If you are coming from the UK, Ukraine or Poland, the first question is usually the same: is my driving licence enough to drive in Spain? The answer depends on where the licence was issued and on whether you are visiting or living in Spain.
Below we sum up what the Spanish rules and the UK government say, and what Family Car asks for when you rent a car. This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the linked sources before your trip.
The rule for visitors from outside the EU and EEA
In Spain, the rules on foreign licences are set by article 21 of the General Drivers Regulation. A licence from a country outside the EU and the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) is valid for driving in Spain if it is in force and you are old enough for the equivalent Spanish licence. If you do not live in Spain, it is valid for up to six months from your lawful entry into Spain. If you live in Spain, the six months run from the date you took up normal residence, not from each entry.
You can drive on it if one of these also applies:
- your licence follows the model of the Geneva (1949) or Vienna (1968) road traffic conventions;
- your licence is in Spanish or comes with an official translation;
- you carry a valid international driving permit (IDP) issued under one of the conventions named in the regulation, together with your national licence;
- your licence is recognised by an agreement between Spain and the country that issued it.
For licences from outside the EU and EEA, the DGT, the Spanish traffic authority, recommends getting an international driving permit before the trip. The IDP does not replace your licence: carry it together with your passport and your national licence.
With a UK licence
Spain and the UK have an agreement on driving licences, applied since March 2023. Under it, the holder of a valid UK licence who is old enough can drive temporarily in Spain without an international driving permit or an official translation. How long is set by Spanish law: for a visitor, up to six months from lawful entry. The agreement covers any valid UK licence and does not distinguish between a photocard and a paper licence.
The UK government’s IDP checker also says you do not need an IDP for Spain. Its guidance on driving in the EU adds that with a paper licence, or a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, you might need one in some other EU countries, so this matters if you plan to drive beyond Spain. A rental company can set its own document requirements, so if you have a paper licence, mention it when you book.
If you move to Spain, the UK government’s guide to living in Spain explains that you can drive on a UK licence for up to six months, and then you must exchange it for a Spanish one. Under Spanish rules, these six months run from the date you take up normal residence.
With a Ukrainian licence
If you have temporary protection in Spain, the DGT’s note of 4 August 2025 says that valid Ukrainian licences are recognised for as long as your temporary protection lasts, and that no sworn translation or international driving permit is required. If you lose temporary protection, the licence is no longer valid for driving in Spain. The note also covers first licences issued in Ukraine, which are valid for two years: if such a licence expired after 31 December 2021, it stays valid while martial law lasts in Ukraine and for one year after it ends. If you want a Spanish licence, the DGT’s page on exchanging Ukrainian licences describes the procedure.
If you are coming on holiday without temporary protection, the general rules for licences from outside the EU and EEA apply, as described above, including the DGT’s recommendation to get an international driving permit before the trip.
With a Polish licence
A licence issued in an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway is valid for driving in Spain for as long as it is in force. On holiday you do not need an international driving permit or any extra paperwork.
If you move to Spain, your Polish licence stays valid while it is in force, and exchanging it is voluntary. A licence with no expiry date, or one valid for more than 15 years, has to be renewed in Spain once you have lived here for two years, according to the DGT’s page on EU licences.
What Family Car asks for
A rental company’s requirements can be stricter than the law. To rent a car from us, you need:
- A passport or ID card.
- A valid driving licence that allows you to drive in the EU, held for at least 1 year.
- Minimum age of 27.
Bring the original documents when you collect the car; we make copies.
A second driver is free, but they must be included in the rental agreement. You can add them at the start or at any time during the rental by sending scans of their passport or ID card and driving licence.
Our support works 24/7, so if something happens on the road, call us.
Our checklist for picking up and returning a rental car explains how the handover works, and our guide to tolls, low-emission zones and speed cameras covers the local road rules.
Before you travel
- Check that your licence is in force on every day of your rental. If you have a first Ukrainian licence that has expired, see the DGT exception above.
- If you have a licence from outside the EU and EEA, check whether you need an international driving permit, and get it before the trip.
- Pack your passport or ID card and the original licence.
- Choose a car in our fleet and send your dates through the booking form. If you have questions about the documents, see our FAQ.
Sources
Checked on 12 October 2026:
- Royal Decree 818/2009, General Drivers Regulation, article 21 (BOE, consolidated text).
- Spain–UK agreement on the recognition and exchange of driving licences (BOE, 30 March 2023).
- DGT: driving with a foreign licence, licences valid in Spain, EU licences, note on Ukrainian licences of 4 August 2025 and exchange of Ukrainian licences.
- UK government: IDP checker, driving in the EU and living in Spain.
- Family Car terms: the FAQ on our homepage.
