Driving-licence cost calculator
Estimate based on 2026 DGT prices. Change the inputs to see your cost.
- School enrolment€180
- DGT fee 4.6€94
- Medical / psychotechnical€48
- Theory material / school package€350
- Practical lessons (15–25 × €38)€570 – €950
Total estimated cost€1,242 – €1,622
Informational estimate. Real prices depend on the school, lesson count and local rates. The DGT fee covers 2 theory + 2 practical attempts — if you fail and need more sittings, add €35–€40 per extra attempt.
Total price by permit
| Permit | Total estimated cost | Min age |
|---|---|---|
| AM (moped) | 200 € – 450 € | 15 |
| A1 (125 cc bike) | 500 € – 900 € | 16 |
| A2 (35 kW bike) | 600 € – 1.300 € | 18 |
| B (car) | 700 € – 1.500 € | 18 |
| B+E (car + trailer) | 900 € – 1.500 € | 18 |
| C1 (light truck) | 900 € – 1.700 € | 18 |
| C (truck) | 1.200 € – 2.500 € | 21 |
| D1 (minibus) | 1.300 € – 2.500 € | 21 |
| D (bus) | 1.500 € – 3.000 € | 24 |
| LVA (tractor) | 250 € – 500 € | 16 |
| LCM (machinery) | 300 € – 600 € | 18 |
Ranges reflect city differences and number of practical lessons. The low end assumes free online theory preparation and minimum practical lessons; the high end assumes a full driving-school package in a large city plus extra lessons.
B-licence breakdown: what you pay exactly
- School enrolment: 100 € – 250 €. One-off at enrolment. Sometimes includes the theory material (book + test platform access). If you go independently you skip it.
- DGT fee (4.6): 94,05 €. Mandatory, paid once at the start. Covers 2 theory attempts + 2 practical attempts + licence issuance if you pass. From the third attempt onwards a new ~€35–€40 fee applies.
- Medical / psychotechnical: 35 € – 60 €. At an authorised centre. Quick check (vision, hearing, coordination test, medical questionnaire). The report is issued for licence processing.
- Theory package or material: €0 if you go independently – 300 € – 500 €. This is the biggest saving lever: the official 2026 DGT question bank is available free online and is exactly the same one driving schools use.
- Practical lessons: 30 € – 50 €/clase × 15-25 clases = 450 € – 1.250 €. The biggest single cost. Get the closing price in writing before starting. Avoid signing closed packages without having done 2–3 trial lessons first — if you progress faster than expected you overpay.
- Extra-sitting fee: ~35 € – 40 €. If you fail and need a third attempt at theory or practical. Most candidates never pay it.
Price differences by city and region
The gap between an expensive and a cheap city for the B licence can reach €400–€500 in total cost. The most expensive cities in 2026 — top-end practical lesson rates, enrolment €200–€250 — are Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, San Sebastián, Palma and Marbella. The cheapest tend to be mid-sized and small provincial capitals (Lugo, Cáceres, Teruel, Soria, Ávila, Cuenca) and inland Iberia generally.
The DGT fee and the medical-check cost are national and don't vary by region. What varies is school fees and, marginally, the psychotechnical centre (premium same-day-service centres vs basic ones). If you live between two provinces, it's worth comparing schools in both.
Hidden costs: what the school doesn't show on the price tag
- Second-theory-sitting fee: included in fee 4.6, but some schools charge €30–€60 for re-enrolment "admin". You're not obligated to pay it — anyone can register, including you.
- Pre-practical refresher lessons: many schools recommend 2–3 extra lessons "to get the pace" the week of the exam. Sometimes useful, sometimes sales-driven. Ask for data: how many lessons does the average passing student take with you?
- Exam car: some schools charge a supplement (€30–€80) for the exam-day car. Others include it. Clarify before enrolling.
- ID card / photos: €10–€30 for colour photos, the psychotechnical exam and the application. Usually included in enrolment but worth confirming.
- Practical-fail fee: if you fail and the school "recommends" 5–10 more lessons before the next sitting, that's €150–€500 extra. Measure your own progress and demand specific lessons, not "perfecting" packages.
