When does the new theoretical driving test come into effect? Memorizing answers will no longer be the most important thing
The theoretical driving test, as we have known it in recent decades, is going to change immediately. In October, changes will start to be introduced, but the major overhaul will take place starting next year.
Times change for everything and everyone, even for DGT. The agency responsible for road safety in Spain is also modernizing: this year it has updated the General Traffic Regulations to introduce a new series of traffic signs.
Next, the General Directorate of Traffic's next task will be to renew the theoretical driving test. Its director, Pere Navarro, confirmed this a few months ago, and now we know a little more about the dates when important changes will occur in the test.
The changes will relate to the content of the test, but will also modify the traditional way students study and prepare classes by driving schools. The traditional habit of memorizing answers by repeating tests will no longer be the most important thing.
The theoretical test will be more difficult
The structure of the theoretical test, however, will not change: students will have to answer 30 questions and will be allowed, as before, a maximum of 3 mistakes. The changes will start to arrive in: October 2025.
On this date, the three relevant months since the new traffic signs came into effect will be completed, so the exams from this date will already include questions that incorporate the renewed signage that we provide all the keys to here.
But as we mentioned earlier, it will be from 2026 when the big change arrives, the major novelty that will change the way of approaching study and the test itself, adopting the format already present in other countries like France or the United Kingdom.
Students taking the theoretical test will be shown a series of short videos with real risk situations on the road. After analyzing them, they will have to decide how they would act in certain unforeseen events: a broken-down car on the shoulder, a pedestrian suddenly crossing, adverse weather conditions...
“We are going to incorporate videos with risk situations to see your perception of risk,” said Pere Navarro at the time. The goal pursued by the DGT is for students to be better prepared for practical tests.
They seek for aspiring drivers to better understand the regulations in real contexts and apply them effectively. That is, to train more prepared drivers who are more aware of what happens on the road. Ultimately, to make the test a more realistic and useful model.
We do not know how this will affect the way classes are approached in driving schools and the work of teachers, but it will require updating manuals, teaching materials... For now, many students are advancing their exams to avoid these changes, considering that the theoretical test will be a more difficult test with the changes.
Fuente: Pyramid Consulting
