Spanish DGT driving testPass the theory exam first try 🚗💨

💡 Tips to pass the theory exam on your first try

• Study the theory by topic, not in one go: signs, priority, speed, road safety. Start with the basic traffic concepts.
• Do tests every day, even just 10 minutes. Consistency beats cramming.
• Review your mistakes: every repeated error is a question that will come up in the exam. Always read the explanation.
• Master the topics people fail most: speed limits, right of way and overtaking rules.
• Simulate the real exam: 30 questions, 30 minutes, no pauses. Only book your exam when your probability of passing is above 85%.

With TraficoTest you know exactly when you're ready: the app calculates your real probability of passing with every test you take. 🎯

📋 What the DGT theory exam looks like by permit type

The theory exam is mandatory for any driving permit in Spain. For permit B (car) it's 30 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes, three options per question and only one correct. A maximum of 3 mistakes is allowed; with 4, you fail. You can sit it in English at most traffic offices.

Motorbike permits A1 and A2 have a specific test of 20 questions in 20 minutes with max. 2 mistakes (plus the common 30-question test if you don't yet hold permit B); the AM moped permit is 20 questions with 2 mistakes allowed. The professional permits C (truck), D (bus) and E (trailers) follow the same specific format of 20 questions, 20 minutes and max. 2 mistakes, with their own syllabus: tachograph, masses and dimensions or passenger transport. The professional drivers' CAP is a separate, longer exam.

Check the requirements for driving for your permit.

📝 Requirements and how to book the DGT exam

To sit the permit B theory exam you need: to be at least 18 years old (16 for AM and A1), legal residence in Spain, to pass a psychotechnical test at an authorised medical centre and to pay the DGT fee (the exam fee is around €95 — check the current amount on the official DGT website).

You book online at the DGT electronic office or through a driving school. If you go "por libre" (independently), you can sit the exam with your documents without enrolling in any driving school: online preparation with updated tests is fully valid and increasingly common — especially convenient if Spanish isn't your first language.

The fee includes two attempts: if you fail the first one, you get a second chance without paying again. Still… better to pass first try. 😉

🚗 What happens after you pass the theory?

Your theory pass is valid for 2 years, during which you must pass the practical driving exam. Most people start practical lessons right after the theory, while the rules are still fresh.

The practical exam evaluates the same things you studied in theory, applied on the road: priority at intersections, traffic signs, and hazard perception. The better you know the theory, the fewer practical lessons you'll need — and every lesson costs money. 💶

Once you pass both exams, you get a provisional permit and drive your first year with the green L plate and a special 0.0 g/l alcohol limit for novice drivers since 2026. See you on the road! 🚦