Replacing a driving licence in Spain: loss, theft or damage
Request a replacement through the official channel while your licence is valid. It keeps the same validity and is distinct from the vehicle registration certificate.
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Replacing a driving licence: a copy with the same validity
If a valid licence is lost, stolen or damaged, check the official replacement route. DGT explains that the copy retains the same expiry date. It is not renewal, a new entitlement to drive or a way to remove a suspension.
Before starting, confirm which document you need: a person's driving licence or a vehicle's registration certificate. The Spanish names permiso de conducir and permiso de circulación can seem similar, but their functions and procedures differ. The General Vehicle Regulations describe vehicle documents; a replacement registration certificate does not become a driving licence.
How to decide your next step
| Situation | What to check first |
|---|---|
| Valid driving licence lost, stolen or damaged | Driving licence replacement |
| Expired driving licence | Renewal and requirements for that situation |
| Missing vehicle document | Registration certificate and its separate procedure |
| EU/EEA licence or ADR certificate | Specific instructions on the official page |
Do not decide solely from the document's appearance. If you cannot remember its validity, check your details through an official channel before assuming a replacement is enough.
Preparation and application
- Check the reason for applying and the licence's validity.
- Open the DGT page and choose an available channel for your case.
- Check that channel's current identification and document requirements.
- If someone will act for you, check the accepted representation arrangements.
- Keep receipts and check the scope of any documents issued.
These steps organise preparation. They do not replace requirements for specific situations or ensure delivery on a particular date. Do not share your password or electronic identification access with an intermediary so they can “log in as you”.
Example: the missing licence expires soon
Marta loses a card whose licence is still valid but expires in a few weeks. Before choosing a procedure, she compares the replacement route and applicable renewal instructions at the official headquarters. She knows a copy will not give her a fresh full validity period. She decides using the instructions for her case, without paying under the mistaken belief that replacement means renewal.
The example does not prescribe one option for every licence approaching expiry. It helps identify that loss and expiry can occur together and need checking before applying.
Digital documents and travel
DGT describes the documentary validity of miDGT within Spanish territory under its terms. Do not assume this automatically extends to another country or every circumstance. If you are travelling, check the destination's document requirements before relying exclusively on the app. Do not assume a provisional document is accepted abroad either.
Common mistakes
- Selecting registration certificate replacement when the driving licence is missing.
- Believing a copy extends the expiry date.
- Treating an application as authorisation to drive with an expired licence.
- Applying an ordinary channel to a licence with a specific procedure.
- Promising postal delivery without a verifiable guaranteed date.
Information to retain
Keep the application reference, receipts and issued documents securely. If an issue arises, consult the file through the official channel using its reference. You do not need to send copies or private information to Synexis to use this guide. It helps distinguish documents and find the correct procedure.
Sources and next steps
Official sources corroborated on 1 October 2026; linked official documents are in Spanish:
Open the official driving licence replacement page. Synexis does not provide this driving licence service.