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In Spain, unlike Britain, there is no provisional licence before you pass your test.
New drivers do have to pass a medical and eye exam conducted by a doctor before proceeding to take the theory test. As in Britain this consists of multiple-choice questions. Theory classes cost between 30 and 35€ a month or can be paid as a one off fee of about 300€. Driving Schools sell books that include practice tests.
The only person that you can drive with is your driving instructor. Practical driving lessons in Spain cost about 25€ for a one hour driving lesson.
Having undertaken practical and theory training, learners have to pay examination fees. In Britain you pay each time you take a test, in Spain, you pay for three goes at a time, but only two per type of test. Therefore if you don't pass your theory until the second time, you only have one attempt at the practical and should you fail the theory test twice, you have to pay a second fee of about 161€. If you fail you will have to wait around three weeks before taking the test again.
The Spanish Highway Code is said to be the most in-depth in Europe, with about three times as many rules as in Britain. There is much more detail about first-aid, vehicle maintenance and vehicle loads to be studied. Despite this, Spain has the highest road mortality rate in Europe, second to Portugal.
New drivers do have to pass a medical and eye exam conducted by a doctor before proceeding to take the theory test. As in Britain this consists of multiple-choice questions.
The Spanish practical driving test has been described as a “group excursion”. The instructor sits in the passenger seat and the examiner sits in the back, sometimes with other candidates. Each candidate drives for about thirty minutes driving in live traffic and has to perform a reverse park manoeuvre. The candidates swap places after each drive to allow someone else to have a go. At the end of the test, the examiner informs the instructor of their results.
Successful candidates are given a green and white L-plate to display in the rear window. For one year, theoretically, new drivers are not allowed to drive faster than 80kph and for two years they are not allowed to drive with an alcohol level of more than 0.3g (as opposed to the normal level of 0.5g).
If you have a driving licence from any other EU country, it is automatically valid in Spain. Drivers from all other countries, including the USA, can drive for just six months in one calendar year but must then obtain a Spanish licence. A Driving School will handle all the necessary paperwork for you. To apply for a test you will need to present a copy of your residencia, passport photographs, a completed application form and the fee of 160.95€ and a medical certificate obtained at an official medical centre (24€ fee).
For US drivers, keep in mind that because each State has its own rules, European countries can make agreements with individual states. That means that your New York driver’s license is valid (for the first year) in Spain, but your Massachusetts driver’s license is not.
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