Driving-school test and DGT test: same exam
When people in Spain say "driving-school test" they mean the theory test for the driving licence as it is prepared at a school. The source is always the official Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) question bank: every school uses exactly the same questions that appear on the day of the real exam. There is no separate "driving-school exam" distinct from the "DGT exam" — only the setting changes.
That is why practising online for free with sacatelcarnet is equivalent, in terms of content, to taking the tests inside a driving school. What the school adds is course structure (fixed hours, a teacher in the room, printed books) — not different questions or a "premium" version of the exam.
Driving-school test format by permit
| Permit | Questions | Max errors | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 30 | 3 | 30 min |
| AM | 20 | 2 | 20 min |
| A1 / A2 | 30 | 3 | 30 min |
| C / C1 | 30 | 3 | 30 min |
| D / D1 | 30 | 3 | 30 min |
All formats are fixed by DGT regulation. A driving school cannot change the number of questions or the time: it mirrors the official format exactly because its job is to prepare you for the real exam.
Attending a driving school vs. preparing independently
In Spain you can prepare the B-licence theory in two ways. First, enrol in a driving school: you pay enrolment, attend theory classes in person or on the school's online platform, get books and tests, and the school registers you for the official sitting. Second, prepare independently: you study the syllabus on your own — online question bank, PDF or video manuals, simulations — and register directly for the DGT sitting without going through any school.
For the practical exam, preparing independently is theoretically possible but in practice almost nobody does: you need a dual-control car, a certified instructor and the coordination with the DGT examiner — only a school can give you that. So the most common path is to prepare the theory independently online (cheaper, more flexible) and use a driving school only for the practical lessons.
What a good driving-school test must have
- Questions drawn from the official DGT bank updated to the current year (2026). The bank is refreshed several times a year as regulations change.
- 30-question timed simulation with the same visual interface as the real exam.
- Topic-based tests for reinforcing specific weak points (signage, priority, speed, alcohol and drugs, basic mechanics).
- Explanation for each answer — knowing which one is correct is not enough; you need to understand why the other options are wrong.
- Smart review that detects the topics where you fail most and prioritises similar questions in later sessions.
- Available in Spanish and, if you need it, in English or the other official exam languages.
How much enrolling in a Spanish driving school costs
The total price of getting a B licence through a driving school in Spain is usually €700–€1,500. It is a wide range because it depends a lot on the city (Madrid and Barcelona are more expensive), the number of practical lessons you need and whether the school sells an "all-in" package or charges each item separately.
- School enrolment: €100 – €250
- DGT fee (4.6): €94.05 (covers 2 theory attempts + 2 practical attempts + licence issuance)
- Medical / psychotechnical: €35 – €60
- Practical lessons: €30 – €50 per 45-min session · usually 15–25 sessions needed
- Extra-sitting fee: ~€35 – €40 from the third attempt
The theory is the part you can most easily separate from the driving school: studying it online for free with an official DGT bank (what we offer here) and leaving only the practical to the school can save you €200–€500 with no loss of preparation quality.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is the driving-school test the same as the DGT test?
- Yes. The test you take in a driving school comes from the same official DGT question bank used in the real exam. The only difference is context: at the school you take it as preparation; at the DGT centre you take it as the official test. Questions, options and images are the same — that is why practising online for free with the 2026 DGT bank is equivalent to taking driving-school tests.
- How much does enrolling in a Spanish driving school cost?
- School enrolment is usually €100–€250. On top you pay per practical lesson (€30–€50 per 45-minute session), the medical/psychotechnical certificate (€35–€60) and the official DGT fee (€94.05). The total for a B licence is typically €700–€1,500 depending on the city and how many practical lessons you need. The theory can be prepared free online without enrolling.
- Can I take the Spanish driving theory test without a driving school?
- Yes. In Spain you can sit the DGT theory test independently ("por libre"), without enrolling in a school. You just register directly for the official sitting, pay the 4.6 fee (€94.05) and the medical certificate. The practical test does require a school in practice — you need a dual-control car and a certified instructor to accompany you to the exam.
- How many questions does the B-licence driving-school test have?
- 30 questions, the same as the real DGT B-licence exam. Each question has 3 options with a single correct answer. You may have up to 3 wrong to pass and you have 30 minutes. Other permits differ: AM (moped) is 20 questions / 2 wrong / 20 minutes; professional C and D use the same format as B.
- How many driving-school tests should I take before the real exam?
- There is no legal minimum, but the benchmark most correlated with first-time pass is at least 15 full 30-question simulations before the real exam. In your last 5 consecutive simulations you should be missing 1 or 2 questions at most — that is the signal you are ready. Below that, keep practising.
- Is it better to study at a driving school or independently?
- It depends on your study autonomy. If you organise yourself well and stay disciplined, preparing the theory independently with online tests is much cheaper and works perfectly (independent learners who prepare seriously pass at a similar rate to school learners). If you need structure, fixed hours and an instructor to resolve doubts, a school adds value. For the practical there is no real alternative — you need a school.
- Do the DGT test questions change every year?
- The DGT updates the official question bank several times a year to reflect regulatory changes (speed limits, alcohol and drugs, electric-mobility rules, etc.). New questions are gradually rolled into the real exam. At sacatelcarnet the bank is kept aligned with the current 2026 DGT syllabus.