What is the Spanish DGT theory exam?

The theory exam is the mandatory knowledge test run by Spain's Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) to obtain a driving permit. It is a multiple-choice test drawn from the official DGT question bank. For the B licence and most categories it has 30 questions with up to 3 wrong answers allowed in 30 minutes. The only exception is the AM (moped) licence: 20 questions, 2 errors max, 20 minutes.

How much does the DGT theory exam cost?

The official DGT fee (tasa 4.6) is €94.05 and covers both the theory test and two sittings of the practical exam. The fee is paid once and lets you re-sit until the two practical sittings are used up. If they run out without a pass, the fee must be paid again.

How do I book the DGT theory exam?

Booking is done through your driving school (autoescuela) or, if you self-prepare, directly via the DGT electronic office. You need the fee paid, a valid medical-psychological certificate and, for the B licence, the minimum mandatory hours completed. The driving school usually arranges the date and assigned centre at the relevant Provincial Traffic Authority.

What languages can the theory exam be taken in?

For the B licence the DGT offers the theory exam in Spanish, Catalan, Galician, Valencian, Basque, English, French and German. You must request the language at registration. For professional permits (C and D) availability is more limited — check your Provincial Authority. At sacatelcarnet you can practise both in Spanish and English with the official questions translated.

What happens if I fail the theory exam?

If you fail you can re-sit: the fee covers multiple theory attempts as long as the two practical sittings aren't used up. There is no minimum statutory gap between attempts, although each driving school and each Authority typically applies a practical 1–2 week interval to reschedule. If both practical sittings are used up without a pass, the fee must be paid again.

How long is a passed theory exam valid for?

The theory pass is valid for 2 years. Within that window you must also pass the practical exam. If 2 years pass without a practical pass, the theory expires and must be re-taken (and the fee paid again).

What is the DGT theory exam pass rate?

According to the DGT's annual statistics, the B-licence theory pass rate runs around 60–65 % in normal sittings — roughly one in three candidates fails first time. The highest-failure blocks are signage, right of way, speed limits and the specific alcohol-and-drugs regulation. Completing at least 15 full simulations before the real exam is the practice most correlated with passing first time.

Spanish DGT theory exam 2026 · Official guide

DGT theory exam	Official figure
Questions (B licence)	30
Max wrong answers	3
Duration	30 minutes
Exception (AM)	20 questions / 2 errors / 20 min
Official fee (tasa 4.6)	94,05 €
Pass validity	2 years to pass the practical
B-licence pass rate	~60–65 %
Languages available (B)	ES, CA, GL, VA, EU, EN, FR, DE

Official structure of the theory exam

The theory exam is governed by the Spanish General Drivers' Regulation (Royal Decree 818/2009 and subsequent amendments). For the B licence and other categories that share the common exam (A1, A2, A, B+E, C1, C, D1, D), the format is exactly 30 multiple-choice questions with three options each, 3 errors maximum to pass and 30 minutes total time. The only exception is the AM (moped) licence: 20 questions, 2 errors max, 20 minutes.

Questions come from the official DGT bank, which is updated periodically. Each exam is generated randomly while respecting internal quotas by topic block: signage, priority, speed, alcohol and drugs, mechanics, rules, defensive driving, insurance and others. For the B licence, signage and right of way carry the most weight — they cover between 33 % and 43 % of the exam.

How to book and what it costs

The official DGT fee (tasa 4.6) is €94.05 and covers the theory plus two practical sittings. Booking goes through your driving school or, if you self-prepare, via the DGT electronic office directly. In both cases you need a valid medical-psychological certificate. Full cost breakdown in how much a driving licence costs in 2026.

For the B licence there is no minimum theory-hours requirement with a driving school — only passing the exam. For professional permits (C, D and trailer variants) specific training requirements apply depending on the transport type and age. Check with your driving school or the Provincial Authority when the permit is not B.

What happens on theory exam day

Arrive at the assigned DGT centre at least 15 minutes before your slot with your original DNI or NIE (copies are not accepted). At the entrance candidates are identified, given the computer access credentials and assigned a seat in the room. Phones, smartwatches, headphones, hats and notes are not allowed — everything goes into individual lockers before entering.

