Hi everybody,

I´m an American who´s been living and working in Madrid for the past year and a half. I´m just now getting around to the driver´s license deal. I´m studying the book, etc. and have signed up for classes at my neighborhood auto escuela...but I just wanted to make sure that there were no shortcuts to this. Do I have any other options to get my license??? Does anybody have any tips on this?
I just sucks to have to go through this. I´ve been driving for 16 years and starting from scratch isn´t much fun. Getting home after a long day a work and busting open the driving manual isn´t one of my favorite activities.

Thanks in advance if anyone has any encouraging words on this.

Nope... study up!

Steve,

Check with the Consulate at the Embassy. I was in the Air Force stationed just outside of Madrid and was able to get a license in 1 day after taking a simple class and test. I know the military might have gotten some special treatment, but it's worth a try.

Good Luck!

Hit the books chief! And when you get your license, just forget everything you've learned and practiced and you'll be able to confidently drive like everyone else in Spain!!!

Along the same lines.... Someone sent me an email yesterday, an "American", saying he was ALREADY living in Madrid and wanted to know how he could get an "International Driver's License".

I wasn't sure and I told him so but mentioned that it might have been better to have gotten one from AAA (American Automobile Association) before going to Spain, which would be good for an entire year and maybe when/if he returned for a visit to the USA to get a new one for another year. I told him that the Spanish "officials" wouldn't likely accept his "state-of-whatever" drivers license as official since they wouldn't likely have ever seen one before and could have been false.

Can someone, a non EU, get an international drivers license in Spain??? Anyone know?

Saludos, MadridMan

Thanks for the reply guys. I guess you´re right, my only option is to study up. That sucks, but oh well...

I just hope that, when I go to take the official test, I don´t get too many of those questions dealing with the motorcycle with "sidecar" or the nuances of the "turismo" with "remolque" for God´s sake.

Un saludo,

Steve

Enjoy driving around with that green "L" on your car for awhile. Remember, we love you and the "L" doesn't stand for "loser".

That advice is better (not to mention less expensive) than going to Autoescuela and subsequently having to tote around one of those disgusting 'L's' on your car...Just in case it's not too late to get your money back.

I've been living and driving in Madrid for 4 years, mailing my International license renewal form to the AAA once a year. They mail the license to my parents and my parents in turn send it to me. Just keep your individual stateside license up to date and you'll be ok with that plan.

As is common in Spain, I've been stopped for site checks by the Guardia Civil 3 times since I've been here and they've never given me a problem with it...Food for thought.

The wiser route indeed... but do you own a car or have you bought one and with insurance?

Hey Asterault...It's at this point that I should probably say DUH!!! :o

You're absolutely right. In my case, I'm married to a local and my 'suegros' are in the transportation business, so we benefit from their insurance contacts. It's obviously something, as you can tell by my 'despiste,' that I take for granted.

You tell me, Is there a way that you know of to independently take out an insurance policy if you're driving on an international permit? I'd have to think that it would be possible, but it very well may cost quite a bit more.... I'd be interested to hear if someone's done it...