My dream is to be a truck driver. Driver’s license for vehicles in Spain

My name is Manuel and I am 28 years old. I am a transportation electrical technician. My dream is to be a truck driver. A great vehicle. Modern, equipped with all the latest technology. One that is very efficient, and of course, whose fuel has great potential—an electric or hybrid truck. Whichever is more efficient and doesn’t release polluting gases into the atmosphere. I want a refrigerated truck and a good work contract. I was researching online and Powerload.es seems to be the ideal platform to secure my professional practice.

But I want to share with you what I researched to obtain my driver’s license. Here are some details.

To obtain a driver’s license in Spain is an essential requirement to be able to drive legally. It is an administrative authorization that demonstrates a person possesses the necessary aptitudes, knowledge, and skills to drive safely. For cargo vehicles, you will specifically need a class C license, which allows you to drive rigid trucks. The Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) is the only body responsible for issuing these licenses throughout the national territory.

This process, including for trucks (category C), follows well-defined steps. First, you must meet the basic requirements: be a resident in Spain, not be legally deprived of the right to drive, and meet the minimum age requirement. For the C license, you need to be at least 18 years old and have held a B license (car) for at least one year. Then, it is essential to pass a medical-psychotechnical examination at an authorized center, which certifies your physical and mental fitness.

The required documentation is key to starting the process. You will need your valid DNI or NIE (and passport if you are a foreigner), a recent passport-sized photograph, the certificate of psycho-physical aptitude, and a sworn statement that you have no legal restrictions on driving. These documents can be submitted directly at a Traffic Headquarters by appointment, although most people choose to do it through a driving school, which handles all the management.

The official fee for applying for a new driver’s license from the DGT is 92.20 euros. However, this is just one component of the total cost. To this, you must add the price of the medical examination (approximately 40-50 euros) and, what is usually more significant, the fees of the driving school for preparing for the theoretical and practical exams. The total expense can vary greatly, but for the C license, being more specialized training, the investment is usually considerably higher than for the B license.

A very interesting and current aspect is that, to promote the driving profession and mitigate the shortage in the transport sector, some Spanish autonomous communities and provinces offer financial aid for those obtaining a goods vehicle driving license (C and C+E). These grants can cover a significant part of the total cost of the license. It is advisable to check the websites of the transport bodies of your autonomous community to find out about current calls and the requirements to apply for them.

In summary, the process to obtain a truck license in Spain involves meeting the age and residency requirements, passing a medical examination, passing the specific theoretical and practical exams, and submitting the required documentation.

Although the DGT fee is fixed, the final cost depends largely on the driving school. Fortunately, the existing regional aid represents an excellent opportunity to reduce the initial outlay and facilitate access to this highly demanded professional license.