Does the Spanish DGT exam change much in 2026?

The format (30 questions, max 3 wrong, 30 minutes) does not change for the B licence. What does change is the official sign catalogue (RD 465/2025) and the question bank updated to the new regulation. Older questions that no longer fit the rules have been revised or removed.

Will there be video questions in my exam?

Yes: the DGT has added one mandatory video-based question to the computer-based theory exam (officially announced in October 2025, with rollout planned from late that year). You watch a traffic scene (up to 3 viewings) and then see the question and its options; exam time is extended by the video's duration. The best preparation is to train yourself to read situations — right-of-way, signs, speed — rather than just memorising questions. Practising by topic and with simulations prepares you just as well for the video question as for text ones.

Are the signs that can appear in the exam changing?

Yes. With the new official catalogue (RD 465/2025), pictograms have been added and updated: signs for personal light vehicles (VMP) and scooters, coexistence zones, environmental restrictions, 2+1 roads or aerial traffic-control notices, among others. If your material predates October 2025, review the updated catalogue so you don't study signs that no longer match the official ones. Reviewing the up-to-date catalogue saves you surprises on exam day.

Is the exam harder with these changes?

Not necessarily harder, but different. Video questions reward those who understand traffic situations rather than memorising answers, and the new signs require studying with up-to-date material. If you prepare by understanding the reason behind each rule, the changes work in your favour. Plus, doing full simulations gets you used to the pace and pressure of the real exam, which is where many people slip even when they know the theory.

Is my 2025 manual or material still useful?

The core is still valid, but review the signs section: if your manual predates the new catalogue (RD 465/2025, in force since 1 October 2025), it may show pictograms that no longer match the official ones. Always complement it with a question bank updated to the 2026 syllabus. An up-to-date bank is the safest way to spot which part of your material has gone out of date.

Should I sit the exam before or after the changes?

It's not worth rushing to get ahead of the changes or delaying to dodge them: sit the exam when you're ready. Since the sign catalogue is already in force and video questions are being introduced gradually, what really makes the difference is studying with up-to-date material and consistently passing full simulations, not the exact date. Set a realistic target, prepare thoroughly for that date and don't move it because of rumours about easier exams before or after.

Are sacatelcarnet's questions updated to 2026?

Yes. Our bank of 12,000+ questions is aligned with the 2026 DGT syllabus and the sign catalogue reformed by RD 465/2025. Catalogue signs are kept in sync and every question that references them has been revised.

How much does it cost to sit the DGT exam in 2026?

Official fee 2.1 — exams for driving permits — is €94.05 per the DGT fee catalogue. It grants two exam sittings: fail twice, in the same test or across different tests, and a new fee is due. On top of that you have the medical certificate (€35–€60) and your driving-school materials.

Can I take the DGT exam in English?

Yes. The DGT offers the B exam in Spanish, Catalan, Galician, Basque, French, German and English. You must request the language when registering for the exam. At sacatelcarnet you can practise in Spanish or English with exam-style questions.

How many times can I retake the test if I fail?

There is no legal cap on attempts. Your fee grants two exam sittings; after two fails a new fee (€94.05) is due. In practice, the next date depends on your traffic office's availability — usually a slot within 1–4 weeks. Use that window to review your mistakes thoroughly before sitting again.

Spanish DGT test 2026 — reforms (RD 465/2025) and exam-style simulations

The most important changes for 2026

Before going into detail, here's the summary of what really changes this year in the theory exam and what stays exactly the same:

Video questions arrive: instead of memorising answers, you'll have to anticipate hazards in real sequences — for example, a pedestrian who appears from behind a parked car or a cyclist crossing at an intersection. It tests your ability to read the situation, not just recall theory.
New official traffic-sign catalogue (RD 465/2025), in force since 1 October 2025: it adds and updates pictograms such as signs for personal light vehicles (VMP) and scooters, coexistence zones, environmental-restriction signage, 2+1 roads and aerial traffic-control notices.
Updated DGT question bank for the 2026 syllabus: questions that no longer match the regulation have been revised to reflect the new signage and rules.
What doesn't change: the B exam is still 30 questions with 3 options, with a maximum of 3 wrong answers to pass and a 30-minute base time — the DGT extends the time by the video's duration when the exam includes the video question. The official fee stays at €94.05.
The B exam is still available in Spanish, co-official languages, English, French and German — request the language when you register.
The points licence stays the same: you start with 12 points (8 if you've held your licence for under 3 years).

