New Theory Driving Exam in Spain: What Changed in 2026 and What Is Only a Plan

A lot is written about the "new DGT exam" and it's easy to get lost: some sources present video questions as a done deal, others deny it. This article sorts out what is already in force and what the DGT is only considering. Status as of 6 October 2026.

In Brief

	Status
Format: 30 questions, 30 minutes, maximum 3 mistakes	Unchanged
Updated road sign catalogue (e-scooters, ZBE, VAO and more)	In force; the signs are part of the exam
Video risk-perception questions	Not introduced. No official date

What Hasn't Changed

• 30 questions, each with three answer options, only one correct
• 30 minutes for the whole exam
• No more than three mistakes
• According to the DGT, the exam fee includes two attempts; check the current amount on dgt.es

The news item "since 5 February 2026 the exam is different" refers to an update of the content, not a new format. There are no video questions in the real exam: at the end of August 2026 Tráfico stated that the videos "remain under study, are not approved and have no date of entry into force".

What Is in Force: The Updated Sign Catalogue

The Official Catalogue of Road Signs was updated by Real Decreto 465/2025. New or changed signs include:

• E-scooters and other personal mobility vehicles (VMP)
• Low-emission zones (ZBE): mandatory in towns of more than 50,000 inhabitants
• VAO lanes (high-occupancy vehicles)
• Charging points for electric vehicles
• 2+1 roads and other updates

If you're studying from materials older than 2025, start with the signs: see 5 Spanish Road Signs That Confuse Russian Speakers.

Video Questions: What Is Known

The DGT wants them. In October 2025 the DGT announced its intention to include in the theory exam videos of traffic situations in which the candidate must identify the risk. The last quarter of 2025 was mentioned then, but it didn't happen.

The legal side. The General Regulation of Drivers already allows exam questions to be preceded by videos of traffic situations. But there is no act in the BOE that introduces such questions into the exam from a specific date.

What the DGT says now. According to reports from late August 2026, Tráfico denied that the exam would change on 1 October 2026: neither a video test nor open-answer questions have been approved. In October 2026 the press talks about 2027, but those are expectations, not an official decision.

Conclusion. Prepare for the current format. If video questions are introduced, we'll update this article.

What You Can Already Train: Risk Perception

Even without video questions, risk perception is a useful skill, and the DGT has a free resource for training it: the Test de predicción de riesgos on dgt.es.

• 21 videos, each under a minute, with real situations on Spanish roads
• Each video comes with five questions: did you detect a risk, what decision would you make, where was the risk (on the last frame), what creates it and what do you think will happen next
• After answering you can rewatch the video with the solution

It isn't the exam and doesn't guarantee that video questions will look like this, but it's useful observation practice. More on how to train: How to Train Risk Perception Before the DGT Exam.

How to Prepare Now

1. Check your materials. Signs, rules and figures must be current for 2026 (cheat sheet, new rules from 1 October 2026).
2. Take tests regularly and review every mistake.
3. Train in the exam format: 30 questions in 30 minutes.
4. Pay attention to details in pictures: signs, road markings, other road users.
5. Take the DGT risk-perception test a few times.
6. Follow official sources: dgt.es and the BOE, not headlines.

How We Decide What's Reliable

On anything to do with the exam there's a lot of clickbait: headlines like "from this date everything changes" often present plans as facts. We rely on DGT communications and official acts. If you find a discrepancy, write to support@skilyapp.com.

Start preparing in Skilyapp

For information only. Check the current exam format and deadlines on dgt.es.