What is the canje de permiso de conducir?
The exchange of a foreign driving licence for a Spanish one at the DGT. UK licence holders resident in Spain can exchange without a driving test under the UK–Spain agreement.
Permiso de conducir
Sworn Driving Licence Translation into Spanish
Driving licences and driving records translated into Spanish and signed by a traductor jurado, for when the DGT, an insurer or an employer in Spain asks for one.
A sworn driving licence translation into Spanish is a traducción jurada of your licence or driving record, signed by a traductor jurado appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Before you order one, the useful news: if you're exchanging a UK photocard licence at the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico), its published checklist doesn't list a translation.
Translations matter more for non-EU licences that aren't written in Spanish, for driving records and for insurers or employers who ask. We translate those at £48.00 per page within 2 working days. Moving to Spain also usually means translating bank statements and a police certificate for the visa itself.
Price, delivery and where it’s accepted
Spain
Sworn translation into Spanish
- Price
- £48.00 per page
- Same-day rush
- Not available — a translator reviews and signs every page
- Delivery
- Up to 2 working days
- Translated into
- Spanish
- Signed by
- A sworn translator
- Revisions
- 2 free revisions per document
Do I need to translate my UK driving licence to exchange it in Spain?
Not according to the DGT's current checklist for UK licences. To exchange (canjear) a UK licence, the DGT asks for ID, proof of residence, the licence itself, a medical aptitude report and a DVLA check code, but not a translation. Check the DGT's page before you book, as requirements can change.
Under the UK–Spain agreement, in effect since March 2023, UK licence holders living in Spain can exchange their licence for a Spanish one without a theory or practical test. The DVLA check code lets the DGT verify your entitlement directly, which is the administrative equivalent of reading the original instead of a translation. Applicants also need a psychophysical aptitude report (informe de aptitud psicofísica) from an authorised driver medical centre (Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores).
If an official at your appointment asks for a translation anyway, ask exactly what they need and in what form, then send us that.
How long can I drive in Spain on a UK licence after becoming resident?
Six months. The DGT says UK licence holders have 6 months from acquiring normal residence in Spain to exchange their licence, after which they must exchange it to keep driving. A licence obtained after you became resident in Spain can't be exchanged.
The clock starts when you become resident, so plan the exchange alongside your TIE appointment rather than after a few relaxed months behind the wheel. The DGT also asks applicants to show they weren't resident in Spain when the UK licence was issued, which is how it enforces that last rule. The details are on the DGT's own page for UK licence exchanges; check it, or ask the DGT, if your situation is unusual.
When do I need a sworn translation of a driving licence in Spain?
Mainly when a licence issued outside the EU isn't written in Spanish. Spain's driver regulations accept such licences when they're in Spanish, accompanied by an official translation or backed by an international driving permit, and a sworn translation counts as an official translation.
Plenty of people moving from the UK hold a licence from somewhere else entirely: an Australian, American or Indian licence held by someone relocating from London to Madrid, say. Whether that licence can be exchanged in Spain depends on Spain's arrangements with the country that issued it, not with the UK, so check the DGT's list of exchangeable licences first.
- Driving in Spain on a non-EU licence that isn't in Spanish, where an official translation is one of the accepted options
- Exchanging a licence from another non-EU country, if the DGT asks for a translation
- A DVLA driving record or other driving history requested by a Spanish insurer or employer
- Court, insurance or claims matters involving a foreign licence
Do Spanish car insurers need a translated UK no-claims record?
Some do. Spanish insurers may take a UK no-claims discount into account if you provide proof from your UK insurer, and some ask for it in Spanish. Ask the insurer what it accepts before ordering a sworn translation.
A no-claims letter is usually a single page and one of the more rewarding things to translate: years of careful driving, turned into a lower premium (depending on the insurer). A DVLA driving record can support it. Neither is needed to exchange your licence; they're commercial documents, and the insurer sets the rules.
How much does a sworn driving licence translation into Spanish cost?
£48.00 per page, charged in pounds sterling, delivered within 2 working days. Upload both sides of a photocard licence and the quote form shows your total before you pay.
Every document includes a quality check, the traductor jurado's signature and 2 free revisions. Categories, restriction codes and dates are reproduced exactly as they appear on the licence. Upload clear images of both sides on the online quote form. If you're still at the visa stage, our tax return translation page covers the financial side of the file.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sworn Driving Licence Translation into Spanish
Does the DGT need a translation of my UK licence?
Its current checklist for UK licence exchanges doesn't list one. Check with the DGT before your appointment, as requirements can change.
What is the DVLA check code?
A code generated on the UK government's View your driving licence service that lets someone else check your licence details. The DGT asks for it when you exchange a UK licence.
Can I exchange a UK licence I got after moving to Spain?
No. According to the DGT, licences obtained after acquiring residence in Spain can't be exchanged.
Can I drive in Spain on a non-EU licence with a sworn translation?
Spain's driver regulations accept non-EU licences accompanied by an official translation, which includes a sworn translation, subject to the time limits that apply once you're resident. Check the DGT's guidance for your licence.
Do you translate driving records and no-claims letters?
Yes. DVLA driving records and insurers' no-claims letters are translated per page like any other document.
Who signs the translation?
A traductor-intérprete jurado appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.
How long does it take?
Up to 2 working days. There is no rush option for sworn Spanish translations.
Order your driving licence translation
Upload a photo or scan, see your price instantly and pay securely online.
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