Reform of the official sign catalogue (RD 465/2025)

Royal Decree 465/2025, which reforms the official traffic-sign catalogue, is already integrated into the 2026 DGT question bank. We have updated the 315+ catalogue signs (warning, regulatory and information) and the questions that reference them. If your driving school still studies from pre-2025 manuals, review the new signs in our catalogue.

In practice, this reform modernises signage to reflect how we get around today: signs are added or adjusted for personal light vehicles (VMP) and scooters, for coexistence zones between pedestrians and vehicles, for urban environmental restrictions and for road layouts such as 2+1 roads or aerial traffic-control notices. For the exam you don't need to count how many signs change: what counts is recognising the new ones and understanding what each requires you to do when you see it.

See the 2026 signs catalogue Take the signs test BOE RD 465/2025

Timeline: when each change takes effect

The 2026 changes don't all arrive at once: some are already in force and others are being rolled out in stages. This is the timeline of what already applies and what will be phased in, so you know what to expect depending on your exam date:

1 Oct 2025The new official traffic-sign catalogue (RD 465/2025) comes into force: new pictograms and updated signs — VMP and scooters, coexistence zones, environmental restrictions, 2+1 roads or aerial traffic-control notices — that can now appear in the exam.
2025-2026The DGT announces the mandatory video-based question (Oct 2025, rollout planned from late that year): the exam becomes computer-based, the video can be watched up to 3 times and total time is extended by its duration. It assesses hazard anticipation (for example, a pedestrian hidden behind a parked car or a cyclist at an intersection), instead of pure memorisation.

Bear in mind that the exam's composition evolves gradually: not every change arrives on the same day or in every session at once. The official, always up-to-date source is the DGT website (dgt.es); check the details of your session there.

Where to start this year

If you're preparing for the 2026 DGT theory exam, don't study at random. This is the order we recommend to make fast progress and reach the exam with confidence, spending more time on the topics where you fail most:

1
Set your exam date
If you already have a date, the daily plan adjusts automatically. If not, pick a realistic target.
Set date
2
Start with a quick test
Ten questions to see where you stand. Don't study blindly — you need to know which topics you fail.
Take quick test
3
Study the most common topics
Signs, right-of-way, speed and alcohol concentrate most failures. Start there.
Tests by topic
4
Follow the 7-day plan
A clear calendar of which topic to study each day and how many questions to drill.
7-day plan
5
Take a full 30-question simulation
Same format as the official exam, same maximum errors. When you pass it twice in a row, you're ready.
30-question simulation

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How it affects you depending on your situation

The 2026 changes don't affect everyone the same way: studying for months is not the same as starting now or coming back after a fail. These are the three most common situations and what you should do in each to avoid wasting time.

You're already studying with old material

Your foundation still holds: most traffic rules haven't changed. What you need to review is the signs section, because your manual may show pictograms that predate the new catalogue. Cross-check the signs you're studying against the updated catalogue and practise with the signs test to spot the ones you don't recognise.

You don't have to start over: go sign by sign through the ones that changed and trust the ones that stay the same.

You're starting from scratch now

You have an advantage: you learn directly with the updated syllabus and signs, with no old material to unlearn. Start with a quick test to see where you stand and follow the 7-day plan; lean on the syllabus by licence when you need to understand the reason behind a rule.

Study by understanding the reason behind each rule; that way the video questions, which reward anticipating hazards, will feel far more natural on exam day.

