HELPSHEET A: Information about the Driver Medical Test for British Drivers in Spain

1. WHAT IS THE DRIVER MEDICAL TEST?

The Driver Medical Test in Spain is known as the Psicofísica. It is a very simple test which is designed to check vision and anticipation skills. The test usually lasts under 20 minutes and usually consists of two tests, a vision test similar to those in opticians, and an anticipation test at a computer (no computer skills or knowledge is needed, although if you do not understand Spanish, it may be a good idea to bring an interpreter or someone who can help you with the instructions).

2. DO I NEED TO TAKE THE TEST?

A law was passed in Spain on 8th May 2009, which has the following paragraph in Spanish (translation below):

´El titular de un permiso de conducción expedido en uno de estos Estados que haya adquirido su residencia normal en España quedará sometido a las disposiciones españolas relativas a su período de vigencia, de control de sus aptitudes psicofísicas y de asignación de un crédito de puntos´.
(click here to download the PDF document of the full law from the Trafico Website in Spanish).

This translates as follows: ´The holder of a European Driving License who is normally resident in Spain is required to adhere to Spanish regulations relating to the period of validity, to the control of their psycophysical aptitudes, and to the assignment of point credit´.

Regarding the Medical test, this appears to effectively mean that:

If you have a Residencia Card / Certificate and are normally resident in Spain, then your UK driving license will only be valid (and therefore your insurance will only be valid) if you take a Psicofísica Test in the same way that a Spanish person would.

If you are a Resident and have never taken this test while living in Spain, then the law would appear to suggest that your driving license and therefore your insurance are entirely invalid. If you have already taken this Medical test in the past, then you should take another test:

  - Every 10 years if you are aged between 18-45,
  - Every 5 years if you are aged between 45-70,
  - Every 2 years if you are aged over 70.