Do I Need an International Driving Permit in Spain?Rule for all foreign drivers
Visitors may drive on a valid foreign licence. If it is not in Spanish or does not follow the UN convention format, carry an IDP or an official Spanish translation. Licences in a non-Latin script always need one.
- Licence alone is enough if: in Spanish or in the UN convention format
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
Source: Expat Focus summary of DGT rules (secondary source), checked 10 November 2026. Based on Expat Focus summary of DGT rules. Confirm with the official authority before you travel.
Rule for all foreign drivers
Visitors may drive on a valid foreign licence. If it is not in Spanish or does not follow the UN convention format, carry an IDP or an official Spanish translation. Licences in a non-Latin script always need one.
- Licence alone is enough if: in Spanish or in the UN convention format
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
Source: Expat Focus summary of DGT rules (secondary source), checked 10 November 2026. Based on Expat Focus summary of DGT rules. Confirm with the official authority before you travel.
Rules for all foreign drivers in Spain
Visitors may drive on a valid foreign licence. If it is not in Spanish or does not follow the UN convention format, carry an IDP or an official Spanish translation. Licences in a non-Latin script always need one.
- Licence alone is enough if: in Spanish or in the UN convention format
- Otherwise you need: An IDP or an official translation
- How long a visitor can drive: While a visitor; new residents 6 months
Source: Expat Focus summary of DGT rules (secondary source), checked 10 November 2026.
Based on Expat Focus summary of DGT rules. Confirm with the official authority before you travel.
Which IDP version Spain accepts
Spain is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, not the 1968 Vienna Convention, so it recognises the 1949 IDP.
| Convention | Status |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | Party (acceded 13 February 1958) |
| 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Signed on 8 November 1968, not ratified |
Source: United Nations Treaty Collection.
Getting the right IDP for Spain
Ask for the 1949 IDP. In the UK: PayPoint stores (choose the 1949 IDP). In the US: AAA. In Canada: CAA. Elsewhere: your national automobile club or licensing authority.
What the UK, US and Canadian governments tell their citizens
No IDP needed with a UK photocard licence or an EU/EEA licence. US and Canadian licence holders need an IDP.
UK licence holdersUK licence accepted, no IDP needed.With a photocard licence.Source: UK FCDO, updated 28 October 2026
US licence holdersIDP required.The IDP is valid for 1 year; also needed to rent a car.Source: US Department of State, updated 31 July 2026
Canadian licence holdersIDP required.You need your Canadian licence plus an IDP, for up to 6 months.Source: Government of Canada, updated 3 November 2026- EU/EEA licence holdersEU/EEA licence accepted, no IDP needed.Source: Your Europe (European Union), Directive 2006/126/EC
What the governments say
Short quotes from each government's travel advice for its own citizens. The wording is theirs.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Spain. … Provisional licences are not valid for driving in Spain.
Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Spain, updated 28 October 2026. Quoted as published.
US Department of State
You must obtain an International Driving Permit prior to your arrival if you plan to drive in Spain. The permits are only valid for 1 year. … You must have an International Driving Permit to rent a car.
Source: US Department of State travel advice for Spain, updated 31 July 2026. Quoted as published.
Government of Canada
You can drive in Spain with your valid Canadian driver’s licence and an international driving permit for up to 6 months. For stays longer than 6 months, you must obtain a local driver’s licence.
Source: Government of Canada travel advice for Spain, updated 3 November 2026. Quoted as published.
Questions
Can I drive in Spain with a foreign licence?
Visitors may drive on a valid foreign licence. If it is not in Spanish or does not follow the UN convention format, carry an IDP or an official Spanish translation. Licences in a non-Latin script always need one. Based on Expat Focus summary of DGT rules. Confirm with the official authority before you travel.
How long can a visitor drive in Spain?
While a visitor; new residents 6 months. Source: Expat Focus summary of DGT rules.
Can I drive in Spain with a 1968 IDP?
No. Spain is not a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, so a 1968 IDP is not valid here. Spain recognises the 1949 IDP.
Can I drive in Spain with a 1949 IDP?
Yes. Spain is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention (acceded 13 February 1958), so a 1949 IDP is recognised. Carry it together with your national driving licence.
Do UK licence holders need an IDP in Spain?
No. A UK photocard driving licence is accepted in Spain. Source: UK FCDO, updated 28 October 2026.
Do US licence holders need an IDP in Spain?
Yes. The IDP is valid for 1 year; also needed to rent a car. Source: US Department of State, updated 31 July 2026.
Do Canadian licence holders need an IDP in Spain?
Yes. You need your Canadian licence plus an IDP, for up to 6 months. Source: Government of Canada, updated 3 November 2026.
Do EU licence holders need an IDP in Spain?
No. An EU/EEA driving licence is recognised in Spain. Source: Your Europe (European Union), Directive 2006/126/EC.
How long can I drive in Spain with an IDP?
US Department of State (updated 31 July 2026): “The permits are only valid for 1 year.” Government of Canada (updated 3 November 2026): “You can drive in Spain with your valid Canadian driver’s licence and an international driving permit for up to 6 months. For stays longer than 6 months, you must obtain a local driver’s licence.”
About International Driving Permits
What is an International Driving Permit?
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is an official translation of your national driving licence, set out in a standard format agreed under United Nations road traffic conventions.
An IDP is not a licence on its own. It is valid only when carried together with your valid national driving licence. During a traffic stop, you must show both documents.
An IDP helps because it allows police, car rental companies and insurers abroad to read and understand your licence details, even where the language differs from their own.
You can only obtain an IDP from the country that issued your driving licence, and you must do this before you travel. It cannot be obtained or renewed once you are abroad.
Whether you need an IDP depends on your destination, where your licence was issued and sometimes how long you plan to stay. The answer for this country is at the top of this page.
1949 or 1968 IDP: which one do you need?
There are two main IDP formats, based on two UN road traffic conventions: the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention. An older format, based on the 1926 Paris Convention, is still required in a few countries.
The 1949 IDP is valid for 1 year from the date of issue. The 1968 IDP is valid for up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first.
Your destination decides which format it accepts, based on the convention or conventions it has joined. Some countries are party to both the 1949 and 1968 conventions.
If you are visiting several countries on one trip, you may need more than one IDP, depending on which conventions each country has joined.
| Format | Based on | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 IDP | 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic | 1 year from date of issue |
| 1968 IDP | 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic | Up to 3 years, or until your national licence expires, whichever comes first |
| 1926 IDP | 1926 Paris Convention | Required in a few countries only |
The page for each country shows which convention it has joined.
Related
- International Driving Permit: all countries
- Do I need an IDP in Portugal?
- Do I need an IDP in France?
- Do I need an IDP in Andorra?
- Do I need an IDP in Morocco?
- How to get citizenship of Spain
Sources and methodology
- Expat Focus summary of DGT rules: rules for foreign drivers in Spain (secondary source), checked 10 November 2026.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Spain. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US Department of State: travel advice for Spain. US Department of State: public domain (US Government work).
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Spain. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
- Your Europe (European Union): recognition of driving licences, Directive 2006/126/EC.
- United Nations Treaty Collection: status of the 1949 and 1968 road traffic conventions.
The licence statuses above were checked by hand against the government text on 9 November 2026. Government advice changes often: confirm the current rules with the official source before you travel.
Last checked 9 November 2026.