Documents You Must Carry When Driving in Spain

When you drive in Spain you must be able to show four things: your driving licence, the vehicle's permiso de circulacion (registration document), the tarjeta ITV (technical sheet) with a valid inspection, and your ID (DNI for Spaniards, NIE for foreigners). Insurance is compulsory, but since 2008 you do not have to keep the policy in the car. This guide walks through each document and what happens if you cannot produce it.

The short list: what to carry

Keep this checklist in the glovebox. If a Guardia Civil de Trafico officer stops you, these are the documents they can ask to see:

• Your driving licence, or the provisional authorisation issued by the Jefatura if you are still waiting for the plastic card.
• Permiso de circulacion, the vehicle registration document.
• Tarjeta ITV (ficha tecnica), with the ITV inspection in date and the windscreen sticker showing.
• DNI or NIE, your identity document.

You do not have to carry the paper insurance policy, though the vehicle must be insured. Below we explain each item, and how the miDGT app now lets you carry some of these on your phone.

Your licence and the digital miDGT app

You must carry a valid driving licence that covers the vehicle you are driving. If you have passed your test but not yet received the physical card, the Jefatura Provincial de Trafico gives you a provisional authorisation, and that document is enough to drive legally in the meantime.

Here is the useful part for anyone tired of juggling paperwork. The official miDGT app holds a digital version of your driving licence and your permiso de circulacion, and it has the same legal validity as the physical documents for driving within Spain. Show the app on your phone and that satisfies the officer.

Two things to keep in mind. First, the app's legal validity applies inside Spain; if you cross a border, carry the physical licence. Second, if your phone battery dies at a checkpoint, you have no document, so many drivers still keep the plastic card as a backup. If your licence is close to expiring, sort it out early, our guide on renewing a Spanish driving licence covers the process.

Vehicle documents: permiso de circulacion and ITV

Two documents belong to the vehicle rather than to you. Both should live in the car or in the miDGT app if the vehicle is registered to you.

Permiso de circulacion

The permiso de circulacion is the registration certificate. It links the vehicle to its registered keeper and confirms it is legally registered in Spain. If you buy a car, the registration must be transferred into your name, and the updated permiso is what proves that transfer happened.

Tarjeta ITV and the inspection

The tarjeta ITV, also called the ficha tecnica, is the vehicle's technical data sheet. It lists the make, model, dimensions and technical specifications. Crucially, the ITV inspection must be current. The ITV is Spain's periodic roadworthiness test, similar to the British MOT or the German TUV.

When your vehicle passes its ITV, you get a sticker for the windscreen showing the next due date, and the tarjeta is stamped. Driving with an expired ITV is an offence, and if the inspection has lapsed you can normally only drive to a booked ITV appointment. Keep the tarjeta in the car and the sticker visible.

Insurance: mandatory to have, not to carry

Every vehicle on Spanish roads must have at least third-party insurance (seguro de responsabilidad civil). Driving without valid insurance is a serious offence and the vehicle can be immobilised. So the cover itself is non-negotiable.

Here is the part that surprises people. Since 2008 you are not legally required to carry the paper insurance policy in the vehicle. Officers can check a vehicle's insurance status directly against the central database using the number plate. So while you must be insured, you no longer have to wave a green card at a checkpoint.

That said, keeping a copy is still sensible. If you have an accident, exchanging policy details with the other driver is far easier when you have the document to hand, whether on paper or as a photo on your phone.

ID for foreigners: carry your NIE

You must be able to prove your identity. Spanish nationals carry the DNI. If you are a foreign resident, you carry your NIE (Numero de Identidad de Extranjero), the identity number Spain issues to foreigners, usually on a TIE card or a green certificate.

Visitors driving in Spain on a foreign licence should carry their passport and, where relevant, an international driving permit. Whether a tourist needs one depends on the licence, and the rules have exceptions, so read our guide to the international driving permit in Spain before you travel.

In our experience helping expat drivers, the NIE is the document people most often forget, because it does not feel like a "driving" document. It is. Carry it whenever you drive.

Penalties for not carrying your documents

Not carrying a required document is generally treated as a minor administrative matter rather than a major offence, but it can still cost you. If you are stopped and cannot show a document, officers may fine you, and in many cases they will give you a short window to present the missing document at a police station or Jefatura.

The bigger risks come from the underlying problems, not the paperwork alone. Driving with an expired ITV, driving without insurance, or driving without a valid licence carry far heavier penalties than simply leaving a valid document at home. Fines vary, so if you want the exact current amount for a specific situation, confirm it with the DGT.

The simple fix is to build the habit: licence, permiso de circulacion, tarjeta ITV and ID, all in the car or in miDGT, every time you drive.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to carry my paper driving licence in Spain?

You must be able to show a valid licence. The physical card works, and so does the digital licence in the official miDGT app, which has the same legal validity for driving within Spain. Carrying the plastic card as a backup is still wise.

Do I need to keep my insurance policy in the car?

No. Since 2008 you are not required to carry the paper insurance policy in the vehicle. The car must still be insured, and officers can verify that against the central database using the number plate.

What documents does the car itself need?

The permiso de circulacion (registration document) and the tarjeta ITV (technical sheet) with a current ITV inspection and the windscreen sticker. Both should stay in the vehicle, or in miDGT if it is registered to you.

As a foreigner, which ID should I carry when driving?

Carry your NIE (on a TIE card or green certificate) if you are a resident. Visitors should carry a passport and, depending on their licence, an international driving permit. Check the IDP rules before travelling.

What happens if I forget a document at home?

You may be fined, and officers often give you a short period to present the missing document at a station or Jefatura. Driving without insurance, a valid licence, or a current ITV carries much heavier penalties than a forgotten paper.

Sources

• Reglamento General de Circulacion (Real Decreto 1428/2003).
• DGT (Direccion General de Trafico), driver and vehicle documentation.

Last updated: August 2026.