Exchanging your driving licence in the Balearics

The rule depends entirely on your licence. EU and Irish licences stay valid in Spain while they are not expired, with an administrative exchange (the canje) and no test. British licences can be used for a maximum of 6 months from the day you become resident, then must be exchanged, still with no test, thanks to the UK-Spain agreement. US licences have no exchange agreement, so American residents must pass the full Spanish theory and practical exam. All of this runs through the Jefatura Provincial de Trafico de Illes Balears, in Palma.

When does the exchange become compulsory?

It comes down to your nationality, and getting the deadline wrong is the classic newcomer mistake.

• EU and Irish holders: your licence is valid until it expires. You just register it with the DGT, and an exchange only becomes necessary if your licence expires, is lost or stolen, or has an unusually long validity under Spanish rules. No test.
• British holders: you may drive on your UK photocard for a maximum of 6 months from becoming resident (from your empadronamiento or TIE, whichever comes first). After that window you must have exchanged it. The exchange is administrative, with no theory or practical test, under the reciprocal UK-Spain agreement in force since March 2023.
• US holders: there is no exchange agreement, so once resident you must pass the full Spanish theory and practical exam. A US licence is valid for short visits only (an International Driving Permit is recommended).

Where and how do you do the canje in the Balearics?

The competent office for the whole archipelago is the Jefatura Provincial de Trafico de Illes Balears, in Palma. You start online at sede.dgt.gob.es (the EU/EEA or UK exchange section) or by phone on 060; since 2026 a digital canje lets you open the file without a prior appointment, and you only travel in at the end to hand over your original licence and collect your provisional authorisation. Prepare:

• your original licence, valid;
• your NIE and your passport (see our NIE guide);
• proof of residency (the EU registration certificate for EU/Irish citizens, your TIE for British nationals);
• two recent passport photos;
• a medical fitness certificate from an authorised Spanish centre;
• payment of the fee (modelo 790, around 29 euros in 2026).

For an EU, Irish or British exchange, no test is required. Only US-licence holders, who have no agreement, sit the Spanish exam.

The medical certificate, a step not to skip

Before you file, you need a psychophysical fitness certificate from an authorised centro de reconocimiento de conductores. There are several centres in Palma, some right next to the Jefatura de Trafico; the choice is thinner in Ibiza and Menorca, so check locally. Expect a quick appointment (sight, reflexes, a few questions) for a few tens of euros.

How long does it take?

As soon as you file, you receive a provisional licence, valid for 6 months, that lets you drive legally in the meantime. The definitive licence then arrives, usually within about six weeks. If the online tracking (sede.dgt.gob.es) shows your document was handed to Correos more than two weeks ago without delivery, you can chase it directly. The advice you hear everywhere: start the process before your current licence expires, so you are never left without a valid document in between.

What about the categories?

A category B licence becomes a Spanish B. Motorcycle licences are exchanged for an A1 or A2 depending on the original engine size. Professional licences (lorry, coach) are exchanged for a C or D, sometimes with an additional test. For the vast majority of newcomers, who only hold an A or B, the exchange is a simple administrative formality (for EU, Irish and British holders) with nothing to retake behind the wheel. Once your licence is in order, our guide to driving in the Balearics covers the rest, from registration to local low-emission zones.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to exchange my licence when I arrive in the Balearics?

It depends on your nationality. EU and Irish holders can wait until their licence expires. British holders must exchange within 6 months of becoming resident. Americans must sit the Spanish test once resident.

Do I have to retake a test to exchange my licence?

Not for an EU, Irish or British exchange, whatever your category. Only US-licence holders, who have no reciprocal agreement, must pass the Spanish theory and practical exam.

Where do I file my exchange in the Balearics?

At the Jefatura Provincial de Trafico de Illes Balears in Palma, online at sede.dgt.gob.es or by phone on 060. It is the competent office for the whole archipelago.

Can I drive while my exchange is being processed?

Yes. As soon as you file, you receive a provisional licence valid for 6 months, while your definitive Spanish licence arrives (usually within about six weeks). Getting your visa and residency sorted first helps, as our visa guide explains.

Exchange windows and the list of countries with agreements are set by the DGT and can change; the UK exchange window is 6 months, not 2 years. Always confirm current rules at sede.dgt.gob.es before you act. Information verified in August 2026. The Daily Baleares is an AI-assisted publication with human review.