you are and must be endorsed by the Spanish consulate, and you provide a photo. Ask the consulate how it handles the application before you book the medical.

Not renewing, but exchanging or starting from scratch?

Renewal is only for a licence issued in Spain. If you hold a licence from another country, see our guide to exchanging a driving licence in Spain. If you need to pass the Spanish test, see taking the DGT test in English.

In summary

The renewal process is simple if you plan ahead. Arrange your medical early, bring your documents, and allow time for processing. Most drivers complete the procedure smoothly and receive their new licence within weeks.

Following these steps will help you stay compliant, avoid fines, and keep driving legally in Spain. Find official guidance and documents on the DGT renewal page, or browse the CRC directory for authorised centres near you.

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