Three real ways to save €300–€500
- Prepare the theory online with official 2026 DGT questions — you save the school's entire theory package (€300–€500) with no quality loss. The questions are the same.
- Don't sign a closed practical-lessons package. Start with 5–8 single lessons, measure your progress, and buy the next block only when you have real data.
- Reach the practical exam with confidence so you don't repeat. Each retake is €35–€40 fee plus 2–3 extra lessons (€90–€150). The saving here comes from not booking too early.
Start with the theory — the easiest saving
The same official DGT questions, free and no signup.
FAQ on driving-licence cost
- How much does a B (car) driving licence cost in Spain in 2026?
- The average cost of a B licence in Spain in 2026 is €700–€1,500, with most candidates falling in the €900–€1,100 range. It includes school enrolment (€100–€250), DGT fee 4.6 (€94.05), medical/psychotechnical (€35–€60) and 15–25 practical lessons of 45 minutes at €30–€50 each. The wide range reflects the city, how many lessons you need and whether you take a closed package or pay item by item.
- What is the official DGT fee?
- The DGT 4.6 fee in 2026 is €94.05. It covers two theory attempts, two practical attempts and licence issuance if you pass. From the third attempt onwards you pay an additional fee per sitting (~€35–€40). The medical / psychotechnical is not part of the fee — it is paid separately at the authorised centre.
- How much does a driving-school practical lesson cost?
- Between €30 and €50 per 45-minute lesson in 2026, with significant differences by city. Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, San Sebastián and Palma sit at the high end (€45–€55). Mid-sized and smaller cities are usually €30–€40. Some schools sell closed packages of 20 lessons at a discount; others charge per lesson. Always ask for the price in writing before enrolling.
- How many practical lessons do I need on average?
- Schools recommend 15–25 lessons of 45 minutes before the practical test, with the real median near 20. Absolute beginners often need 25–30; learners with prior driving exposure can pass with 12–15. The first-time pass rate for the practical test is around 55 % according to DGT data, so budget 2–3 extra lessons in case you have to retake.
- Can I get the licence without a driving school, and how much does it save?
- For the theory test, yes — you can go independently, study online and register directly for the DGT exam. You save the school enrolment (€100–€250) and especially the theory packages (€300–€500). For the practical, almost nobody goes independently in practice because you need a dual-control car and a certified instructor. The realistic total saving from going independent on theory and using a school only for the practical is €200–€500.
- How much does a motorcycle licence (A1, A2, A) cost?
- A1 (125 cc motorcycle) is typically €500–€900. A2 (35 kW) is €600–€1,300. The A (unrestricted-power motorcycles) requires holding A2 for 2 years and usually adds €200–€400 for the bridge exam. If you already hold a B licence with more than 3 years' seniority, riding A1 motorcycles in Spain is automatic and free.
- How much does the AM (moped) licence cost?
- AM is the cheapest permit: €200–€450 total. It includes the DGT fee (€94.05), medical (€35–€60), enrolment (€60–€120) and 2–3 moped practical sessions (€60–€150). The minimum age is 15, making it the first permit available in Spain.
- How much does a truck or bus licence cost?
- Professional permits are the most expensive. C (truck) is €1,200–€2,500 not counting CAP. D (bus) is €1,500–€3,000. Trailer variants (C+E, D+E) add €800–€1,500. On top, the CAP (Certificate of Professional Competence) required to drive professionally costs €300–€700 depending on region.
- Are there grants or subsidies for getting a driving licence?
- Some regional governments and councils offer one-off grants for young people (€200–€400) or for long-term unemployed. The Bono Carnet for youth has had different versions per region. For transport professionals, initial and continuous CAP courses are sometimes subsidised by European funds. Check your autonomous region and the SEPE — deadlines and requirements change each year.
- How can I realistically save on the licence?
- Three real levers: (1) prepare the theory independently online with official questions — saves €200–€400 in theory packages with no quality loss; (2) don't sign a closed practical package: pay per lesson and measure your own progress; (3) arrive at the practical exam confident enough not to repeat, because each retake costs the additional sitting fee (~€35–€40) plus 1–2 refresher lessons (€90–€150).