Just 8.1 percent of Spanish drivers would pass the B license theory test if they had to take it again today. That figure comes from a nationwide study by Fundación Línea Directa, which tested 1,700 drivers and found that nearly 26 million would fail under current standards.
The results are worse among drivers over 55, whose failure rate rises to 94.5 percent. But age is not the only factor. The report, titled Suspensos con carné. ¿Aprobarías hoy el carné de conducir?, points to a broader decline in knowledge of traffic rules, including road signs, alongside poor awareness of recent regulatory changes. Most drivers, whatever their experience, are on the road with outdated or incomplete information about the law.
Official DGT clarifications say a first aid kit is not mandatory in Spanish passenger cars, despite common misconceptions.
To get a B license in Spain, candidates must answer 30 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes, with no more than three mistakes allowed. In the Fundación Línea Directa test, 16.5 percent of drivers made more than 10 errors, while 75.4 percent missed between 4 and 10 questions. Motorcycle and moped rules accounted for the most common mistakes, at 63 percent. Traffic signs accounted for 30 percent, while general road regulations accounted for 27 percent.
Many drivers stumbled over a question about whether a traffic officer can administer a second breathalyzer test when a driver is under the legal alcohol limit. The answer is yes if the driver shows clear signs of intoxication. The question shows how quickly impressive safety knowledge can fade without regular updates.
A basic factor behind the results: 77 percent of drivers haven’t had any further road safety education since first getting their license. That’s despite major changes to Spain’s traffic laws, including a reform passed by Congress in 2022 and several recent updates to the traffic code by the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT).
Official DGT data from 2024 puts the average pass rate for the theory test at 51 percent. Zamora (61 percent) and Jaén (60 percent) had the highest rates. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Segovia had the lowest, at 42 percent. The Fundación Línea Directa study also found that women failed at a slightly higher rate (93.3 percent) than men (90.5 percent). Regional gaps persist: failure rates were highest in the Canary Islands, Extremadura and Aragón.
Even as theoretical knowledge fades, practical experience still counts. Information from the DGT, 81.6 percent of drivers in 2024 had held their license for at least ten years, and their accident rate was 17.1 points below average. Drivers with less than a year of experience, by contrast, had a higher accident rate. The same trend held for those with up to ten years behind the wheel.
Spain’s traffic rules have changed significantly in recent years, affecting car drivers as well as people using other forms of transport. The changes cover cyclists, motorbikes and e-scooters, as outlined in a recent update. Without ongoing education, millions of drivers remain unaware of the latest requirements. That leaves the reforms less likely to shape how people lead.
Fundación Línea Directa director general Mar Garre said the level of ignorance about new rules and road safety is striking. The data points to a systemic failure to keep drivers informed, with real consequences for everyone on the road. Without regular retraining and greater awareness, Spain’s traffic reforms may not reach drivers where it matters most: in their daily habits behind the wheel.
