In short: Spain and Morocco have a driving-licence exchange agreement (applied since 2004, in force since 2010; point 4 was amended in 2024 and dropped the theory test for C and D), so you can swap your Moroccan licence for a Spanish one without an exam for cars and motorbikes. You must be a resident and have a valid licence. You can drive on your Moroccan licence for only 6 months from when you acquire normal residence, so ask for the exchange as soon as you can.
In person or by representative? Mixed. You do the medical fitness report (informe de aptitud psicofísica) in person at a driver assessment centre (CRC). The application goes to the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico, and the regulation says it is signed by the applicant (art. 23.1 of the General Drivers Regulation). Even so, according to the DGT page for Morocco and other countries with prior verification, the exchange has two phases. First Morocco is asked to confirm that your licence is valid, and only the holder can request that verification. After that, the exchange application can be filed by the holder or by anyone authorised on their behalf, online (digital certificate or Cl@ve) or in person at a Traffic Office (Jefatura u Oficina de Tráfico) with an appointment. To authorise someone, you appoint them in the DGT register of powers of attorney (procedure “Canjes de permisos extranjeros”). If they go in person, the DGT form “Otorgamiento de representación” signed by you and stating that the representation is free of charge also works; when booking, both people's ID documents are given. To finish, the original Moroccan licence is handed in at the Jefatura.
The exchange applies to motorbike and car licences (A1, A, B) with no tests; truck or bus (C, C+E, D, D+E) need an on-road driving test, with no theory exam (point 4, amended in 2024: BOE-A-2024-5839). Your Moroccan licence is only valid to drive in Spain for 6 months from when you acquire normal residence; after that it is no longer valid for driving here and you need the exchange (art. 22.1) or the Spanish licence (art. 21.3) to keep driving (RD 818/2009). The 6 months is not a deadline for filing the application: you can ask for the exchange as soon as you acquire residence, without waiting for it to run out (art. 22.2), and the agreement with Morocco sets no deadline for applying for the exchange (its point 2 only defers to national law on how long you may drive on the foreign licence). Ask for it as soon as you can. What is common to all countries: driving in Spain with a foreign licence and exchanging a foreign driving licence. Documents (according to the DGT; confirm them on the electronic office): valid residence authorisation (TIE/NIE) or ID/passport; original, valid Moroccan licence (surrendered to the DGT); proof of your residence in Spain; proof that you were not resident in Spain when you obtained the licence; and a medical fitness report (psicofísico) from a CRC (valid 90 days). The fee without tests is tariff 2.3 (€28.87 in 2026 for A1/A/B, per the DGT list of countries with exchange agreements, checked 5 Oct 2026; confirm it on the electronic office) and with an on-road driving test, tariff 2.1 (€94.05; confirm it on the electronic office). If the DGT approves it, you get the Spanish licence: a provisional one first and then the final one (indicative timing; confirm it on the electronic office).
Steps:
- Gather the documents: valid residence, original Moroccan licence, proof of address in Spain and proof you didn't reside here when you got the licence.
- Pass the psicofísico at a driver assessment centre (CRC) (they also take your photo).
- Request the verification of your licence with Morocco: online on the DGT electronic office or, in person, through the exchange appointment, which starts it. Only the holder can request it, and according to the DGT the reply can take days or weeks.
- Once the verification is confirmed, file the exchange application (you or someone you authorise) at the DGT electronic office (or in person, according to the DGT) and pay the fee (tariff 2.3 without tests; 2.1 if there is a driving test).
- Surrender the original Moroccan licence; receive the provisional licence and, after the decision, the final one.
Official source: DGT: exchange of Moroccan licences and DGT: countries with exchange agreements. Informational only; check the official source and a professional for your specific case.
