Checking your driving licence expiry date takes 10 seconds and can save you a real headache. The date is printed on the card itself, and the renewal period depends on the type of licence and your age. Here we explain where to find it, how often you need to renew and how to get your medical check done at our drivers’ centre in El Corte Inglés in Málaga.
Where to find your driving licence expiry date: box 4b
Take your licence and look at the front of the card. You will see several numbered lines next to your photo. The one you need is 4b: it is the date until which your licence is valid.
It is worth keeping it in mind. From that day on, the licence no longer allows you to drive, even if the card is still sitting in your wallet as if nothing had happened. That is why it pays to note your driving licence expiry date in your phone calendar with some margin.
Renewal periods by licence type and age
The validity period is set by the General Drivers Regulation (article 12), and the DGT sets it out in the same way in its information on renewals. Driving licence expiry is calculated as follows:
- Car and motorbike (AM, A1, A2, A, B and B+E): every 10 years up to the age of 65. From that age, every 5 years.
- Lorry and bus (C1, C, D1, D and their +E variants): every 5 years up to the age of 65. From that age, every 3 years.
There is an important detail: the period may be shorter if the medical check detects an illness or condition that could get worse. In that case, the driving licence expiry date on your card will be earlier than the one that would apply by age. So do not assume your date matches that of someone else with the same licence: check it in your own box 4b.
How far in advance you can renew
According to the official DGT information, you can renew from 3 months before your driving licence expiry date. It is the ideal margin: it gives you time to get organised without rushing and never be left with an expired licence.
If the date has already passed, you can still renew it. However, while it remains expired you cannot drive. Driving with an expired licence is an offence, so the sensible thing is to leave the car parked until the renewal is done.
The medical check, the step before renewal
When your driving licence expiry date is approaching, to extend its validity you need to prove that you still meet the physical and mental requirements to drive. This is done with a medical check at an authorised drivers’ centre. It is quick and you do not need to prepare anything: just come along.
If you want to know which tests it includes, we explain them in detail in our guide to the drivers’ medical check in Málaga. It includes vision, hearing and coordination tests, plus a general health check.
Renew at the Semedi drivers’ centre in El Corte Inglés
At the Semedi drivers’ centre, inside El Corte Inglés in Málaga, we carry out the medical check to renew your licence. The price is €37, and bear in mind that traffic fees are not included: they are paid separately to the authorities.
If you check your driving licence expiry date and see it is coming up soon, do not leave it until the last week. Come in with time to spare and leave with the process under way. And if someone at home drives, pass on the box 4b tip: it saves more than one person from a fine.
Frequently asked questions about driving licence expiry
Do the periods change if I have both a car and a lorry licence?
Each class has its own validity. Professional licences (C and D) are renewed more often than the car licence, so check the driving licence expiry date for each class.
Are traffic fees included in the €37?
No. The €37 covers the medical check at our centre. The traffic fee is paid separately to the DGT.
Can I renew if my licence expired a while ago?
Yes, the DGT allows you to renew a licence that has already expired. What you cannot do is drive with it until it has been renewed.
