Question
I recently moved to Spain from Canada. I currently hold a Texas driving license, but unfortunately, neither my Canadian nor Texan license can be exchanged in Spain. In 2009, I held a Dutch driving license that expired in 2019. Although I no longer have the physical copy, I managed to find an old scanned version in my email. Does anyone know if this could be used to obtain a Spanish Drivers License?
Additionally, if you’re aware of the steps involved, I would greatly appreciate your guidance. If there are agents who can manage the entire process on my behalf, I’m happy to pay for their services.
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“Canadians can’t exchange licenses either, probably because licenses are issued by provinces, just like in the U.S.”
“You could consider trying to renew your Dutch license. If it’s valid, you should be able to exchange it for a Spanish one. Your biggest hurdle will be the fact that it’s expired.”
“There are two types of driving licenses in Spain: one for automatic and manual vehicles, and one for automatic only. If you’re not comfortable with manual, you could take the test in an automatic car.”
“You need to be cautious with expired licenses, especially if they’re from an EU country. You might need to renew it in the Netherlands, but they may only issue a certificate of authentication. Still, it’s worth asking for it.”
“In some cases, it might be easier and faster to just retake the driving test in Spain, rather than trying to work around an expired foreign license.”
“If your Dutch license is expired, it’s likely you’ll need to renew it before being able to exchange it for a Spanish one. Maybe you could use a Dutch address from a friend or family member to make the process easier.”
“The issue with non-exchangeable licenses from places like Canada is that they are provincial, and Spain doesn’t have reciprocal agreements with individual provinces.”
“I’m Canadian and just went through this process. You will need to do both the written theory test (which can be taken in English) and the practical test, which is in Spanish.”
“If you’re unable to renew the Dutch license, I’d suggest going to a driving school. They can guide you through the Spanish license process, and it might be more straightforward than dealing with an expired foreign license.”
Conclusion
From the responses, it seems that renewing an EU driving license would be the most effective route, provided you can work around the issue of residency.
Many members recommend contacting (in this case) Dutch authorities to request a certificate of authentication or exploring the possibility of using a local address for renewal.
If renewing your Dutch license is not an option, you may have to go through the full process of obtaining a Spanish license, including the written and practical exams. While this process can be time-consuming, it might ultimately save you from bureaucratic complications.
Be prepared for some challenges, especially regarding the language barrier in the practical exam.
Meta Description
Navigating the process of exchanging a foreign license for a Spain drivers license: insights from Canadian expats on renewing expired EU licenses and taking the Spanish driving test.
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
