Residents » Certificates & Licences » Driving Licence

You must be 18 years old to drive a car or motorcycle, and 16 to drive a scooter or moped. Depending on your country of origin, and any reciprocal agreements with Spain, you may or may not have to change your driver's licence. Licences from most of the western world can be exchanged for a Spanish one, but in other cases, you'll have to start from scratch and take both a theory and practical exam.

You must have your license, vehicle registration and motor insurance certificate with you at all times while operating a car or motorcycle, or risk being fined. Spot checks of licences tend to coincide with roadblocks looking for drunk drivers.

In Barcelona, all driver licences and applications are handled by the Dirección General de Tráfico office (Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes, 184 / www.dgt.es / 93 298 65 39).