Non-EU drivers license in the EU (ie. Spain)
I have a valid South African drivers license and will be travelling to Spain (and other EU countries), where I would be driving.
Will my South African license suffice? Would I need to get an international drivers license (if yes, is this a long process?)
Best Answer
For Spain, according to spain.info:
If you are the citizen of an EU member state, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein: you only require your valid driver’s license. If you are from another country you will require an International Driver’s License.
The IDP is just a translation of the license; the one I got had labels in French, Arabic and English; even though the actual license has labels in English as well. I was traveling to Malaysia and it turned out the IDP was unnecessary.
It is normally not a long process - these are offered by auto clubs. You have to supply your current license and a fee. Sometimes they may ask for another form of ID. I received mine in 15 minutes.
You may still be subject to additional rules and restrictions based on the local laws. For example, you may be entitled to drive a large vehicle but there may be an age restriction where you are visiting. Be mindful of these laws/variations as you are assuming complete liability when getting behind the wheel.
Given the above, from a practical standpoint I have had many friends (with non-EU, but digital licenses) that have rented cars and drive in Spain with out a IDP.
Since an IDP is so simple and relatively cheap to acquire (vs. a fine or worse in Spain), I would get it.
Pictures about "Non-EU drivers license in the EU (ie. Spain)"
Can you drive in Spain with foreign license?
If you're from outside the EEA you may drive in Spain using your existing foreign driver's license for up to six months after you have registered for residency in Spain. If your foreign license is not in Spanish, however, you must always carry an official translation or an International Driving Permit (IDP).Can I use an international driving licence in Spain after Brexit?
You will need an IDP to drive in Spain after Brexit if you have: a paper driving licence - green or pink version. a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.Which countries driving licence is valid in Spain?
The countries with which Spain has signed agreements for the exchange of permits are: Andorra, Algeria, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Croatia, Ecuador, Japan, Morocco, Peru, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Switzerland, Uruguay , Venezuela, Brazil, El Salvador, the Philippines, Guatemala, Serbia, ...Can you drive with a foreign license in Europe?
In most European Countries you will just need your passport and driver's license. But some require an International Drivers Permit . An International Drivers Permit (IDP) needs to be used with a valid United States license in order to be valid.How to Move to Spain? (EU and Non-EU Citizens Spain Residence Permit)
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: ArtHouse Studio, Wikimedia Commons, freestocks.org, Erik Mclean