Spain’s driving schools estimate that around 430,000 people who have passed the theory test are still waiting to take the practical driving exam. The largest reported total is in Andalucía, at 80,000. Cataluña accounts for 60,000, while Madrid has 29,000, information from sector data. That nationwide estimate does not necessarily count candidates ready to take a scheduled test. The Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) disputes whether everyone on the reported lists is prepared to sit the exam, citing a mismatch between the list totals and attendance at recent sessions.
The disagreement came into focus during the rollout of the Plan de Refuerzo Operativo de Exámenes (Plan PRO), which added practical tests, including Saturday sessions, in provinces with reported waiting lists. In Navarra, only 275 candidates attended, despite autoescuelas previously reporting that more than 6,000 were ready to take the test. The gap was also evident in Lleida: 312 candidates attended an additional session, compared with a reported pool of about 5,000. In Almería, 630 attended, against about 8,000 reported candidates. The DGT has argued that thousands were said to be waiting, but only a few hundred appeared. Those turnout figures have become basic to the dispute over whether a broad list of theory-test passers reflects immediate demand for exams.
The DGT says the waiting list includes people who have passed the theory exam and have up to two years to complete the practical test. It says they are not necessarily all ready to take it at once. A provincial DGT official in Burgos said weekly examinations were not themselves overwhelmed. The Confederación Nacional de Autoescuelas (CNAE), but, rejects the idea that low turnout means there is no underlying demand. Its secretary general, Sergio Olivera, says schools cannot prepare candidates efficiently without knowing when test places will be available: “The wait to start practical lessons is a consequence of the lack of exams.”
Examiner Shortages and Systemic Issues
CNAE traces the persistent delays to a chronic examiner shortage that has affected the system for years. Since 2011, more than 1,400 driving schools have closed, with administrative delays cited as a basic factor. The number of daily tests per examiner has also fallen from 16 to 12, further limiting capacity. The government has announced 130 new examiner positions for 2026, but CNAE warns they will not fully resolve regional disparities or meet growing demand.
Olivera has linked staffing pressure to demographic growth. He says the examiner workforce was designed for a country of roughly 40 million people, while Spain now has almost 50 million residents. In October 2026, candidates commonly faced waits of three to six months; some driving schools in major cities reported delays of up to eight months. CNAE estimates that adding roughly 250 examiners nationwide would materially improve capacity. Olivera illustrated the pressure with a school that had 100 theory-passers waiting for practical places but received an average of 10 places every 12 working days. At that pace, clearing the queue would take about seven months.
The DGT has sought to address the issue by increasing examiner staffing, aiming for a ratio of 21 examiners per million inhabitants. Yet the backlog persists. Plan PRO’s focus on Saturday testing for the B licence, the standard car licence, has drawn criticism for excluding motorcycle and heavy-vehicle candidates. CNAE also says the extra sessions are mostly held in provincial capitals, leaving rural areas underserved.
Plan PRO: Limited Relief
Plan PRO was launched as a temporary measure, relying on a pool of 353 volunteer examiners, 227 of whom are available to travel between provinces. These reinforcements conduct exams on Saturdays, handling between 16 and 20 tests per session. The program began in Navarra and Lleida. It also started in Almería and Palma de Mallorca, before expanding to Tenerife and Barcelona. The DGT describes the Saturday sessions as a way to add practical-test capacity and clear waiting lists. It says attendance figures help identify where demand is immediate. CNAE argues that uncertain scheduling and limited geographic coverage leave many candidates waiting.
The impact is especially acute for people seeking professional driving licences, as the transport sector urgently needs new drivers. In Málaga, reporting in September 2026 put the number waiting either to take the practical test or to begin preparation at more than 18,000. The provincial driving-school association estimated waits of at least five months. Driving instructor Ana Aguayo Ortiz, who has more than 20 years’ experience, said the delays were hurting students’ motivation and schools’ ability to organize training. CNAE is calling for expanded capacity to address shortages and cover all licence categories.
Calls for Reform and Mixed Models
As frustration mounts, CNAE has proposed exploring a mixed model that would allow public exams alongside examinations contracted to private providers, similar to the system in Portugal. The confederation argues that this could offer more flexibility and reduce waiting times if public resources remain insufficient. For now, the DGT remains committed to a fully public exam system. Other reforms, including allowing learners to train with non-professional tutors, are also under discussion.
The debate over how to interpret waiting lists and allocate resources continues. The DGT points to the gap between reported queues and attendance at Plan PRO sessions. CNAE says the shortage of predictable test dates makes it difficult for schools to prepare candidates and plan lessons. In the DGT’s account, the number of people who have passed the theory test does not necessarily equal the number ready to take a practical exam immediately. The sector argues that the availability of examination places also shapes when candidates can be prepared.
Regional disparities in access to impressive services extend beyond driving tests. Some municipalities are taking steps to improve school transport for families in outlying areas. Abrera recently decided to fully fund bus routes for students, a move detailed in this report on local education initiatives.
Spain’s driving-test backlog shows no sign of easing, leaving candidates and driving schools waiting for a solution that matches the scale of the problem. With waits reaching several months in some areas, pressure is growing for more examiner hires and expanded testing capacity. Further reforms are also under discussion.