The exam is taken on a computer. On screen one question appears at a time with its three options (a, b, c) and a side panel showing the status of every question — answered, blank, flagged as doubtful. You can answer in any order, skip questions and return to them. Until you press "Submit" you can change any answer. The timer is always visible.

The result appears immediately on screen on submission — pass or fail, with the exact count of right and wrong answers. No paper record is handed over: the result stays in the Authority's system and the driving school retrieves it to process the next step (access to the practical).

Why people fail the theory exam

The most common cause is not lack of study — it's misreading the prompt. The DGT writes questions with decisive keywords: "always", "never", "except", "only", "at least". Missing them flips the correct answer. Second cause: sitting the real exam without enough full timed simulations, which penalises reading speed and topic-block management. Third: switching correct answers during the final review due to self-induced doubt.

For an applied study plan see how to pass the DGT test first time. If you study specifically for the B licence, the most direct path is the car (B-licence) test explained.

Theory exam by permit category

The common format (30 / 3 / 30) holds for almost all categories. What changes between permits is the question bank the system uses to generate the exam. B focuses on car traffic; A1/A2 add motorcycle protection gear and technique; C and D add goods or passenger transport, tachograph and driving-time rules. AM has its own format and bank.

Practise the theory exam now

Same official DGT bank, same format (30 / 3 / 30). No signup, free and on any device.

Frequently asked questions about the theory exam

What is the Spanish DGT theory exam?: The theory exam is the mandatory knowledge test run by Spain's Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) to obtain a driving permit. It is a multiple-choice test drawn from the official DGT question bank. For the B licence and most categories it has 30 questions with up to 3 wrong answers allowed in 30 minutes. The only exception is the AM (moped) licence: 20 questions, 2 errors max, 20 minutes.
How much does the DGT theory exam cost?: The official DGT fee (tasa 4.6) is €94.05 and covers both the theory test and two sittings of the practical exam. The fee is paid once and lets you re-sit until the two practical sittings are used up. If they run out without a pass, the fee must be paid again.
How do I book the DGT theory exam?: Booking is done through your driving school (autoescuela) or, if you self-prepare, directly via the DGT electronic office. You need the fee paid, a valid medical-psychological certificate and, for the B licence, the minimum mandatory hours completed. The driving school usually arranges the date and assigned centre at the relevant Provincial Traffic Authority.
What happens on theory exam day?: Arrive at least 15 minutes before the assigned slot with your original DNI or NIE (no copies). The exam is taken on a computer in an official DGT room; no phones, smartwatches or notes allowed. You have 30 minutes for 30 questions (20 / 20 for AM). You can answer in any order, flag doubtful ones and revisit them. The result appears immediately on submission.
What languages can the theory exam be taken in?: For the B licence the DGT offers the theory exam in Spanish, Catalan, Galician, Valencian, Basque, English, French and German. You must request the language at registration. For professional permits (C and D) availability is more limited — check your Provincial Authority. At sacatelcarnet you can practise both in Spanish and English with the official questions translated.
What happens if I fail the theory exam?: If you fail you can re-sit: the fee covers multiple theory attempts as long as the two practical sittings aren't used up. There is no minimum statutory gap between attempts, although each driving school and each Authority typically applies a practical 1–2 week interval to reschedule. If both practical sittings are used up without a pass, the fee must be paid again.
How long is a passed theory exam valid for?: The theory pass is valid for 2 years. Within that window you must also pass the practical exam. If 2 years pass without a practical pass, the theory expires and must be re-taken (and the fee paid again).
What is the DGT theory exam pass rate?: According to the DGT's annual statistics, the B-licence theory pass rate runs around 60–65 % in normal sittings — roughly one in three candidates fails first time. The highest-failure blocks are signage, right of way, speed limits and the specific alcohol-and-drugs regulation. Completing at least 15 full simulations before the real exam is the practice most correlated with passing first time.

Spanish DGT theory exam 2026: the official complete guide