What is needed to renew the driver's license?

To renew the driver's license you have to go to a driver recognition center with your original ID or Passport. Once there, you can still choose between having all the paperwork done for you or paying only for the psychophysical fitness report and doing the rest of the paperwork yourself. However, we do not recommend the  second option, since there shouldn't be no price difference between both cases and thus save yourself a trip to the Provincial Traffic Headquarters.

All the procedures carried out by the center are done electronically with the DGT. For this, the only thing you should pay in addition to the psychophysical aptitude report is the traffic fee of 24,34 euros (price updated in 2021). You would have to pay this fee equally if you went to Traffic yourself. Even so, since both ways still exist, we detail the steps to follow below.

Steps to renew the card through the center

This is the most recommended option because it is more comfortable and easier, in addition to not involving any extra cost in theory. Make sure that the center you choose does not charge management fees. In the vast majority of the centers consulted by Actualidad Motor they did not charge anything, and only in a few did they apply a small rounding, according to them "for reasons of change."

Something you also have to keep in mind is that the price difference between one site and another can be very large. Take a few minutes to compare the prices of the different centers (below, in "How much does it cost to renew your driver's license?" you have some tips to save). Once chosen, the steps to follow are:

• Show up in the center directly or by appointment, with your Original ID or passport. If you are a foreigner, bring the documents indicated below in "What do you need to renew your driver's license?"
• There they will do the necessary tests of ability, vision, hearing, etc. for the psychophysical aptitude report. They will also take a photo of you and you must sign so that both things appear on your new card.
• Once finished, they will give you a provisional receipt that allows you to drive in Spain but not abroad, which is valid for ninety days. In one or two weeks you will receive your new driving license through the mail.

Steps to renew the card on your own

If for some special circumstance you want to take care of the paperwork yourself:

• You show up at the driver recognition center directly or by appointment, with your original ID or passport. They will give you a proof of having carried out the tests for the psychophysical aptitude report, but they will not give you the report since they send it electronically to the DGT.
• Go to a Provincial Traffic Headquarters, there you can get the renewal application form of your card to fill it out.
• Pay traffic fees of 24,34 euros (price updated in 2021).
• Present the DNI or Passport (originals not photocopies). If you are a foreigner, bring the necessary supporting document that we detail below in "What do you need to renew your driver's license?"
• Present a recent photograph in color with a plain background with the measures 32 x 26 mm. If you do not have the exact measurements, do not worry, they will cut it to fit it. You must appear in it from the front with nothing that covers your face, such as bangs that cover the eyes or sunglasses. This photo will be pasted on a photo heel that you will have to sign.

Data of interest: The Photo Check is an official frame in which the photo is pasted and signed by the interested party (in this case you). Once this is done, the official in charge scans it and sends it digitally to the Central Services of the General Directorate of Traffic. There they are responsible for integrating your photo, your signature and your data, and then send them to the National Currency and Stamp Factory, where the permit is made with the required anti-counterfeiting measures. After this your new driving license is sent to you by post.

Types of driving license and how often you have to renew them

El driving license B, the most frequent of all, is valid for 10 years up to 65 years. Beyond this age, the driver will have to renew the driver's license every 5 years. The same goes for motorcycle licenses: AM, A1, A2 and A.

the cards C1, C1 + E, C, C + E, D1, D1 + E, D and D + E they must be renewed every 5 years, as of the driver's 65th birthday, the validity period is 3 years.

What do you need to renew your driving license?

To renew your driving license in Spain you just have to have at hand:

the DNI. If you are a foreigner from the European Union: the residence permit or, failing that, the National Document or passport together with the Certificate of Registration in the Register of Community Foreigners. If you are a foreigner from outside the European Union: the Residence Authorization for non-EU foreigners.

If you carry out the procedures and not the reconnaissance center, a color photo of you with smooth bottom with the measures 32 x 26 mm.

How much does it cost to renew the driver's license?

To renew the card you will have to spend between 40 and 90 euros depending on the center where you are going to do the procedures, so it is always worth comparing prices. This cost includes the traffic fee of 24,34 euros (updated price in 2021), the cost of the psychophysical aptitude report.

Also note that in many places they make discounts for large families, unemployed or people with disabilities. Do not forget to ask about these discounts if you are in any of these circumstances.

Tip: Since 2010, psychophysical attitude reports have national validity (before they were only valid in their autonomous community). For this reason, if it is expensive to renew your card in your community, you can take advantage of a trip outside of it to save yourself good money.

Do I recover the lost points when renewing the driver's license?

When renewing the driver's license lost points are not recovered. To recover them you have two options:

Wait two years to recover points

Wait two years without committing any infraction that leads to the loss of points and you will recover all of them, which in normal conditions is 15. However, this is not always the case.

If you lost some of your points due to a very serious infraction, the period to recover them is extended to 3 years. A very serious offense is, for example, driving at more than 190 km/h on a 120-speed road.

Awareness and Road Reeducation Course

If for any reason you need to recover them earlier, you can get up to 6 points by receiving a 12-hour Road Awareness and Re-education Course.

You can enroll in one of these courses once every two years or every year if you are a professional driver. Since the latter depend on their driving license to earn a living.

How are the points on the card recovered?

If the problem is that you have lost all the points and you have lost your driver's license. You must take a 24-hour Road Awareness and Re-education Course. After 6 months without the license (3 months for professional drivers), you must request an appointment for a theoretical exam on the course received at a Provincial Traffic Headquarters. If you pass it, your driving license will be valid again with 8 points instead of the usual 15.

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