You failed under the previous format

Relax: the format doesn't change (still 30 questions and a maximum of 3 wrong answers), so what you learned still counts. Use the chance to close your weak spots — review the most common mistakes, follow the what-to-do-after-failing guide and sit the exam again with an up-to-date question bank.

Before booking a new date, make sure you pass several full simulations in a row: it's the best sign that this time you're ready.

In all three cases the conclusion is the same: study with up-to-date material, lean on the new catalogue's signs and confirm your level with full simulations before you sit the exam. That way the 2026 changes stop being a problem and start working in your favour.

FAQ — DGT 2026

The questions we get asked most about the 2026 theory exam, answered directly:

Does the Spanish DGT exam change much in 2026?: The format (30 questions, max 3 wrong, 30 minutes) does not change for the B licence. What does change is the official sign catalogue (RD 465/2025) and the question bank updated to the new regulation. Older questions that no longer fit the rules have been revised or removed.
Will there be video questions in my exam?: Yes: the DGT has added one mandatory video-based question to the computer-based theory exam (officially announced in October 2025, with rollout planned from late that year). You watch a traffic scene (up to 3 viewings) and then see the question and its options; exam time is extended by the video's duration. The best preparation is to train yourself to read situations — right-of-way, signs, speed — rather than just memorising questions. Practising by topic and with simulations prepares you just as well for the video question as for text ones.
Are the signs that can appear in the exam changing?: Yes. With the new official catalogue (RD 465/2025), pictograms have been added and updated: signs for personal light vehicles (VMP) and scooters, coexistence zones, environmental restrictions, 2+1 roads or aerial traffic-control notices, among others. If your material predates October 2025, review the updated catalogue so you don't study signs that no longer match the official ones. Reviewing the up-to-date catalogue saves you surprises on exam day.
Is the exam harder with these changes?: Not necessarily harder, but different. Video questions reward those who understand traffic situations rather than memorising answers, and the new signs require studying with up-to-date material. If you prepare by understanding the reason behind each rule, the changes work in your favour. Plus, doing full simulations gets you used to the pace and pressure of the real exam, which is where many people slip even when they know the theory.
Is my 2025 manual or material still useful?: The core is still valid, but review the signs section: if your manual predates the new catalogue (RD 465/2025, in force since 1 October 2025), it may show pictograms that no longer match the official ones. Always complement it with a question bank updated to the 2026 syllabus. An up-to-date bank is the safest way to spot which part of your material has gone out of date.
Should I sit the exam before or after the changes?: It's not worth rushing to get ahead of the changes or delaying to dodge them: sit the exam when you're ready. Since the sign catalogue is already in force and video questions are being introduced gradually, what really makes the difference is studying with up-to-date material and consistently passing full simulations, not the exact date. Set a realistic target, prepare thoroughly for that date and don't move it because of rumours about easier exams before or after.
Are sacatelcarnet's questions updated to 2026?: Yes. Our bank of 12,000+ questions is aligned with the 2026 DGT syllabus and the sign catalogue reformed by RD 465/2025. Catalogue signs are kept in sync and every question that references them has been revised.
How much does it cost to sit the DGT exam in 2026?: Official fee 2.1 — exams for driving permits — is €94.05 per the DGT fee catalogue. It grants two exam sittings: fail twice, in the same test or across different tests, and a new fee is due. On top of that you have the medical certificate (€35–€60) and your driving-school materials.
Can I take the DGT exam in English?: Yes. The DGT offers the B exam in Spanish, Catalan, Galician, Basque, French, German and English. You must request the language when registering for the exam. At sacatelcarnet you can practise in Spanish or English with exam-style questions.
How many times can I retake the test if I fail?: There is no legal cap on attempts. Your fee grants two exam sittings; after two fails a new fee (€94.05) is due. In practice, the next date depends on your traffic office's availability — usually a slot within 1–4 weeks. Use that window to review your mistakes thoroughly before sitting again.