Spain faces a mounting crisis as nearly half a million people with theory test approval remain stuck waiting for their practical driving exam. Disputes over examiner shortages and demand estimates have left many aspiring drivers in limbo, with regional disparities and new reforms adding to the uncertainty.
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, a figure that highlights the scale of the current bottleneck. The largest numbers are concentrated in regions like Andalucía (80,000), Cataluña (60,000), and Madrid (29,000), according to sector data. However, the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) disputes whether all these candidates are truly ready to sit the exam, pointing to a mismatch between reported demand and actual attendance at recent testing sessions.
The disagreement became clear during the rollout of the Plan de Refuerzo Operativo de Exámenes (Plan PRO), an initiative designed to ease the backlog in the hardest-hit provinces. In Navarra, for example, only 275 candidates showed up for the practical exam, despite autoescuelas previously reporting over 6,000 ready to take the test. Similar gaps appeared in Lleida, Almería, and the Balearic Islands, where actual attendance fell far short of the numbers provided by driving schools.
The DGT argues that the so-called waiting list mainly consists of people who have passed the theory exam and have up to two years to complete the practical. The Confederación Nacional de Autoescuelas (CNAE), however, rejects the idea that low turnout means low demand. CNAE maintains that driving schools can only prepare students based on available exam slots, making it impossible to train large numbers without knowing when tests will be scheduled.
Examiner Shortages and Systemic Issues
CNAE attributes the persistent delays to a chronic shortage of examiners, a problem that has plagued the system for years. Since 2011, more than 1,400 driving schools have closed, with administrative delays cited as a key factor. The number of daily tests per examiner has also dropped from 16 to 12, further limiting capacity. While the government has announced 130 new examiner positions for 2026, CNAE warns that this will not fully resolve regional disparities or meet the growing demand.
The DGT has tried to address the issue by increasing examiner staffing, aiming for a ratio of 21 examiners per million inhabitants. Yet, the backlog persists, and the Plan PRO’s focus on Saturday testing for the B license (standard car license) has drawn criticism for excluding motorcycle and heavy vehicle candidates. CNAE also notes that 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, Lleida, Almería, and Palma de Mallorca, and later expanded to Tenerife and Barcelona. While the DGT says this allows resources to be shifted where demand is proven, CNAE argues that the scheme’s narrow focus and geographic limitations leave many candidates waiting.
The impact is especially acute for those seeking professional driving licenses, as the transport sector urgently needs new drivers. CNAE is calling for expanded capacity to address these shortages and ensure that all categories of licenses are covered.
Calls for Reform and Mixed Models
With frustration mounting, CNAE has proposed exploring a mixed model that would allow both public and contracted private exams, 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 maintains its commitment to a fully public exam system, though other reforms—such as allowing learners to train with non-professional tutors—are also under discussion.
The debate over how to interpret waiting lists and allocate resources continues, with the DGT insisting that Plan PRO reveals lower immediate demand than autoescuelas claim. CNAE counters that demand is directly tied to the availability of predictable exam dates, making accurate planning difficult.
Regional disparities in access to essential services are not limited to driving tests. For example, some municipalities are taking steps to improve school transport for families in outlying areas, as seen in Abrera’s recent decision to fully fund bus routes for students—a move detailed in this report on local education initiatives.
As Spain’s driving test backlog shows no sign of easing, both candidates and driving schools are left waiting for a solution that matches the scale of the problem. Whether through increased examiner hiring, expanded testing models, or further reforms, the pressure to clear the queue is only growing.
