Spanish Driving Licence Renewal: Fees, Medical Report and Steps

According to the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico), the Spanish B licence (permiso B) for cars is valid for 10 years while the holder is under 65. From age 65 the validity drops to 5 years. The period is set by the Reglamento General de Conductores (RGC), Royal Decree 818/2009, article 12.

The DGT also notes that validity can be shortened if a condition is found that could worsen over time, so a shorter period is possible even for a younger driver.

Tip: check the expiry date printed on the card well before it passes. The renewal process needs time for the medical report, the payment and the paperwork, so starting a few weeks early avoids a gap in your licence.

The renewal fee is tasa 4.3, which the DGT lists at 24,58 euros. The medical examination is a separate step at an authorised CRC, so budget for both. The fee is free for people over 70.

If your medical report is valid for a shorter period, the DGT applies a reduced tasa, depending on how long the report lasts. These are the reduced amounts the DGT lists:

The DGT page does not describe a separate fee for drivers aged 65 to 69, so check the current amount on the official site before you pay. Whichever route you choose, keep the payment receipt, because the application needs proof that the tasa was paid.

The medical report, called the informe de aptitud psicofísica, is the fitness certificate issued after a test at an authorised Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores (CRC). It confirms that you are fit to drive, and the renewal cannot go ahead without it.

According to the DGT, the report expires 90 días hábiles (90 working days) after the date it is issued. Because working days do not count weekends, the window is longer than 90 calendar days, but it is still a fixed deadline that you should track from the issue date printed on the report. If you wait too long between the medical and the application, you may need a new report.

Book the medical early and file the renewal soon after. If you are not sure whether your report is still in date, ask the CRC or check with the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico before you pay the fee.

Preparation makes the visit faster and avoids a second trip. The CRC will ask for proof of who you are, and the original document is required, not a photocopy. Bring the following:

• Your original valid ID, either a DNI or a passport
• Your current Spanish driving licence card, if you have it
• Your appointment confirmation, if the centre sent one
• Glasses or contact lenses, if you need them to drive
• The payment details, or the tasa number, if the centre asks for them

If you wear corrective lenses or take regular medication, mention it at the start of the visit so the examiner can record it properly. Rules for EU and non-EU foreign nationals on ID can differ, so confirm your documents with the centre before you go.

The DGT describes four routes: at a CRC, at a Jefatura or Oficina de Tráfico, from abroad, and online. The steps below cover the most common route, which is the one where you book the medical first and then file the application.

1. Book and attend the medical examination at an authorised CRC, and bring your valid ID (DNI or passport).
2. Get the informe de aptitud psicofísica issued and note its issue date, because it expires 90 working days later.
3. Pay tasa 4.3 (24,58 euros), unless you are over 70, and keep the payment receipt or tasa number.
4. Complete the official application form (Mod. 03), either at a Jefatura or Oficina de Tráfico or online.
5. Attach the medical report and the proof of payment to your application.
6. If you file online through the Registro Electrónico, use a DNI electrónico, a certificado electrónico or Cl@ve to sign in.
7. Keep the filing receipt, which is your proof that the application was submitted.
8. If you go in person to a Jefatura or Oficina de Tráfico, book an appointment (cita previa) online or by calling 060, and bring the same documents. A walk-in visit without a booking may not be accepted, so book early, especially in busy cities.

The DGT says that at a Jefatura you receive a provisional permit at the counter, and the definitive card arrives by post in about six weeks. If you renew through a CRC, the centre handles the paperwork and the new permit is sent to your home address.

Yes, but the route depends on where you live. If you are outside Spain, the DGT says you apply through the Spanish diplomatic or consular post in the country where you are. The new permit is then sent to you.

For this route the medical report must be issued by a doctor in that country, and the Spanish mission or consulate must certify it. The report must state that you are fit to drive. You also need a recent photo, the tasa number or payment receipt, and a photo sized 32 x 26 mm.

If your habitual residence is in another EU Member State, the DGT says you must renew in that state, not in Spain. The 185-day test for habitual residence comes from Directive 2006/126/EC, article 12. Because consular rules can change, check with your nearest Spanish consulate before you travel, and ask for the current list of documents.

If you plan to visit Spain while your renewal is pending, the permit that you carry matters. The DGT notes that the digital version on a phone is valid only inside Spain, and that abroad you need the physical document. Plan the renewal so that the new card arrives before you travel, if you can.

An expired licence (caducado) is one whose validity date has passed. Once a licence is expired, you should not drive on it until it is renewed. Driving on an expired licence is a traffic offence, and in the DGT's own magazine it is reported as a grave fine of 200 euros under article 12.4 of the RGC. Check the current amount and the article reference with the DGT before you rely on it, because the sources we checked do not agree on the detail.

This is different from losing your licence because you have lost all your points. According to the DGT magazine, driving after a licence has lost validity from a total loss of points can be a criminal offence under article 384 of the Código Penal. If you have a licence that has been withdrawn or annulled, get advice from the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico before you drive.

If your licence expired recently, the practical step is the same: get the medical report, pay tasa 4.3 and file the renewal as soon as you can.

If you need to drive before the renewal comes through, check the position with the DGT first. Do not assume that a receipt or a filing confirmation lets you drive, because the permit itself is what the traffic authorities check at the roadside. Being stopped with an expired licence can mean a fine even if you have already started the renewal.

Over 70 the renewal is free. The DGT states that for people over 70 the procedure is free of charge, which is why the tasa is waived. You still need the medical report, the application and the other documents.

Many drivers over 70 assume the renewal is also a fast, automatic process, but the medical check remains the central step, and the report still has to be issued before the application. The DGT's page does not state how often you must renew after age 70. Earlier guidance from secondary sources mentions shorter periods, but we could not confirm this on an official page, so check with the DGT or the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico before you plan the next renewal. If you are unsure which route suits you, the CRC route is often the simplest, because the centre handles the paperwork and posts the new permit to your home.

• A Spanish B licence is valid for 10 years until age 65, then for 5 years.
• You need a medical report from a Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores, which expires 90 working days after it is issued.
• The renewal fee is tasa 4.3 (24,58 €); renewal is free for drivers over 70.
• An expired licence does not authorise you to drive, so renew before the expiry date.