- 1
Signs: confusing 'end of prohibition' with 'change of rule'
It is the most frequent topic and the most confused. An 'end of prohibition' sign (R-501, R-502…) lifts a specific restriction; nearby signs may impose a new rule without the previous one having ended. In the exam many students assume any square-with-stripes sign means the same thing — read it carefully and always check shape and colour.
Signs test - 2
Right of way: roundabouts and unsigned junctions
Vehicles already inside a roundabout have priority over those entering, unless a specific sign says otherwise. At unsigned junctions, give way to the right; remember the exceptions — paved over unpaved roads, rail traffic over any vehicle, pedestrians at crossings and on urban roundabouts.
Right-of-way test - 3
Speed: limits by road type and vehicle
Knowing the generic limit isn't enough. The question often combines road type (urban 50 km/h, conventional 90, motorway 120) with vehicle type or trailer. In town, 30 km/h applies on streets with a single lane per direction. Read the question twice before answering.
Speed test - 4
Alcohol and drugs: limits per driver profile
Limits differ per driver: 0.5 g/L blood for general drivers, 0.3 for novice drivers (<3 years) and professionals. For drugs there is no tolerance threshold — any presence is sanctionable. The classic question mixes both with points-loss percentages.
Alcohol and drugs test - 5
Safety distances: time, not metres
Minimum following distance is measured in time, not metres: 2 seconds in normal conditions, 4 in rain or poor visibility. In the exam many options offer distances in metres to confuse you — whenever you see 'metres' cross-check with the time rule and the road type.
- 6
Overtaking: visible vs. invisible limits
Some zones forbid overtaking even without a sign: blind crests, tunnels, level crossings, priority intersections and the 50 m before and after them. A solid line reinforces the rule but doesn't create it — the rule was already there.
- 7
Licence points: rates and durations
12 starting points, 8 for novice drivers. Serious offences cost 2–4 points; very serious 4–6. You recover all points after 2 years without further serious offences (3 years for professional drivers in some cases). The recovery course gives back up to 6 points every 2 years.
- 8
Seat belts, helmets and child restraints
Seat belt mandatory in every seat. Child restraint systems for kids up to 1.35 m. The 'short distance' or 'very low speed' exception is FALSE — these usually appear as trap questions.
- 9
Manoeuvres: reverse, lane change, stopping
Reversing is forbidden on motorways and dual carriageways, forbidden in roundabouts, and only allowed for the minimum necessary on other roads. Changing lanes: signal first, check the blind spot, never cross solid lines. Double-parking is a serious offence almost always.
- 10
Environment and efficient driving
Higher gears at steady speed, anticipation, smooth acceleration, shift up around 2,000–2,500 rpm in petrol engines (lower for diesel). The exam often quotes percentages (5%, 10%, 15%) — those are the official DGT figures; learn them as they're written.
Strategy to avoid these mistakes
- Take a 30-question simulation. Note which topics you failed.
- For each failed topic, do its specific test until you score 10/10 twice.
- Re-do the full simulation. If you keep failing the same topic, you need more theory — not more tests.
- Study the theory of that topic in the syllabus before going back to a test blindly.
Have you failed the theory exam?
We have a retest guide with a recovery plan topic by topic.
Frequently asked questions
- How many mistakes are allowed in the Spanish B-licence DGT exam?
- Up to 3 wrong answers out of 30 questions. From the fourth one, you fail. For the AM (moped) licence the limit is 2 mistakes out of 20.
- Which topics dominate the DGT exam?
- Signs (vertical, horizontal and beaconing) and right-of-way account for 35–45% of the exam. Speed, alcohol/drugs and manoeuvres follow. Environmental and administrative-rule topics appear less often but still count.
- Is it enough to study only the most-failed topics?
- Not really. You cut risk but leave gaps that three questions can use against you. The best strategy: master the frequent topics first (signs, right-of-way, speed, alcohol), then fill gaps with topic tests and a full simulation every 2–3 days.