The differences between getting your driving licence in Spain and the US

If you’re moving to Spain from the United States it’s likely that you will need to resit your driving test in order to get a valid driving licence here.

You will only be allowed to drive in Spain for a maximum of six months before you need to get a Spanish licence.

The six-month grace period starts from the time you register for residency. As the US has no special agreement you will have to resit both your theory and practical in Spain if you want to continue driving in Spain after the initial six months is up.

But there are a number of considerable differences between getting your licence in Spain compared to the US that Americans should know before re-sitting your test.

READ ALSO: Can I exchange my foreign driving licence for a Spanish one?

The cost

Sitting your driving test in the US costs an average of $10 to $50 depending on what state you live in and then licence fee ranges from around $10 to $89. Across the US, the average cost for a comprehensive driving education is $937, which includes both the lessons and tests.

In Spain, the fee for sitting your exam costs between €20 and €60. Then there’s a fee to be paid to the General Directorate of Traffic which is €94.05 and on top of that the licence fee is €44.85.

According to Spanish consumer watchdog OCU, the total average cost to learn how to drive in Spain is between €670 and €1,500, with almost all of the money going to lessons. Obviously this is a very big price difference, but it's fair to say that anyone who's learning to drive for the first time in Spain will easily spend over €1,000 even if they pass on the first attempt.

Therefore, it's fair to say that getting your driving licence in the US can work out to be cheaper than in Spain.

In Spain everyone goes for lessons at a driving school

In Spain, everyone attends a driving school for lessons from a professional driving instructor, whereas in the US parents or other trusted adults help out with the learning process a lot more (in some US states you will also have to hire the services of a professional).

In fact, it's illegal to get behind the wheel of a vehicle in Spain if you don't have a licence, even if you're sat next to someone assisting you who does have a driving licence.

This means that learning to drive in the US can be a lot cheaper as you may not have to fork out so much money for lessons.

Even if you're a seasoned driver, it's advisable to get lessons because examiners in Spain can be sticklers for details and expect that you carry out certain manoeuvres in 'their' official way. You'll only be able to get such knowledge through the prácticas that driving schools offer.

EXPLAINED: My tips for getting your Spanish licence when you already know how to drive

In Spain you may have to learn to drive a manual car

In Spain, you’ll most likely have to learn how to drive a manual car, or stick shift as it’s known in the US.

It’s very rare to take a test on a stick shift in the States, but in Spain you’ll find that the majority of vehicles are like this, particularly at driving schools. If you take your exam in an automatic car in Spain, however, you will only be licenced to drive that particular type of car.

The driving test

Generally the practical driving test in the US is considered a lot easier than Spain and therefore more straightforward to pass. However, you'll still tested on aspects like driving up to an intersection, reversing, three-point turns, left- and right-hand turns; and changing lanes. Some States may also test your ability to drive on a highway or freeway and you may also be asked to parallel park.

In Spain you will be tested on all of this, as well as some more complicated manoeuvres. You will also be tested on the basic mechanics and operation of the vehicle. The theory test in the United States also tends to be more general and based on common sense, while in Spain, there are a lot more technical questions.

In Spain you can sit your theory and practical in English

In Spain, you can sit your driving theory exam in either Spanish, English, Catalan, Galician, Euskera, French or German.

Many driving schools in Spain can help you prepare for your theoretical driving test in English, offering you English instructors and practice exams. Be aware though that many English-speaking foreigners have pointed out that some of the questions in the exam seem to have been poorly translated and can be hard to understand.

Unfortunately, the practical part has to be done in Spanish. Even though your practical driving lessons can be in English, the actual practical test is always with a Spanish-speaking examiner sitting behind you. Therefore, you’ll need some knowledge of Spanish, least to understand the words and phrases you’ll need during your test.

As for in the United States, there is conflicting information about whether driving examinations can be carried out in other languages, but the general consensus seems to be that it depends on the state.

You can learn to drive when you’re younger in the US

In Spain you can drive a car from 18 years old, while in the US it can be as young as 16, depending on what state you live in.

It is possible to drive a vehicle in Spain without a full licence from the age of 15, but this is for a special type of vehicle called a microcar.