Linea Directa 200 LEFT COL CAR INSURANCE

How much does it cost to get a Spanish driving licence? These are the 7 things you have to know...

What’s the real cost of getting in driving licence in Spain, and how do you do it?

After it was announced by the British Embassy that UK citizens resident in Spain will no longer be able to drive on a valid British driving licence six months after their residency status was granted, many Brits are faced with the prospect of having to take a Spanish driving test get a Spanish driving licence.

If this wasn’t already complicated enough for long-time drivers who may have passed their driving test many years ago, the Spanish bureaucracy surrounding driving licences is just as costly and complex as it is for other procedures.

In a 2020 study from Compare the Market, Spain ranked as the 9th most expensive country in the world to get a driving licence, just behind countries such as Norway, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden and the UK.

There are an estimated 9,000 driving schools in Spain, all of which set their own prices for their services and which can vary greatly depending on where you live in Spain. The total price to get a Spanish driving licence can be anywhere between 400 and 1,500 euros, depending on the following things you have to pay for:

What do you have to do to get your driving licence in Spain?

Enrolment
Learner drivers must pay a registration fee when they join a Spanish driving school (‘autoescuela’), which costs an average of 200 euros. Some schools will waive this fee in an attempt to get more customers through the door, while others charge considerably more than 200 euros.
Admin expenses
On top of this, there is an extra 45-euro charge that some driving schools tag on for admin fees. Those that do charge it mostly only ask for this if the learner has to pay their exam fees again after failing their test.
Theory classes
According to data published in 2021 by the Spanish consumer watchdogs OCU and FACUA, the average cost of theory classes for learner drivers in Spain is 13 euros per session. These can be in-person or online and are available in English from driving schools. With the driving theory book and other learning materials, the costs add up to 203 euros for most learner drivers. There is no minimum number of classes learners must take before they sit their theory test.
Physical examination
In Spain, before you can get behind the wheel of a car, you’ll need to have a physical exam to test your reflexes and motor skills at a specialist health centre called a ‘centro de reconocimiento de conductores’. This involves hand-eye coordination tests, a vision test, a hearing test and getting your blood pressure measured. All these tests cost around 30 to 35 euros.
Practical classes
For many people, having lessons in the car with a driving instructor is the most expensive part of getting a driving licence. The average costs for a 45-minute lesson is 25 euros.

As with the theory classes, there is no minimum number of lessons learners have to do before they can sit their practical driving test, but for foreign drivers who already know how to drive but have to sit their driving exam in Spain because their licence isn’t recognised by the DGT, the minimum number of recommended lessons is usually five.

Even for people who are experienced drivers and think they could pass a driving test in their own country (sure that they haven’t picked up any bad driving habits), it’s a good idea to take a few classes because there are certain road rules in Spain to be aware of.

The practical classes can be conducted in English, but when it comes to the practical driving test, you must be able to understand Spanish to follow the driving examiner’s instructions.
Exam fees
When it comes to taking the driving test, you have to pay the DGT for the honour. This fee has actually gone up in 2022 and now costs 94.05 euros.

This buys you a total of three strikes to pass both your theory and practical exams. For example, if you pass your theory test the first time round you have two chances to pass your practical test, but if you have to do the theory test twice before you pass, you’ll only get one shot at the practical.

If you fail the theory and/or practical tests three times, you have to pay the exam fees again.
Driving licence issuance
Once you pass your driving test, both theory and practical, and you’re eligible to receive a Spanish driving licence, you then have to pay the DGT an additional 99.77 euros for them to send you the physical licence card.

So what’s the total cost to get a Spanish driving licence?

Obviously, there are a lot of factors that mean that estimating the how it costs to get a driving licence in Spain is not a one-size-fits-all operation. It depends largely on where in Spain you are based, what the fees are at your driving school, how many lessons you need and how quickly you pass your test.

Someone with plenty of experience and who passes first time with just a handful of lessons could expect to pay around 400 euros, while someone who’s getting behind the wheel for the first time, who needs to sit their exam several times before they pass and who doesn’t understand all the paperwork and tricks that driving schools may overcharge them for could end up spending 1,500 euros.

It pays to get professional help when trying to navigate the twisting roads of Spanish driving licence bureaucracy, to make sure you get it done right the first time and have all the documents you need to show. This can save ‘learner’ drivers money in the long run and help to speed up the driving licence application process.

Talk to Heniam and Associates for legal help in getting your Spanish driving licence.

Image: Archive

Linea Directa Bottom Article M-Z CAR INSURANCE

Address

Office 1: Monteclaro 1, 30389 La Manga Club / Office 2: Calle Delta del Danubio, 30385 Los Belones

Tel: 0034 868 707 917
Mobile: 0034 689 017 754

View Website

View Google Map

Facebook

Heniam & Associates for Conveyancing, paperwork, legal advice and immigration throughout the Region of Murcia

Catering for the needs of expats living all over Spain, and particularly in the Costa Cálida and the Costa Blanca, Heniam & Associates offer a wide range of services including conveyancing, legal and administrative advice.

At the same time, their team of dedicated professionals appreciate the need to assist you in an easy and reliable manner, allowing you as much time as possible to enjoy your freedom, relax and make the most out of life in Spain. Without sacrificing efficiency, they offer personalised services to each and every client, listening to their needs in order to provide exactly the right service and desired outcome.

In the all-important field of Legal and Administrative Services, Heniam & Associates provide help in a wide range of matters including (but not limited to):

Conveyancing
Legal and professional communication assistance
NIE and TIE Applications
Commercial and company set-up and licensing
Spanish health and administrative services
Support and assistance with regulatory bodies
Professional will writing services and advice on intestate inheritance laws (both in the UK and in Spain)
Contract drafting (for businesses and individuals)
Dispute resolution
Digital signatures and certificates

Whether taking advantage of our conveyancing services or any other legal matter Heniam & Associates’ business partner HeniamLegal will represent you in the best possible way, excelling especially in their conveyancing service.

When buying a property in a foreign country it can be challenging to understand all of the
steps that have to be taken. Heniam knows that buying a home can be stressful and
they want to ensure that you have the resources that you need to make sure that the
transaction is as smooth as possible so that you can start to enjoy your new home without worrying about the details and any purchase pitfalls.

HeniamLegal will be on hand to assist you with every part of the process. They have
dedicated professionals on hand to assist you every step of the way ensuring that all
of the relevant checks and investigations are carried out and, of course, negotiating on your behalf and protecting your interests. You will always have the support you need with HeniamLegal and Heniam & Associates.

Heniam & Associates In addition, translation services are provided either for written documents or for occasions such as visits to the doctor or to administrative offices, and assistance is provided in finding the best deal on foreign currency transfers.