Renewing your spanish driving licence at 70 and over

[jimny1]

I was just reading in the Euro weekly that the spanish driving licence renewal is now a lot tougher for 70s and over
There are more assessments now to ensure you are capable of driving
Heres a little info
Has anyone been for a renewal at 70 or older and had any problems ?
Also is the medical and assessment in spanish so you need a translator ?
TIA


Renewal Frequency:

Ages 65 to 70: Licence renewal is required every 5 years.
Ages 70 and above: Licence renewal is required every 2 years.​
Medical Examination:
All drivers must undergo a ‘psychophysical aptitude test’ at an authorised Driver Recognition Centre (Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores). This emam includes eyesight, hearing, coordination, and overall health assessments. ​

Required Documents:
Valid Passport or NIE.
Current Driving Licence.
Recent Passport-sized Photograph (32x26mm).
Medical Certificate from the authorised centre.
Proof of Address (Padrón certificate) if your address has changed.​
Spanish License Renewal Fees for Over-65s:
Standard Renewal Fee: €24.58.
Medical Examination: Typically between €35 and €80, depending on the centre.
Exemptions: If you’re 70 and above you’re exempt from the DGT renewal fee but must still pay for the medical examination. ​

License Renewal Process:
Visit an authorised Driver Recognition Centre for the medical examination.

Complete the renewal process at the centre, including photograph and signature.

Receive a temporary licence valid within Spain.

The official licence will be mailed to your address within approximately 1.5 months. ​

Things to bear in mind:
The medical certificate is valid for 90 days.
You can renew your licence up to 3 months before it expires.
If your licence has expired, you can still renew it, but you cannot drive until the renewal is processed.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please refer to the official DGT website.​

Crash course for the cautious
In a bid to soften the blow, the DGT has announced free road safety refresher courses for drivers aged 65 and over. These will focus on helping senior motorists prepare for the new tests and sharpen their on-road skills.

But not everyone’s convinced. Critics say the courses, while helpful, don’t address the deeper issue: a growing fear among older drivers that they’re being pushed off the road – even if they’ve never had a single accident.

So, is this really the beginning of the end for elderly drivers in Spain? Not quite, say officials – but there’s no denying that the bar has been raised.

With more rigorous testing now in place, drivers of a certain age may need to shift gears and start preparing for the next level of scrutiny.

https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/04/15/2 ... ical-test/

[Brandyboy]

My 73 year old wife recently renewed her driving licence in the clinic in Guardamar and all she needed was her TIE and spanish driving licence. The assessment is the same as it was when she was 70 and it was in English. The licence is for another three years.


I'll be going back to La Siesta Clinic again this year for my renewel at 80 years old. Here is a link that you may find useful J, but covers ALL licences, not just driving.

https://clinicalasiesta.com/other-servi ... minations/

[jimny1]

My 73 year old wife recently renewed her driving licence in the clinic in Guardamar and all she needed was her TIE and spanish driving licence. The assessment is the same as it was when she was 70 and it was in English. The licence is for another three years.


I'll be going back to La Siesta Clinic again this year for my renewel at 80 years old. Here is a link that you may find useful J ...

https://clinicalasiesta.com/other-servi ... minations/

Thanks for that B
The only difference i can see now is that you have to renew your licence every 2 years from 70 yrs of age and there are more tests to do than before
Mine expires december this year so i will be shopping around for a medical centre to go to for the assessment
I saw the one you are using and also some imed centres are testing too, i will give the one by the cinema in torrevieja a call as that's the closest for me and they have a car park , but it all depends on what they charge, hopefully nearer 35 euros than 80
cheers

[freddo]

The one in Catral is very good

[jimny1]

The one in Catral is very good

Thanks Fred, a bit far for me from blue lagoon

[Brandyboy]

Well my wifes licence was renewed for three years from the 25 February 2025 and she was 73, so I don't know where this every two years comes from or when it kicks in.

D L.jpg (847.34 KiB) Viewed 1368 times

[jimny1]

Well my wifes licence was renewed for three years from the 25 February 2025 and she was 73, so I don't know where this every two years comes from or when it kicks in.



D L.jpg

All i could find on google was this B

In 2025, the new driving license rules for 70 and overs in Spain are in force. These rules, which were initially planned to be phased in starting in 2023, require drivers aged 70 and older to renew their licenses every two years, according to Ibex Insurance. Drivers between 65 and 70 must renew their licenses every five years, according to Ibex Insurance.
I assume it will be sometime this year , i will definitely be affected as mine is due december
UPDATE, I just found this , they are saying it is not being considered yet https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/impo ... 25-nt.html

[Brandyboy]

Well my wifes licence was renewed for three years from the 25 February 2025 and she was 73, so I don't know where this every two years comes from or when it kicks in.



D L.jpg

All i could find on google was this B

In 2025, the new driving license rules for 70 and overs in Spain are in force. These rules, which were initially planned to be phased in starting in 2023, require drivers aged 70 and older to renew their licenses every two years, according to Ibex Insurance. Drivers between 65 and 70 must renew their licenses every five years, according to Ibex Insurance.
I assume it will be sometime this year , i will definitely be affected as mine is due december
UPDATE, I just found this , they are saying it is not being considered yet https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/impo ... 25-nt.html

Thanks J and that is up to date. When I renewed mine in 2020 I was given five years yet some of my friends including my wife only got three, but the following paragraph may explain it. I'm due in December.

The DGT also points out that the medical examination to be passed and the criteria to be assessed are the same for all ages. Nevertheless, it makes very clear the possibility that if during the medical examination an illness or impairment is detected that, while not preventing renewal for now, is likely to worsen, then the period of validity of the licence will be made shorter.

[jimny1]

Thanks for the extra info B

[Fixer Ed]

EWN are taking rubbish, as usual.

As the quote from DGT says the medical is the same for all ages and the validity of a licence for over 65's MAY be less than the maximum of 5 years if medically indicated.

I'm 75 and got 5 years at renewal just a couple of months ago.

I concur with freddo about Catral, well worth travelling if you get more years out of it so in fact could save you both time and money!