What the Spanish car driving test actually is
When someone says "car driving test" or "car theory test" in Spain, they mean the theory exam for the B licence — the category the DGT requires to drive private cars in Spain. The exam is run by the State, organised by the relevant Provincial Traffic Authority and taken at official DGT centres, not at the driving school.
The B licence authorises you to drive motor vehicles with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of up to 3,500 kg and up to 9 seats (driver included), plus light trailers (up to 750 kg). It is the licence most drivers obtain and the gateway to the higher categories.
The car exam is the first of two tests: you pass the theory first (the 30 questions) and then have up to 2 years to pass the practical exam — the in-traffic drive with the examiner on board. Both share a single DGT fee (€94.05), which covers two practical sittings once you've passed the theory.
How to practise the car test for free
Three practice modes lead to a pass via different paths: full simulation (identical to the real exam, 30 timed questions), topic-based tests (focus on a weak block, e.g. signage) and 10-question sprints (short sessions to keep mental pace without overloading the day). The optimal mix alternates all three: topics during learning, daily sprints during revision, and full simulations the two weeks before the exam.
sacatelcarnet questions come from the official DGT bank and are updated to the 2026 syllabus. The platform indexes thousands of questions with explanations so you understand why the right answer is right — not memorise, but reason through it.
How to manage the 30 minutes during the car test
The most common trap in the exam isn't running out of time — it's the opposite. With minutes to spare, many candidates reread prompts too often, induce doubt and switch correct answers to wrong. Practical rule: fast first pass in 15–18 minutes (answer what you know for sure, flag the ones that block you), second pass only on flagged items (max 1 minute each), final pass to review before submitting.
The official exam uses prompts with decisive keywords — "always", "never", "except", "only", "at least". Mentally underline them before reading the options: a prompt with "always" demands a categorical exception, one with "except in" admits the general rule minus a specific case.
What the car driving test costs
The DGT fee alone is €94.05 (tasa 4.6), covering the theory plus two practical sittings. On top: the medical-psychological check (€35–60), driving-school enrolment (variable, €100–300 on average) and practical lessons at €25–35 per session. Full breakdown in how much a Spanish driving licence costs in 2026.
Car test vs. motorcycle, moped or truck tests
The theory exam is shared across almost all permits: 30 questions, 3 errors, 30 minutes. The only exception is AM (moped) with 20 questions, 2 errors max and 20 minutes. What changes between categories is the question bank: B focuses on car traffic; A1/A2 add motorcycle protection gear and techniques; C and D add goods or passenger transport, tachograph and driving-time rules.
For a full per-category syllabus, see the corresponding permit page: full B (car) licence syllabus, or browse the index of all permits to compare A1, A2, AM, C and D.
Start the car test in 5 seconds
Same questions from the official DGT bank. Same real-exam format: 30 questions, 30 minutes, 3 errors max. Free and no signup.
Frequently asked questions about the car test
- What is the "car driving test" in Spain?
- The "car driving test" is the everyday name for the Spanish B-licence theory exam — the category authorising you to drive passenger cars up to 3,500 kg and 9 seats (driver included). It is run by the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) and consists of 30 multiple-choice questions, with a maximum of 3 wrong answers allowed to pass, in 30 minutes. Questions come from the official DGT bank and are the same ones used in driving schools.
- How many questions does the car theory test have?
- 30 multiple-choice questions. To pass you can have a maximum of 3 wrong answers — the fourth mistake fails the exam. Unanswered questions count as wrong, so always pick an option even if you are unsure.
- Is the car test the same as the B-licence test?
- Yes. "Car test", "car theory test", "driving licence test" and "B-licence test" all refer to the same exam: the DGT theory test for category B, the licence most people obtain first.
- How much does the car driving test cost?
- The official DGT fee (tasa 4.6) for the B-licence exam is €94.05. It covers both the theory and practical sittings — you don't get a refund if you only pass one, but the fee covers two sittings of whichever exam you haven't yet passed. The full cost of obtaining the B licence (fee + medical + driving school + lessons) typically runs €700 to €1,500.
- Can I take the car driving test online for free?
- Yes — for practice, not for the real exam. At sacatelcarnet you can practise free and without signup using the official DGT B-licence question bank. We offer 30-question simulations identical to the real exam, topic-based tests (signage, priority, speed, alcohol, mechanics) and quick 10-question sprints. All content is updated to the 2026 DGT syllabus.
- What is the minimum age for the car driving test?
- 18 years. You can start studying and practising earlier, and even enrol in a driving school at 17 and a half so you reach the exam exactly when you turn 18. European regulation does not allow the B licence before 18 in Spain.
- How many practice car tests should I do before the real exam?
- The benchmark most correlated with first-time pass is at least 15 full 30-question simulations. In your last 5 in a row you should be missing 1 or 2 at most. Below that, the most cost-effective option is to keep practising rather than pay for another sitting.
- Which topics are most important on the car test?
- By frequency on the real exam: signage (vertical + horizontal) 6–8 questions, priority and intersections 3–5, speed 3–4, alcohol and drugs 2–3, mechanics and active safety 2–3, basic rules 2–3, defensive driving 2–3, insurance and liability 1–2. Signage and priority alone cover a third of the exam — the most cost-effective blocks for the final week of revision.