First: whether your country has an agreement
Everything turns on that question, and the answer changes the procedure completely.
- With an agreement: the licence is exchanged for the Spanish equivalent, with no theory or practical test. The current list is in countries with an exchange agreement.
- Without an agreement: no exchange is possible and you must obtain the licence in Spain. We explain it in no exchange agreement.
The fee depends on the type of exchange. Check it first, because it is the cost that surprises people most.
What you need
- Original valid driving licence, with a sworn translation if it is not in Spanish.
- Legal residence in Spain and registration in the province.
- Psychophysical fitness report from a driver assessment centre.
- Photograph meeting DGT requirements and payment of the fee.
The psychophysical report is done in person at an accredited centre; we file the rest. While the exchange is being decided, the foreign licence remains valid within the periods allowed, but watch those dates because driving outside them is an offence.
Other traffic procedures in the province
Registering a foreign car
Import, registration tax and ITV inspection.
Licence exchange guide
The full procedure, step by step.
You do not need to come to the office
Most of the work is done online, with a digital certificate or a power of representation, so where the client lives does not limit the service. There are two routes and both are routine:
- Digital certificate: you sign from wherever you are, and we prepare and file the application.
- Power of representation or electronic authorisation: we act on your behalf using the professional certificate of a registered gestora.
The exception is strictly personal acts, which nobody can do for you: proving your identity to obtain the digital certificate, giving fingerprints for the TIE, and taking the oath in a citizenship file. Those must be done in person, and always in the province where you are registered.
Shall we handle it for you?
Registered gestora administrativa, ICGA Valencia. Fixed quote before we start and a free first consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to go to the Valencia Traffic Headquarters?
No, if we handle it. The only in-person step is the psychophysical assessment at an accredited centre.
Can I drive while the exchange is being decided?
Within the validity periods set for the foreign licence, yes. Outside them, no, and driving without a valid licence is a serious offence.
My country has no agreement. Is there an alternative?
There is no exchange; you must obtain the Spanish licence. The good news is that previous experience usually shortens the practical stage a great deal.
What if I have lost the original licence?
The exchange requires the valid original. With a lost licence you must obtain a duplicate in the issuing country before you can exchange it.
Is the fee included in the quote?
Yes. We work with a fixed quote that includes the fee, so there are no surprises at the end.
Legal basis
- Royal Decree 818/2009, General Drivers Regulation, art. 18 on exchanging foreign licences
- Law 16/1979 on Directorate-General for Traffic fees (consolidated text)
Official sources
- Provincial Traffic Headquarters (DGT)
- DGT electronic office: licence exchange
- València City Council
- Official College of Gestores Administrativos of Valencia
Written by Irina Klein. Reviewed by Elena Alonso Volostnova, registered gestora administrativa (ICGA Valencia). Updated on 5 October 2026. This page is general information and does not replace personalised advice on your case.