The answer varies depending on which country you are going to. If you are in a usa number list European Union country, you only need a valid Spanish driving license . In 2013, the European Single Permit came into force . This is a document that authorizes any citizen belonging to the European Union or the European Economic Area (Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) to drive. You do not need to complete any paperwork or exchange documents. All that is required is that your driving license is valid in the country of issue.
Now you might be thinking about the UK. What happens in this case? After Brexit, the British government itself stated that visitors from both the European Union and the European Economic Area can travel around the UK with a non-UK driving licence.
In these cases, your driving licence is sufficient, but if you want to travel to countries other than those mentioned above, you must apply for an international driving permit. This is a simple procedure that is carried out at the General Directorate of Traffic . It is a permit to drive temporarily in countries that are not part of the European Union and that have not adopted the model of permit provided for in the Geneva Conventions.
This is an international travel document , established by the Geneva International Convention of 19 September 1949. It is valid for 12 months. This permit ensures that the authorities of the foreign country understand your national driving license.
The entity issuing the international permit, in the case of Spain the General Directorate of Traffic, certifies that the citizen is the holder of a valid driving license in his/her country of residence. This document also indicates which category or categories of motor vehicles he/she is authorized to drive.
How to get an international driving permit
As we have mentioned, this permit is requested through Traffic . It is necessary to make sure that the country you are going to has signed the international Geneva Convention, since if it has not signed it, this international driving permit is not valid.
As it is a temporary permit, when it expires, it must be renewed. It is a complementary document to your driving license, so it is necessary to carry both a passport and a valid national license.
This permit can be obtained either in person or online. If you go in person, you must go to the Traffic Office, requesting an appointment. Regardless of how it was requested or processed, once it has been issued, you must physically go to the Traffic Office to collect it and pay a fee of 10.40 euros.