DGT theory test day: results, languages, fails
Reviewed on 17 October 2026 · sources: DGT, BOE
What you need on the day
- Your original identity or residence document and the notification.
- The language you chose: Spanish, co-official, English, French or German.
- No phone: using one excludes you and costs the sitting.
- Computer-based results: the same day, from 17:00.
Every answer explained; traffic rules cite their BOE article · Full topics 1–3 and the sign dictionary free · English and Spanish
This guide is step 5 of applying without a driving school.
Where and when is the test?
The provincial traffic office sets the date at your request and chooses the test centre within the province you applied to. Sources: General Driver Regulations, article 50 and article 51.1. An office appointment is not this date: read the appointments guide.
Which languages can I take the theory test in?
You choose on the application form. For category B:
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Languages | Spanish, co-official languages, English, French and German |
| Co-official languages | Catalan (Catalonia and the Balearic Islands), Basque (Basque Country and Navarre), Galician (Galicia) and Valencian (Valencian Community) |
| Other options | “Easy read” (lectura fácil), headphones and extra time |
Source: DGT application form. What changes in English: the DGT exam in English.
What is the test like?
It is a multiple-choice test, normally on a computer. For the common test the regulation sets between 30 and 50 questions, one minute per question and, to pass, no more than 10 % wrong answers, rounded up. Time can be extended for justified special needs. Sources: article 52 and annex VI, section B. With 30 questions, 3 mistakes or fewer is a pass. The format, block by block: practice test.
Phones and devices that capture, record, receive or send information are not allowed. Using one in the theory test gets you excluded and costs you the sitting. Source: annex VI, section A.4.
Every answer explained; traffic rules cite their BOE article · Full topics 1–3 and the sign dictionary free · English and Spanish
When do theory test results come out?
For a computer-based test, results are available the same afternoon from 17:00. Paper tests and practical tests: the next day from 17:00. Check them free on the DGT website or in the miDGT app with your DNI or NIE, date of birth, test date and licence class, for 15 days. Source: DGT, exam results.
What happens if I fail the theory test?
Each fee covers two sittings. Fail once and you still have the second. Fail twice, in the same test or different tests, and you submit a new application and pay a new fee. Source: DGT, sittings. Amount and payment: the DGT fee.
How long must I wait to retake it?
| Situation | Period |
|---|---|
| Between the two sittings of one fee | No more than six months, except for illness or another justified reason |
| Between the second failed sitting and the third | At least ten days |
| Between later sittings | At least fifteen days |
The minimum periods run from the day of the failed test and can be shortened in justified urgent cases. Sources: article 51.2 and annex VI, section A.2.
What if I cannot attend?
Not turning up counts as a fail and uses that sitting. For force majeure you can ask, free of charge, for the notification to be cancelled at the traffic office that issued it, with evidence. A private medical certificate is accepted if the doctor is identified by name, surnames and registration number. Source: DGT, cancelling a test notification.
What happens when I pass?
A theory pass is valid for two years from the following day; take the practical within that time. Source: article 53.1. If you move to another province, you can transfer your file and keep the pass and the medical report. After your last test you get a provisional licence for driving in Spain for three months, until the card arrives. Source: DGT, frequently asked questions.
Frequently asked questions
How many times can I fail the theory test?
Each fee covers two sittings. After two fails you apply again with a new fee and get two more sittings.
When are DGT theory test results published?
For a computer-based test, the same day from 17:00, on the DGT website or in the miDGT app.
How long must I wait to retake the test?
At least ten days between the second failed sitting and the third, and at least fifteen between later ones.
Can I take the theory test in English?
Yes. For category B you can choose Spanish, a co-official language, English, French or German.
What happens if I miss the test?
It counts as a fail and uses that sitting, unless you ask for cancellation for a justified force-majeure reason.
How long is a theory pass valid?
Two years from the day after you pass.
Sources
Sources: General Driver Regulations, articles 50 to 53 and annex VI, DGT application form, DGT, exam results, DGT, cancelling a test notification and DGT, independent test application. All official pages are in Spanish.
Ready to try it?
The free daily exam follows the theory test format: 30 questions, 30 minutes and 3 mistakes at most. No sign-up.
Checked against the BOE in force · English and Spanish