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BTraffic rules ·1 / 14· ~8 min

Basic concepts

Prefer to practise the DGT theory test in English? Our English hub covers every topic and permit in one place.

Step 1. The big picture

Aerial view of a Spanish road entering a built-up area: a two-lane carriageway with a broken centre line, a hard shoulder edged by a continuous line, a raised pavement on the right with a pedestrian, and a car travelling in the right-hand lane.
The parts of the road: carriageway, lane, hard shoulder and pavement

In one sentence…

Core topic for licence B: general rules of circulation, priority, speed, road position, manoeuvres, essential documentation and the punishable conduct most often asked about in the exam. Study it as practical decisions: who goes first, where you position yourself, when you must give way and how you reduce risk.

What you'll cover

  1. 1.Authorisations and documentation
  2. 2.Speed in built-up areas
  3. 3.Speed, position and distance
  4. 4.Right of way
  5. 5.Safe manoeuvres
  6. 6.High-impact offences
  7. 7.Vulnerable road users

Step 2. The syllabus

2.1Authorisations and documentation

With licence B you can drive passenger cars up to 3,500 kg and up to 8 passengers in addition to the driver. You must carry a valid authorisation and respect its conditions.

  • The vehicle must be fit to circulate under the regulatory conditions. Knowing how to drive isn't enough: documentation, technical condition and the vehicle's limitations also count.
  • The DGT requires you to understand risk and apply it in real traffic. That's why the exam mixes rules with traffic scenes, signs and vulnerable road users.
  • If an authorisation, restriction or sign limits your driving, it takes precedence over what you would normally do. The correct answer is usually the most cautious and lawful one.

2.2Speed in built-up areas

In built-up areas, general limits of 20, 30 or 50 km/h apply depending on the road layout, unless a sign sets a different condition.

  • Don't memorise these limits as an isolated list. The exam usually asks you to link speed to the type of street, the presence of pedestrians and visible signage.
  • Driving below the limit can still be wrong if you obstruct traffic without cause. Driving within the limit can also be dangerous if the situation demands more caution.
  • Near schools, crossings, stops or reduced visibility, the appropriate speed is the one that lets you stop without a sudden manoeuvre, not simply the maximum allowed.

2.3Speed, position and distance

On any road you must moderate your speed if visibility, grip, usable width or the predictability of the surroundings decreases.

  • As a current study rule, cars generally have a 90 km/h maximum on conventional roads; a road may post up to 100 km/h only where the required physical separation exists. Read the sign and road type in the scene, and do not treat this as permission to overtake.
  • The vehicle's normal position is on the right, using the lane suited to the intended manoeuvre and keeping enough distance to stop without a rear-end collision.
  • Safe distance is not a single figure for every scene. Mentally increase the margin if there is rain, heavy traffic, load, a gradient or distractions around you.
  • In questions about rear-end collisions, braking or merging, look for who needed more space. The DGT penalises the answer that normalises hugging the vehicle in front.

2.4Right of way

The general priority of the right gives way to signs, traffic lights, officers, roundabouts, regulated crossings and special cases set out in the rules.

  • At an uncontrolled junction, apply right priority only after checking the exceptions: a vehicle on a paved road has priority over one arriving from an unpaved road, and a vehicle entering a roundabout gives way to traffic already circulating.
  • At a railway crossing or when joining a motorway or other specially regulated road, the specific rule controls instead of an automatic right-priority answer.
  • At roundabouts, priority belongs to whoever is already on it, but exiting requires positioning yourself in good time and not crossing lanes abruptly.
  • Before answering a priority question, first locate the signage. Then look at each vehicle's trajectory and position, and whether any vulnerable road user needs special care.
  • Giving way doesn't always mean stopping, but it does mean not forcing the other party to brake sharply or change their course to avoid you.

2.5Safe manoeuvres

Before changing lane, overtaking, turning, merging or stopping, you must observe, signal in good time and carry out the manoeuvre without creating danger.

  • The indicator informs, but it does not grant priority. If signalling forces others to brake or swerve, the manoeuvre has not been done correctly.
  • Merging and exiting require you to anticipate speed and gap. The common trap is believing that whoever is already driving must always make way for you to enter.
  • When overtaking, turning or moving sideways, check mirrors and blind spots. The exam often includes motorcycles, bikes or vehicles that are partly hidden.
  • Overtaking needs two separate decisions: it must be permitted by the marking and context, and it must be safe to complete without forcing another road user to brake or change course.

