Question
I am an American teaching in Spain. I am in Spain right now. I need to get an international driver’s license. Can I do this online? I have an Iowa license. Thanks.
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“You can drive on your USA license for a time and then you have to get a Spanish license, which is a difficult, expensive, and year-long process.”
“Record Go refused to rent a car to me in December because I didn’t have an international license.”
“Please also remember that you will still need a Spanish license after 6 months!!”
“It’s important that you get your Spanish license within 6 months. They really want to know whether you are tourist or live here and if you live here you should have your license here within 6 months.”
“You have to call number 060 and get an appointment in Tráfico which is the traffic department. Then you say you need an international driving license and they will have it in a month or so. And then you have to go there to pick it up. Good luck. It is a bit tedious.”
“DGT does not have International Driving Permits from other countries for use in Spain. I get an IDP at DGT every year to drive in the US with my Spanish driving permit.”
“The US and Spain DO NOT have a license exchange program. You have to take the class and test.”
“Yes, you can do it online. Here’s Spainguru’s recommended International Drivers License“
“There’s a little bad advice here… especially regarding the 6-month limit on the validity of your US-state-issued DL. Of course, you can keep driving, and it’s quite likely that a rental car agency is not going to check your residency status. If, however, something goes wrong… from a legal perspective, it will be as if you were driving with no license… which also means that any insurance is going to be invalid.”
“If you’ll be staying in Spain more than six months, you need to be studying for your Spanish driving test right now.”
“Keep in mind it is not a license. It’s just a translation of your US license. Google. There is a company that can do it online as I recall. AAA in the US requires you do it there but I’ve seen one or two others that can help here.”
“Spain doesn’t accept US driver’s licenses after 6 months. You will eventually have to pay to go to driving school, separately get a vision examination, wait, take a ridiculous test with lots of trick questions, wait, and do a driving test with a grumpy examiner. And then wait to receive your license.
If at all possible, I recommend keeping your US license valid. You can drive in the US with a Spanish license + Intl. Translation but it will cost you time and money each time you apply, and is only valid for one year.”
Conclusion
While some agencies may require the international drinving license to rent a car, others don’t, and enforcement in Spain varies. However, after six months of residency, Spain requires residents to hold a Spanish driving license, as the country does not have a license exchange agreement with the US.
Attempting to continue driving without a proper license after this grace period could invalidate your insurance. While it is possible to apply for the IDP online from abroad, it’s not a replacement for getting a Spanish license if you’re living in Spain long-term.
