Licence held period

The licence held period is how long ago you passed your test. Almost every company sets a minimum, usually one year, and some ask for two on certain vehicle categories.

It is checked at handover against the issue date on your licence. If you fall short, the company can refuse the car without a refund, so it is worth confirming before you book rather than at the desk.

Watch out for renewed licences

A renewed licence shows the renewal date, not the original date you qualified. On Spanish licences the date each category was obtained appears on the reverse, in column 10. If you are travelling from another country, bring something that evidences the real held period just in case.

How we do it at Neptuno

We ask for a valid licence held for at least one year for cars and vans. For 125cc scooters Spanish law asks for more: a category B licence must have been held for at least 3 years, which is what permits riding class A1 motorcycles. 350cc motorbikes need A2.