2.6High-impact offences

Driving while holding a phone, without a seatbelt, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs undermines safety and can mean losing points.

  • The points-based licence normally starts with 12 points, while novice drivers or those getting their licence back start with 8.
  • Novice drivers face specific conditions during their first years. In questions about alcohol, points or the L-plate, check whether the question mentions a novice.
  • Punishable conduct doesn't stop being an offence because the journey is short or the road seems empty. The DGT asks a lot about these everyday false exceptions.

2.7Vulnerable road users

Cautious driving requires you to anticipate especially for pedestrians, cyclists, children, older people and people with reduced mobility in any shared environment.

  • Even if you have formal priority, you must adapt speed and trajectory if a vulnerable road user could make a mistake or be hidden by other vehicles.
  • In town, risks appear from pavements, crossings, stops, vehicle doors and shared lanes. The exam answer usually requires extra vigilance.
  • Practise by identifying the most fragile road user in each scene. That reading helps you choose between moving on, giving way, stopping or slowing down.

Step 3. Key points

If you only have a minute before the exam, revise this.

  1. 1.Apply the built-up area limits of 20, 30 and 50 km/h depending on the type of street.
  2. 2.Check signs, traffic lights and officers before applying the priority-to-the-right rule.
  3. 3.Carry out manoeuvres only after observing, signalling and giving way when required.
  4. 4.Remember that the indicator does not grant priority.
  5. 5.Link safe distance to visibility, grip and traffic.
  6. 6.Identify conduct that can lead to losing points.
  7. 7.Treat pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as high-risk road users.
  8. 8.Check whether the question mentions a novice driver or a recovered licence.

Step 4. Exam traps

Mistakes the DGT uses again and again on this topic.

  • Confusing the general priority of the right with priority at roundabouts.
  • Forgetting that the correct speed also depends on rain, visibility or traffic intensity.
  • Thinking it's enough to signal even though the manoeuvre forces others to react.
  • Applying a built-up area limit without checking the street layout or a different sign.
  • Answering as if having priority removed the duty of caution towards vulnerable road users.
  • Overlooking that novices and recovered licences start with fewer points.

Step 5. Quick check

Four real exam questions on what you have just read.

Question 1/4

During ordinary car driving, may the driver use connected earphones to listen to music?

Practise more basic concepts questions

Step 6. Frequently asked questions about basic concepts

When joining traffic from a parked position, how may a driver check, if necessary, that it is safe to do so?
By following another person's directions. If necessary, follow another person’s directions to check that joining traffic is safe. This does not transfer responsibility: the driver must observe the position, path and speed of traffic already on the road, give way and signal the intended manoeuvre. Hazard lights do not replace these checks or the required signal. An arm with the palm facing backwards signals reversing, not a general forward move into traffic.See full question
To continue straight ahead, where must you stop?
Before the nearest stop line preceding the signal. Stop before the nearest stop line preceding the red signal. In the image that line is before the pedestrian crossing: do not cross it to stop immediately before the crossing markings. Do not enter the junction either. If the signal were inside or beyond a junction, stop before entering it and obey any preceding stop line. To continue, wait for an indication permitting passage and make sure you can proceed without blocking crossing traffic.See full question
A car with MAM no greater than 3,500 kg has a breakdown. It can continue safely but travels at an abnormally low speed on a motorway, seriously disrupting traffic. The right shoulder is usable and wide enough. What must it do?
Drive on the hard shoulder and leave at the first exit. Use the usable, sufficient right shoulder and leave the motorway at the first possible exit. The rule requires the stated emergency, abnormally low speed and serious disruption conditions. Do not continue to a service area if an earlier usable exit is available. If safe continuation were impossible, stop safely and obtain assistance; do not drive with a dangerous breakdown. This question excludes that case.See full question
If your vehicle makes a noise above the established limits, is its circulation prohibited?
Yes. The circulation of vehicles that exceed the maximum noise limit established by the Authorities is prohibited. Even if the level of gases and smoke remains below the maximum, high noise levels can be grounds for a sanction or fine, and the circulation of the vehicle may even be prohibited.See full question
A driver puts their left arm out and bends it upwards with the palm extended to signal a lateral movement. Which direction are they signalling?
To the right. To the right, opposite the arm being used. Article 109 distinguishes a horizontal arm with the palm down, indicating movement to that side, from an arm bent upwards with the palm extended, indicating the opposite side. It does not indicate reversing. Before moving, check that it is safe and respect priority; signalling does not give priority.See full question
See all basic concepts questions

Official sources

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