Driving licenses in Spain can be obtained by both citizens of the country and foreigners with a residence permit. Foreign citizens who have received their first residence are given six months to pass all exams and acquire a Spanish driving license. During these six months they are entitled to use their national driving license.<\/p>\n
Of course, you can go through the procedure for exchanging licenses, but it is not provided for all countries: Ukrainians, for example, are lucky and can exchange Ukrainian driving licenses for Spanish ones, and Russians, no matter how professional drivers they are, are required to pass theoretical and practical exams on a general basis.<\/p>\n
Of course, many of our compatriots, at their own peril and risk, continue to drive with a Russian license even after the expiration of the established six-month period. However, this is always fraught with fines and troubles with the traffic police.<\/p>\n
So, as soon as the coveted residence has been received, you can immediately begin studying for a driver\u2019s license in Spain. More precisely, you can start studying the theory earlier, but you will only be allowed to take the exam with the TIE resident card you received.<\/p>\n
The stages of training in Spain are the same for all driving schools and regions: first there is a theoretical block, and only after successfully passing the exam you will be allowed to practice. If the practice is passed, the driving school graduate receives a temporary license (while permanent ones are being prepared), and then plastic permanent ones, which must be renewed every 10 years.<\/p>\n
The theory for preparing for the driving license exam in Spain can be studied both in a driving school and on your own. Many driving schools provide training in foreign languages. In recent years, many schools with Russian-speaking teachers have appeared. We would like to emphasize right away that all teachers undergo preparatory courses at the Traffic Police Department, have the appropriate diplomas and accreditation. Therefore, if you have difficulties with the Spanish language, you can choose a driving school where teaching is conducted in Russian, and where they will explain the rules of the road to you in an accessible form, answer any questions, and prepare you for taking the test.<\/p>\n
By the way, the test will have to be taken in Spanish or English, so a Russian-language driving school is just a more convenient form of training and communication with a teacher, but it is currently impossible to take the exam in Russian.<\/span><\/p>\n With a Spanish language level of A2 and above, we recommend choosing teaching in Spanish: firstly, this is a good opportunity to improve your language, and secondly, to prepare for practical classes where you will have to listen and understand a Spanish-speaking instructor.<\/p>\n Self-preparation is not prohibited. To do this, there is a convenient website todotest.com, where you can prepare by topic, solve real tests included in the exam, and track your progress.<\/p>\n To be admitted to the driving license exam in Spain, you must pass a psychotechnical test and obtain a medical certificate. For this purpose, in every city there are specialist offices – Psicot\u00e9cnico. The cost of the service is about 30 \u20ac, the certificate is valid for 90 days.<\/p>\n In addition, you will need to pay a state fee of 93.12 \u20ac, which entitles you to three attempts at the first payment, and two attempts at each subsequent payment. If the theory exam is passed the first time, the remaining two attempts will progress to the practical exam. In case of double failure, the state fee will need to be paid again in full. This system is the same for everyone: both for those who study at a driving school and for those who have chosen to independently prepare for the theoretical exam.<\/p>\n Each driving school determines the cost of theoretical training independently. Prices in Spain are affordable, and schools take their responsibilities very seriously and prepare in such a way that most of their students successfully pass the theory on the first try. Some schools have computerized classrooms, which also makes the learning process more dynamic and intense. The topics themselves are taught in a cyclical mode, so you can join the flow of students at any time, as well as return to any topic.<\/p>\n The theoretical exam lasts 30 minutes, includes 30 questions and allows no more than 3 errors. The results become known the next day.<\/span><\/p>\n After successfully passing the theory test for a driving license in Spain, it\u2019s time for practice. Practical lessons can only be taken at a driving school: unlike many other countries, in Spain it is not allowed to practice with independent instructors (there are simply none), or with drivers who have a license of the appropriate category. Classes are taught only by driving school teachers.<\/p>\n The cost of a practical lesson (45 minutes) is determined at the municipal level, so prices in neighboring cities may vary. The average price remains at 27 euros. Usually paired lessons are taken, and in one day they practice driving around the city, driving on the highway, and also various types of parking.<\/p>\n The required number of lessons is calculated individually: as a rule, the teacher quite accurately determines the student\u2019s level of preparation and knows when to send him to the exam. The law establishes a mandatory minimum of 5 lessons that must be completed with an instructor. The more lessons, the better: examiners do not like to rush and are skeptical of those who have taken less than 10 lessons (even if it is clear to the naked eye that the driver being examined is an ace).<\/p>\n Passing a practical exam on the first try is not uncommon, although many people retake it after the second, fifth, or even tenth attempt. Sometimes changing a driving school helps, sometimes it\u2019s just luck with a more loyal and calm examiner, and sometimes good knowledge of the exam area (exams take place in certain urban areas with heavy traffic, a lot of signs, traffic lights, and pedestrian crossings).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The practical exam lasts approximately 30 minutes. You may be asked to drive around the city, on a highway, park, and demonstrate basic mechanical knowledge. Part of the trip is done independently – the examinee chooses the route himself, and part – according to the instructions of the examiner. No matter how well you drive, follow the school rules during the test: use the correct gears, use turn signals, come to a complete stop at stop and yield signs, avoid sudden braking, and watch out for pedestrians.<\/p>\n The official exam results are announced the next day, but often your personal instructors, also in the exam car, already know who passed and who failed the attempt. It is advisable to take additional lessons with each retake. After successfully passing the exam, you will need to acquire a special \u201cL\u201d sign, which is attached to the rear window. This is a novice badge that you will have to travel with for one year, observing a number of additional restrictions.<\/p>\n To obtain a driving license in Spain, category B, you must:<\/p>\nAdmission to the theoretical driving license test in Spain<\/h2>\n
Practical lessons with an instructor<\/h2>\n
\nNeither during practical classes nor during the exam is the presence Spanish translator<\/a> not allowed. That\u2019s why we recommend initially, even at the theory stage, to choose a Spanish-speaking teacher: you will come to practice, and then to the exam, already prepared and with the necessary vocabulary.<\/p>\nRequirements for obtaining a driving license in Spain<\/h2>\n