Spain DGT Theory Test Study Guide 2026

How to get a B licence in Spain

Driving licences in Spain are issued by the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) through its provincial offices (Jefaturas de Tráfico). To apply you must live in Spain and meet the age and medical rules for the licence. Most people learn with a driving school (autoescuela), but you can also apply on your own (por libre).

Get a medical fitness report (informe de aptitud psicofísica) from an authorised driver medical centre (Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores, CRC). It is valid for 90 days.
Apply to the DGT for the exams and pay the fee. One fee covers two sittings (convocatorias).
Pass the theory test (examen teórico).
Pass the practical test on open roads (examen práctico en vías abiertas).
Drive with the provisional licence you get when you pass. It is valid in Spain only, for 3 months, until your card arrives.

Category B licence	Rule
Minimum age	18 (first exam up to 3 months before)
Heaviest vehicle	3,500 kg maximum authorised mass
Passengers	Up to 8, plus the driver
Trailer	Up to 750 kg without extra tests
Validity	10 years until age 65, then 5 years

A 2025 EU directive allows accompanied driving at 17. Spain has until 26 November 2028 to put it into national law, so it is not yet in force.

The theory test

30 questions, each with three possible answers and one correct answer.
At least one video question: you watch a short clip of a risk situation, such as a roundabout, a junction, merging or overtaking, and only then see the question.
The test is taken on a computer. If your local exam point has no computer room, you can take it at the provincial DGT office.
If you fail twice, in the same test or in different tests, you must apply again and pay a new fee.

The DGT pages we checked do not state the pass mark or the time limit, and they say the time is extended to allow for the video. Ask your driving school for the exact rules on the day. The DGT has also made an easy-read version of the test for people with reading or learning difficulties; ask for it before the exam date.

How to prepare

The DGT offers free practice tests online. They are similar to the real test in format and number of questions, you can repeat them as often as you like, and at the end they show your mistakes and the correct answers. Use them together with this guide and the practice tests here.

The points licence (permiso por puntos)

Every licence has a balance of points. You lose points only for serious (grave) or very serious (muy grave) offences. When the balance reaches zero, the licence loses its validity.

Situation	Points
New driver (first licence)	8
After 2 years with no point-losing offence	12
Experienced driver	12
After 3 more clean years	14, then 15 (maximum)

Offence (examples)	Points lost
Holding a phone in your hand while driving	6
Using headphones or a device (phone not in hand)	3
No seat belt	4
Running a red light or not stopping at a STOP sign	4
Not keeping a safe distance	4
Driving with drugs in the body, or refusing an alcohol or drug test	6
Overtaking a cyclist dangerously or too close	6
Illegal U-turn	3

Normally you can lose at most 8 points in one day, but some very serious offences, such as going more than 50% over the limit, can take all your points at once. A voluntary course gives back 4 points, once every 2 years. If you lose all your points, you wait 6 months (first time) and take a recovery course; you then restart with 8 points. Driving after you have been told your licence is no longer valid is a crime.

Drivers who have never lost points can take a voluntary safe and efficient driving course of at least 6 hours, which adds 2 extra points.

Speed limits

Spain lowered town speed limits in 2021. Signs always override the general limits.

Road	Car limit
Town street with one surface for road and pavement (plataforma única)	20 km/h
Town street with one lane in each direction	30 km/h
Town road with two or more lanes in each direction	50 km/h
Conventional road outside towns (carretera convencional)	90 km/h
Motorway (autopista) and dual carriageway (autovía)	120 km/h

Maximum speed 30 km/h
Maximum speed 50 km/h
Motorway
End of the speed limit

Going more than 80 km/h over the limit outside towns is a crime, not just an offence, and goes to a judge.

Alcohol, seat belts and phones

Driver	Blood	Breath
Most drivers (and cyclists)	0.5 g/l	0.25 mg/l
New drivers, first 2 years	0.3 g/l	0.15 mg/l
Professional drivers, e.g. goods vehicles over 3,500 kg, school transport, emergency vehicles	0.3 g/l	0.15 mg/l

Everyone must wear a seat belt. A pregnant woman must too, with the belt placed away from the baby. Not wearing one costs a €200 fine and 4 points.
Since October 2026, taxi drivers, delivery drivers and driving instructors must also wear a seat belt.
Do not hold a phone while driving. Holding it costs 6 points.

The 2026 rules for vulnerable road users

A reform of the traffic rules in force since 1 October 2026 protects vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and riders of e-scooters and other personal mobility vehicles.

When you overtake a cyclist outside towns, leave at least 1.5 metres and drive at least 20 km/h below the speed limit. On a road with two lanes in your direction, move completely into the other lane.
Leave 1.5 metres and slow down by at least 20 km/h when you pass a vehicle stopped after a breakdown or crash, workers or emergency crews.
Form an emergency corridor in queues. On two lanes, the left lane moves left and the right lane moves right. On three lanes, the left lane moves left and the centre and right lanes move right.
On a single-surface street (calle de plataforma única), pedestrians have priority.
All cyclists must wear a helmet outside towns.
When snow makes driving difficult on a motorway, overtaking is banned and the left lane is kept free for emergency vehicles and snowploughs.
Motorcyclists may use the right shoulder in queues only on signposted sections, at up to 30 km/h.

Cyclists: expect cyclists and leave at least 1.5 m when you overtake.

Breakdowns and foreign licences

Since 1 January 2026, the only legal way to warn traffic that your car is stopped on the road is a connected V-16 warning light. Warning triangles are no longer valid. The V-16 flashes and sends its location to the DGT 3.0 platform. Put it on the roof, so you do not have to walk on the road.

If you live in Spain and hold a licence from a country that has an exchange agreement (canje) with Spain, you can exchange it for a Spanish licence. The DGT keeps your original licence. If your country has no agreement, you must take the Spanish tests.