How Long Is My EU Driving Licence Valid?
Good news first: your EU driving licence — whether from Germany, Austria, Switzerland (with bilateral agreement) or any other EU country — is fundamentally valid in the Canary Islands. You can drive, rent cars and show it at police checkpoints.
The clock starts with your official residency. From the day you register as a resident in Gran Canaria, a two-year window begins. During those two years you may drive unrestricted with your EU licence. After that, exchanging it for a Spanish licence is mandatory.
The legal basis is EU Directive 2006/126/EC, implemented in Spain through Real Decreto 818/2009. The DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) enforces this rule.
Special case — unlimited German licences: If your German licence was issued before 19 January 2013 and has no expiry date, the two-year rule applies particularly strictly. These unlimited licences must be exchanged after two years of residency.
Special case — limited licences: If your licence was issued after 19 January 2013, it already has a 15-year validity. In that case you only need to exchange it upon expiry — unless the two-year residency deadline comes first.
In practice: At traffic stops in southern Gran Canaria, officers don't always ask about residency status. But in the event of an accident, an insurance claim or when registering a car in your name, the DGT will check. An un-exchanged licence then becomes a problem.
Exchanging Your Licence: Step by Step
The exchange is officially called «Canje de permiso de conducción» and is handled by the DGT in Las Palmas.
What you need:
- Valid ID card or passport
- NIE number (Número de Identificación de Extranjero)
- Your original driving licence plus a copy
- A recent passport photo (32 × 26 mm, white background)
- Certificate of the passed Psicotécnico (medical fitness test)
- Completed DGT application form
- Payment of Tasa 2.3 (€28.87, as of 2026) — card only, no cash
Booking an appointment: You need a Cita Previa, bookable via sede.dgt.gob.es (location: Las Palmas-Gran Canaria) or by phone on 060. Book at least two weeks ahead — slots fill up quickly.
At the appointment: You present all documents. The officer checks them and initiates the exchange. Your original licence is confiscated and sent back via the DGT to your home country's authority. You receive a temporary document valid as a licence until the final Spanish licence arrives by post (4–8 weeks).
Total cost: approx. €60–80. The DGT fee is €28.87, the Psicotécnico €30–50, plus passport photos (approx. €5).
Validity of the new licence: 10 years for people under 65, 5 years from age 65. Renewal requires a new Psicotécnico.
The Medical Test (Psicotécnico)
For the licence exchange — and later for every renewal — you need the Psicotécnico. This test is conducted at an authorised Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores (CRC).
What is tested: Vision, hearing, general reaction ability, blood pressure, coordination. The test takes 15–20 minutes and is usually straightforward.
Where in Las Palmas: There are several CRCs in the city. Those near the DGT office are practical — such as Calle Luis Doreste Silva 62 or Avenida Mesa y López. That way you can do the Psicotécnico and DGT appointment on the same day.
Cost: €30–50. Some CRCs offer packages that include photos and DGT appointment booking.
Important: The test result is only valid for three months. Schedule it close to your DGT appointment. Glasses wearers should bring their corrective lenses.
Bringing Your Car: Import and Registration
Want to bring your car to Gran Canaria? It's possible, but bureaucratic. Here's the process.
In short: Ship car via ferry/carrier → pass ITV inspection → pay taxes → register at DGT → get Spanish plates and insurance → deregister at home.
Step 1: Transport. Most people use a car shipping company or drive onto the ferry (from Cádiz or Huelva). Transport costs: €500–1,500 depending on vehicle size and route.
Step 2: Prepare documents. You need your vehicle registration document (Part I), vehicle title (Part II), the EC Certificate of Conformity (COC) and your NIE. Get the COC from the manufacturer if you don't have it. Without a COC things become significantly more complicated.
Step 3: ITV (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos). This is the Spanish MOT. Book an appointment for «Inspección para matriculación» at the nearest ITV station. The vehicle is tested against Spanish standards. Anything not listed in the COC — towbar, tinted windows, modifications — can cause problems.
Step 4: Sort out taxes. Two taxes apply: the registration tax (Impuesto de Matriculación) at the tax office and the road tax (IVTM) at the municipality. The registration tax depends on CO2 emissions (0% to 14.75%).
Step 5: DGT appointment. With all documents, ITV result and tax receipts go to the DGT (Cita Previa, Matriculación Ordinaria). The DGT fee is €99.77 (as of 2026). You then receive the Spanish plates and the Permiso de Circulación.
Step 6: Plates and insurance. Get plates made at a plate shop (usually right next to the DGT, approx. €20–30). Before fitting the plates: take out Spanish car insurance. Your home insurance does not cover Spanish plates.
Step 7: Deregistration at home. In theory the DGT notifies your home country via EU channels. In practice this often doesn't work. Send the invalidated plates or proof of Spanish registration to your home registration office.
ITV — the Spanish MOT
The ITV (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) is the Spanish equivalent of the German TÜV or British MOT. Inspection intervals differ:
- New cars: first ITV after 4 years
- 4–10 years old: every 2 years
- Over 10 years old: annually
ITV stations in Gran Canaria are located in Las Palmas (Zona Industrial de Miller), Telde, Vecindario and Maspalomas. Book appointments online via each station's website.
Cost: €40–170 depending on vehicle type. Standard car inspection typically €40–60, import inspections (matriculación) €120–170.
