Driving in Mallorca as a resident: licences, imported cars and ITV
When you move to Mallorca, check your driving licence and your vehicle paperwork separately. The rules for a foreign licence depend on where it was issued and your residence status. The steps for a car with foreign plates depend on where it comes from and how it is being brought into Spain.
Check whether you can use or exchange your licence
Look up the issuing country in the DGT’s current guidance. EU and EEA licences generally follow a different route from licences issued elsewhere. For a licence from outside the EU or EEA, check the deadline for driving after becoming resident, whether there is an exchange agreement, and which dates and categories it covers. If an exchange is unavailable, ask what is needed to obtain a Spanish licence.
If you have a UK licence, read the current UK entry in the DGT’s exchange guide. Check what applies to you before driving while waiting for an appointment or decision.
Bringing a car to Mallorca
Check the DGT route for a vehicle from the EU or from outside it. Ask what you need for proof of ownership, original registration papers, technical conformity and a Spanish ITV technical card. Depending on the route, you may also need customs clearance, tax documents, registration and new plates. Confirm when you can legally drive the car and that the insurer will cover it.
What to do after a collision
If there are injuries or an immediate danger, get to safety if you can and call 112. Follow the operator’s instructions. If it is safe to do so, exchange driver, vehicle and insurer details and record the location and damage. Contact your insurer and ask about the accident report. Check the DGT’s current rules on carrying and using an approved connected V16 warning beacon.
Useful vocabulary in English, Spanish and Catalan
| English | Spanish | Catalan |
|---|---|---|
| Driving licence | permiso de conducir | permís de conduir |
| Licence exchange | canje de permiso | bescanvi del permís |
| Vehicle registration | matriculación | matriculació |
| Vehicle inspection | inspección técnica de vehículos | inspecció tècnica de vehicles |
| Accident report | parte de accidente | comunicat d’accident |
| Warning beacon | baliza de emergencia | balisa d’emergència |
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive indefinitely on my foreign licence after moving?
Check the DGT guidance for the country that issued it and the rules that apply to your residence status. Some licences have a time limit for use after you become resident.
What is ITV?
ITV is Spain’s technical vehicle inspection. Ask which inspection and documents apply to your vehicle, especially if you are importing it.
Do I need to register a car that still has foreign plates?
Check the DGT route before using it as a resident. The requirements can depend on where the vehicle comes from, who owns it and how it entered Spain.
Listen to the Majorca Mallorca Podcast
- Becky Bellafont Evans on Spanish paperwork and driving licences
- Becky from Mallorca Solutions on UK driving licences, in our episode with Martyn Staley
Official information
- DGT guide to exchanging foreign driving licences
- DGT guide to importing a vehicle from outside the EU
- DGT guide to registering a vehicle from the EU
- DGT guidance on connected V16 warning beacons
Related guides
- NIE, TIE and residency in Mallorca
- How to register on the padrón in Mallorca
- Spanish visas and residency for a move to Mallorca
This post may contain affiliate links that help support Majorca Mallorca in creating content like this. If you make a purchase using one of these links, Majorca Mallorca may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Read our disclosure for more information.