How to Renew Your Spanish Driving Licence

Renewing your Spanish driving licence is simpler than most people expect. There is no new driving exam and no theory test. For a standard car licence (Permiso B), you pass a short medical and psychophysical check, pay the fee, and the Direccion General de Trafico (DGT) issues a renewed licence. This guide explains when to renew based on your age, what the medical covers, the exact steps, and how the rules work for over-65s and over-70s.

When do you need to renew your Spanish licence?

Renewal dates depend on your age, not on how much you drive. Standard car and motorcycle licences fall into what the DGT calls Group 1, which includes the categories AM, A1, A2, A and B. These licences are valid for 10 years while you are under 65. Once you turn 65, the renewal cycle shortens to every 5 years.

Your licence card shows its own expiry date, so you never have to guess. That date already accounts for your age, so a licence issued when you are, say, 63 may run for less than the full 10 years to line up with the age-65 rule.

A few points worth remembering:

• Group 1 (AM, A1, A2, A, B): valid 10 years up to age 65.
• From age 65: renew every 5 years.
• Medical grounds: the DGT can issue a licence with a shorter validity if the medical check flags a condition to review sooner.

Try to start the process a few weeks before your card expires. You can renew in advance, and doing so avoids any gap where your licence is out of date.

What does the medical check cover?

The only test at renewal is a medical and psychophysical check, done at an authorised driver assessment centre known in Spain as a centro de reconocimiento de conductores. There is no driving exam. The check confirms you are still fit to drive safely, and it usually takes around 20 minutes.

A typical assessment looks at:

• Vision: an eyesight test, including how you cope with glare and your field of view.
• Hearing: a basic check of your hearing.
• Reflexes and coordination: a short psychotechnical exercise on a screen or device.
• General health: questions about conditions or medication that could affect driving.

If everything is in order, the centre sends your result straight to the DGT electronically. In many centres the whole renewal, medical plus paperwork, is handled in one visit. If the doctor notes a health condition, your renewed licence may carry a shorter validity or a requirement such as wearing glasses.

How do you renew a Spanish driving licence?

You have two easy routes. Either go directly to an authorised medical centre, which will often complete the DGT renewal for you in the same appointment, or handle the paperwork yourself through the DGT after the medical. Most people use the first option because it is faster.

The usual steps are:

• Book the medical: visit a centro de reconocimiento de conductores for the psychophysical check.
• Bring your documents: your current driving licence and your ID (DNI for Spanish nationals, or your NIE and passport if you are a foreign resident).
• Have your photo taken: most centres take the photo on the spot for the new card.
• Pay the fee: the DGT renewal fee, plus the centre's own charge for the medical.
• Receive your provisional document: you can usually keep driving straight away while the physical card is produced and posted to you.

You do not retake the theory test to renew. If you are new to Spanish driving and still preparing for your first licence, that is a different journey, covered in our DGT theory test in English guide. It is also worth knowing which papers to keep in the car, explained in documents you must carry when driving in Spain.

How does renewal work for over-65s and over-70s?

Older drivers renew more often, but the process stays the same short medical check, not a driving exam. From age 65, Group 1 licences renew every 5 years instead of every 10. The medical and psychophysical assessment is identical in nature, though the doctor may pay closer attention to vision, reflexes and any medication.

There is one clear financial benefit. Drivers aged 70 and over are exempt from the DGT renewal fee. You still pay the medical centre for the psychophysical check, but the DGT's own charge is waived. That makes renewing noticeably cheaper for older drivers.

You may have seen headlines about a change affecting drivers over 65. The DGT describes recent updates as a clarification of existing rules rather than a brand new law, so treat any claim about a specific new 2026 requirement with caution and confirm the current position at your assessment centre or with the DGT before you act. The core rules above, 5-year cycles from 65 and the fee exemption from 70, are the reliable ones to plan around.

Can you carry your Spanish licence on your phone?

Yes. The official miDGT app holds a digital version of your driving licence, and for driving within Spain it has the same legal validity as the plastic card. Once you have renewed, your updated licence appears in the app, so you always have it with you even if you leave the physical card at home.

The app also stores your permiso de circulacion (vehicle registration), which is handy at a roadside check. Keep in mind that miDGT is recognised for driving inside Spain. If you travel abroad, carry the physical licence as well. For a full picture of what to keep with you, see our guide to the documents you must carry when driving in Spain, and if you want to protect your balance on the road, read how the penalty points system in Spain works.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to take a driving test to renew my licence?

No. Renewing a Spanish licence involves only a medical and psychophysical check, not a theory or practical exam. As long as you pass the health assessment and pay the fee, the DGT reissues your licence.

How often do I renew a Spanish car licence?

A Group 1 licence, which includes Permiso B, is valid for 10 years while you are under 65. From age 65 you renew every 5 years. The exact expiry date is printed on your licence card.

Do over-70s pay to renew?

Drivers aged 70 and over are exempt from the DGT renewal fee. You still pay the medical centre for the psychophysical check, but the DGT's own charge is waived, making the renewal cheaper.

What documents do I need to renew?

Bring your current driving licence and your identity document, a DNI for Spanish nationals or your NIE and passport for foreign residents. Most medical centres take your photo on the spot, so you do not need to bring one.

Is the digital licence in miDGT valid?

Yes, for driving within Spain the miDGT app has the same legal validity as the physical licence card. It also holds your vehicle registration. When travelling outside Spain, carry the physical licence as well.

Sources

• DGT (Direccion General de Trafico), renovacion del permiso de conduccion.
• DGT, tasas.

Last updated: August 2026.