Tip: ITV inspections for imported vehicles are stricter than regular ones. Make sure everything fitted to the vehicle is documented in the paperwork. Towbars and retrofitted xenon headlights are common fail reasons.
Taxes for Vehicle Registration
When registering an imported vehicle, two taxes apply:
1. Registration Tax (Impuesto de Matriculación / IEDMT)
This tax is based on your vehicle's CO2 emissions (field V.7 of your registration document):
- 0–120 g/km CO2: 0% (tax-free)
- 121–159 g/km CO2: 4.75%
- 160–199 g/km CO2: 9.75%
- Over 200 g/km CO2: 14.75%
The tax is calculated on the current market value of the vehicle (per the Spanish tax authority's tables, updated annually in the «Orden HAC»).
Exemption as household goods: If you import your car as household goods (Modelo 06 instead of Modelo 576), you may be exempt from the registration tax. Requirements: you lived abroad for at least 12 months before the move, the vehicle was registered in your name for at least 6 months, and you may not sell it for 12 months after import.
2. Road Tax (IVTM — Impuesto sobre Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica)
The municipal road tax is paid to your local council (Ayuntamiento). The amount varies by municipality and engine capacity/kW. Typical range for a mid-size car: €60–150/year.
Car Insurance in the Canary Islands
In Spain, third-party car insurance (Seguro Obligatorio / Responsabilidad Civil) is legally required. Without insurance you may not operate a vehicle on public roads — not even to drive to the ITV with Spanish plates.
Insurance types:
- Third-party basic (Terceros básico): Covers damage to others. From approx. €180–350/year.
- Third-party extended (Terceros ampliado): Also covers fire, theft, glass breakage. From approx. €250–500/year. Recommended for vehicles over 8 years old.
- Fully comprehensive with excess (Todo Riesgo con franquicia): Also covers own damage. From approx. €420–800/year.
- Fully comprehensive without excess (Todo Riesgo sin franquicia): Most comprehensive cover. From approx. €600–1,200/year.
No-claims bonus: Most Spanish insurers accept your home no-claims record if you provide proof from your previous insurer. This can significantly reduce the premium. Ask actively — it is not applied automatically.
Major insurers in the Canary Islands: Mapfre, Línea Directa, Liberty Seguros, Axa, Zurich. There are specialised brokers for expats offering English and German-speaking service.
Breakdown assistance (Asistencia en Carretera): Included in many policies. Basic tariffs only cover towing within 50 km. Fully comprehensive tariffs offer nationwide recovery, replacement vehicle and repatriation.
New 2026: V16 Warning Light Replaces Triangle
Since 1 January 2026, a new rule applies in Spain: the classic warning triangle has been abolished for Spanish-registered vehicles on motorways and dual carriageways. Instead, the V16 warning light is mandatory.
What is the V16? A small, orange flashing device that attaches magnetically to the car roof. It is visible from up to one kilometre away, emits a 360° light signal and transmits the vehicle's GPS location to the DGT 3.0 platform.
Why? The DGT found that many fatal accidents occur when drivers leave the vehicle to set up a warning triangle on the roadside. With the V16 you don't need to exit the car.
Who is affected? All vehicles with Spanish registration — including your re-registered car. Rental cars with Spanish plates must also carry a V16.
Cost: DGT-certified V16 lights cost €20–50. Make sure it has the DGT 3.0 certificate — lights without GPS module are no longer approved since 2026.
Fine: Driving without a V16 on a motorway or dual carriageway: €80–200.
For foreign-registered vehicles: The requirement does not apply. Visitors driving with foreign plates (e.g. tourists) may continue to use the warning triangle.
Buying a Car Locally Instead of Importing
For many new residents it's simpler to buy a car directly in Gran Canaria rather than importing one. The process involves considerably less bureaucracy.
From a dealer (Concesionario): The dealer typically handles the entire registration (Matriculación). You just need your NIE, proof of address and a Spanish bank account. Service fee: often included in the purchase price.
From a private seller: You need a purchase contract (Contrato de Compraventa), pay the transfer tax (ITP, Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales — currently 5.5% of market value in the Canary Islands) and register the vehicle at the DGT.
Prices: Used cars in the Canary Islands tend to be more expensive than on the mainland, as transport and demand push prices up. The main platforms for used car searches are Milanuncios.com, Coches.net and Wallapop.
Practical Tips
Fuel: Thanks to the REF (Régimen Económico y Fiscal), the Canary Islands have lower fuel prices than mainland Spain. Petrol is on average 10–15 cents cheaper per litre.
Speed limits: Urban areas 30–50 km/h, open roads 90 km/h, motorways (Autopista/Autovía) 120 km/h. On the GC-1 in the south 120 km/h applies, on connecting roads often 60–80 km/h.
Alcohol: 0.5‰ limit (0.3‰ for new drivers and professional drivers). Police carry out regular checks, especially at weekends and public holidays.
Parking: Blue zones (zona azul) are paid short-stay parking. Yellow markings = absolute no-parking. In the tourist areas of southern Gran Canaria parking is a perpetual issue — shopping centres generally offer free parking.
Speed cameras: Mobile and fixed speed cameras are common in Gran Canaria — especially on the GC-1 and GC-2. Fine for 20 km/h over the limit: €100.
Gestoría: If the paperwork is too much: a Gestoría (administrative service provider) can handle the licence exchange, car registration and tax declarations for you. Cost: €100–300 depending on complexity. There are several in Maspalomas and Las Palmas that offer English and German-speaking service.