In short: to exchange a Peruvian driving licence in Spain you use a bilateral agreement: an exchange of notes dated 22 December 2003, in force since 3 September 2004. If your Peruvian class matches a car or motorbike, you swap it for the Spanish one without an exam. For lorry and bus classes the agreement requires a driving test in open traffic. Your Peruvian licence is valid in Spain for 6 months at most from when you gain normal residence: ask for the exchange as soon as you can, because after the 6 months the licence is not valid for driving here; the exchange can also be requested later.
In person or by representative? Mixed. You do the medical fitness report (psicofísico) in person at a driver assessment centre (CRC). The agreement says nothing about representatives, and the General Drivers Regulation says the application is signed by the applicant and addressed to a Provincial Traffic Office (art. 23.1). Even so, according to the DGT page for Argentina, Peru and Uruguay, it can be filed by the holder or by anyone authorised on their behalf. It is filed online (digital certificate or Cl@ve) or in person at a Traffic Office (Jefatura u Oficina de Tráfico) with an appointment (060 or the electronic office). 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. If the application goes online, at the end the original Peruvian licence is handed in at the chosen Jefatura, where the provisional licence is collected.
Which classes are swapped without an exam and which need a test. The agreement includes a table matching Peruvian classes (AI, AII, AIII, BI and BII) with Spanish ones. Group 1, no theory or practical tests:
- B matches AI.
- A1 and A match BII.
- B+E matches AIII.
AIII gives B+E without tests, but for its equivalents C+E, D1+E and D+E the driving test is required.
Group 2 (professional), with a driving test in open traffic, in a vehicle of the kind your licence allows:
- C1 matches AII; C1+E, C+E, D1+E and D+E match AIII.
- C, D1 and D match AII or AIII.
Class BI has no equivalent. The text mentions no theory exam for group 2: the only exception it sets is the driving test.
When. The agreement allows the exchange once you have acquired residence in Spain or have started the process to acquire it. The Spanish Regulation speaks of residence already acquired (art. 22.2) and the agreement does not say which documents prove the process has started: confirm with the DGT. For driving in the meantime it refers to national law, and the Spanish rule is 6 months from normal residence (art. 21). After those 6 months, the Peruvian licence is not valid for driving in Spain (art. 21.3), but the exchange can also be requested later (art. 22.1). Ask for it as soon as you can: you may do so once you have normal residence, without waiting for those 6 months to end (art. 22.2). The document list asks for your NIE or TIE: if your residence is still in process, ask the DGT whether you can already file.
What else the agreement says. It recognises licences that Peru issued to people resident in Peru. If you got your Peruvian licence while already living in Spain, the agreement's text does not settle it, but according to the DGT licences obtained while already a legal resident in Spain are not exchanged (DGT page on exchanging licences from non-EU countries, version of 28/04/2025). The agreement does not remove each country's formalities: application, medical certificate and payment of the fee. The exchanged licence goes back to the Peruvian authority. The DGT may also ask for reports to check that your licence is genuine and valid, including a certificate from the issuing authority endorsed by a consulate (art. 23).
Documents (annex III of the Regulation, licences from third countries):
- Your NIE number and consent for the DGT to check your data, or a photocopy of your TIE.
- A recent 32 by 26 mm photo, in colour, facing forward, with a plain light background and head uncovered.
- A written declaration that you are not barred by a court decision from driving.
- A written declaration that you hold no other licence of the same class from an EU or EEA country, and none that is restricted, suspended or cancelled.
- A medical fitness report (psicofísico) from an authorised driver assessment centre (CRC).
- A written declaration that you take responsibility for your licence being genuine and valid, with an official translation if needed.
- Your original Peruvian licence and a photocopy.
- Payment of the DGT fee; the current amount is on the DGT website.
This list comes from the Regulation and may be incomplete: the DGT may ask for more, so check its page before you go.
Steps:
- Check which class your licence is, note since when you have normal residence (the 6 months in which you can drive with it count from that day; you can already ask for the exchange) and check that you did not obtain it while already a legal resident in Spain.
- Pass the psicofísico at a CRC and gather the other documents.
- File the exchange application (you or someone you authorise) at the Provincial Traffic Office or through the electronic office of the DGT, pay the fee and hand in your original Peruvian licence. If your class is in group 2, the driving test is still to come.
General rules: exchanging a foreign driving licence and driving in Spain with a foreign licence. Insurance is separate: car insurance for foreigners.
Official source: Spain-Peru exchange of notes (BOE-A-2004-10190), publication of its entry into force (BOE-A-2004-17614), Royal Decree 818/2009 and DGT: countries with exchange agreements.
Informational only; check the official source and a professional for your specific case.