How to: Change Your License

 

Once you are a resident of Spain, you have the ability to change your driver’s license to a Spanish one. In theory, if you are permanently living in Spain, you should have a Spanish driver’s license. Here’s how you do it:

 

 

How to Make an Appointment:

 

Firstly, if you don’t want to be waiting for hours to be seen, you should make an appointment online before going.

 

To make an appointment you need to go to the DGT Website (Dirección General de Tráfico). You need to “Selecciona una oficina” (Select an office). If you are living anywhere west of Estepona, we would recommend selecting the Cadíz – La Línea Office. It is much closer, the staff are helpful and the additional facilities are close too.

 

Then you need to choose a “Tipo de trámite” (Type of Procedure). If you choose to go to the Cadíz – La Línea Office, no matter where you’re from, you need to select “Trámites de oficina” (Office Procedures).

 

However, if you choose to go to another office, there are different options. If you hold a driver’s license from the EU, then you need to select “Canje de permiso de conducción europeo” (Change of european license) and then your corresponding country in the next box labelled “País” (Country). If you hold a license from outside of the EU, then you need to select “Canjes de permiso de conducción” and select your corresponding country in the box labelled “País” (Country). If the country you are from, or if you have an Andorran, Korean, Japanese, Monegasque or Swiss license, then you need to select “Trámites de oficina” (Office Procedures).

 

You will then be taken to a page that will further narrow down the type of appointment you need. For renewing your license, you will want to select “Área: Conductores”

 

You will then need to fill in your personal details for the appointment. In the first box, “Datos del interesado” (details of interested party), you will need to provide your:

 

– NIE/NIF

 

– Driver’s license number (Nº Permiso Conducción)

 

– Name (Nombre)

 

– Surname (Primer apellido & Segundo apellido – if you only have one surname only fill in Primer apellido)

 

– Gender (Sexo)

 

– Date of Birth (Fecha de nacimiento)

 

 

If you are making an appointment on your own behalf then you do not need to fill in the second box, “Datos del representante” (details of the representative). You then need to fill in the “Otros datos” (Other details) box with:

 

– Contact telephone number (Tel. contacto)

 

– License plate or last 6 digits of the VIN (Matrícula o últimos 6 dígitos del bastidor)

 

You do not need to fill in the “Nº expediente” field.

 

 

You will then be asked to choose a date and time for your appointment. You then need to confirm and submit your appointment. A confirmation page will appear. You should save and print out this page and take it with you to your appointment.

 

Documentation You Need to Take:

 

– License and colour photocopy

 

Passport and colour photocopy

 

– Residencia card and colour photocopy

 

– If you have changed your name, take proof (i.e. marriage certificate, if you have it translated also take it with you but it is not an issue if you do not) and a colour photocopy

 

– 2x Spanish driver’s license photos (if you aren’t able to get these before your appointment, there is usually a small shop nearby that will be able to take them for you. In La Línea, it is only a couple of doors down from the office)

 

The Procedure:

 

As long as you have all your paperwork, it should be quite a simple procedure!

 

The official will fill out some forms using the documentation you have given. You will then be required to sign the documents.

 

You will then need to pay 24.10€ for this procedure. In La Línea, this payment can be made by card.

 

If you have not renewed your current driving license for a substantial quantity of time, you might be asked to have a medical exam before the application can be processed. If this is the case and you are in La Línea, you just need to go to the medical centre next door to the office and for 35€ they will administer a simple test to verify you’re fit to drive. You will receive the results immediately and can submit them in the office.

 

You will then be given a paper that outlines that you are in the process of transferring your license to a Spanish one and that your current license is valid. Make sure to carry this with you!

 

Receiving Your New License:

 

Due to the current Brexit situation, lots of people are in the process of changing their licenses, so the system is quite backlogged currently. As a result of this, you may have to wait up to 3 months to receive your new license.

 

If you haven’t heard or received anything within a month from the date of your appointment, go back to the DGT website and make another appointment following the same steps. So put a reminder in your calendar to check or make another appointment so you don’t forget!

 

 

Information about DGT Cádiz – La Línea:

 

La Línea is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 14:00 throughout the year apart from being closed for the holidays from the 24th of December to the 31st of December.

 

Address: Avenida Príncipe de Asturias (Edificio Panorama)

 

Postcode: 11300

 

Phone: 956 760 974

General Information Hotline: 060

 

Email: [email protected]

 

Interested in finding out more about lifestyle on the Costa del Sol? Visit our blog!


Hamilton Homes Blog