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DrivingLingo

Tema 2: the points licence and driving authorisations in the DGT exam

Who may drive, how many points they hold and what papers the vehicle needs. These are stand-alone figures: learn each with its time limit.

Reviewed on 11 October 2026 · sources: BOE and DGT

This tema collects stand-alone figures: who may drive and how many points they hold. Learn each with its time limit.

  • To get a licence you pass three separate tests: psychophysical fitness, knowledge, and skills and behaviour.
  • A licence starts with 12 points, and a novice with up to 3 years' seniority starts with 8.
  • You regain the 12 points after 2 years without a final sanction. A recovery course (at least 10 hours) regains 4 points, never more than you lost, once every 2 years. The law sets a ceiling of 6 and Orden INT/914/2024 sets it at 4.
  • With no points you cannot get a new licence for 6 months (3 if professional).
  • The B licence is obtained at 18 and is valid for 10 years; from age 65 it is valid for 5.
  • It covers cars up to 3,500 kg MMA with a trailer up to 750 kg MMA. A car-and-trailer combination may reach 3,500 kg on a plain B licence, and up to 4,250 kg only after the extra test or training (code 96).

Watch out: 4 points are regained by a course (6 is only the legal ceiling); 6 months is the wait after losing all of them.

In DrivingLingo: practise with the road signs, review the vehicle requirements topic and the plates and documents one, and start .

Source: RGCO arts. 43, 44.1, 45.1, 4.2, 12 and 13.1; LSV arts. 63, 65 and 71.

Key rules of topic 2

The three tests

To get a licence you pass three separate tests: psychophysical fitness, knowledge, and skills and behaviour.

  • It checks sight, hearing, locomotor system, heart, kidney, nervous system and mental health.
  • Everyone obtaining or renewing a licence takes it, not only people over 65.
  • Group 1: AM, A1, A2, A, B and B+E. Group 2, stricter: C, D and instructors.

Source: RGCO art. 43; RGCO art. 44.1; RGCO art. 45.1

Licence points

A licence starts with 12 points, and a novice with up to 3 years' seniority starts with 8.

  • You regain the 12 points after 2 years without a final sanction, whatever the offence.
  • The current partial points-recovery course restores up to 4 points, without exceeding those lost, once every 2 years; professionals, every year.
  • With no points you cannot get a new licence for 6 months (3 if professional): first the wait, then the course and the exam.

Source: LSV art. 63; LSV art. 65; LSV art. 71

The B licence

The B licence is obtained at 18 and is valid for 10 years; from age 65 it is valid for 5.

  • It covers cars up to 3,500 kg MMA with a trailer up to 750 kg MMA.
  • With over 3 years' seniority it also covers A1 motorcycles, in Spain only.
  • Expired, it does not authorise driving: the officer takes it, with no grace period.

Source: RGCO art. 4.2; RGCO art. 12; RGCO art. 13.1

Who is liable

Liability falls on whoever committed the offence, with exceptions that reach the driver and the owner.

  • Driver: liable for the passenger's helmet, child restraints and legible number plates.
  • Habitual driver: liable if the vehicle was not stopped, unless he proves someone else drove or it was stolen.
  • Owner: stops anyone who never held a licence from driving. If he sells without notifying it, he stays the owner until the buyer is registered.

Source: LSV art. 82; LSV art. 11; LSV art. 76.p) y v); LSV art. 77.j); RGV art. 32.1

Reports, time limits and bans

An officer's report counts as evidence unless the contrary is proved.

  • Minor offences lapse after 3 months; serious and very serious ones after 6.
  • While moving you may not use screens with internet, TV or video; GPS is allowed.
  • Carrying radar detectors is banned, even passive ones; warnings of where checks are is not.

Source: LSV art. 88; LSV art. 112; RGC art. 18.1 y 18.3

Papers, ITV and sale

To drive you carry the vehicle registration document, the technical data sheet and your driving licence.

  • Without a valid registration document the vehicle does not go on the road, even if you hold a licence.
  • Car ITV: exempt for 4 years, every 2 years from 4 to 10, yearly from 10.
  • Sale: the seller notifies within 10 days; the buyer applies for the change of owner within 30.

Source: RGV art. 26.1; RGV art. 32; RGV art. 34; RD 920/2017 art. 6

Learn the rule, then practise it

Study topic 2 step by step: the rule, its citation and exam-style questions.

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