DGT Theory Topic 5, Using the Vehicle: a Visual Summary

Topic 5 of the Spanish DGT syllabus answers a practical question: how do you use a vehicle with people and things inside it? How many may travel, who wears a seat belt and who needs a child seat, who may ride pillion on a motorcycle, what motorcyclists, cyclists and e-scooter riders must wear, how to load a vehicle and how far a load may stick out, and what the V plates on some vehicles mean.

It is a topic of exact numbers: 135 cm, 12 and 7 years, 10 % and 15 %, 2 and 3 metres. Here they are explained, with pictures, the usual traps and a short quiz with real DGT questions. Spanish terms are shown in grey on the cards.

What topic 5 covers

Seats and seat belts

Every vehicle has a number of authorised seats, and no more people may travel than that: one person, one seat. Age does not matter: a child takes up a seat just like an adult. On top of that, the weight of people and luggage may not exceed the maximum authorised mass (MMA).

The seat belt is compulsory for the driver and every passenger, in town and out of town, front and back. The driver is responsible for minors wearing it. Since RD 518/2026 there are very few exemptions:

• The driver while reversing or parking, only during the manoeuvre.
• Anyone with a medical exemption certificate for serious reasons or disability (it must be shown to officers).
• In towns, vehicles on an emergency call. On interurban roads there is no exemption.
• Ambulance medical staff looking after a patient during an emergency call.

Taxi drivers, delivery drivers and driving instructors are no longer exempt. Nor is a pregnant woman, unless she has a medical certificate. And "it's a short trip" or "I'm in town" are never excuses.

Children in the car: seat, position and airbag

There is one key question: are they 135 cm tall or under? Then they travel in an approved child restraint suited to their height and weight; if taller, they use the seat belt like an adult. A 12-year-old who is 1.30 m tall needs a child seat; an 8-year-old who is 1.40 m does not.

In a car, children up to 135 cm travel in the rear seats. They may only sit in the front, in their child seat, in three cases: the car has no rear seats, all rear seats are already taken by other children up to 135 cm, or not all the child seats fit in the back. Crying or a short trip are not exceptions.

If the child seat is in the front and rear-facing, the front airbag for that seat must be switched off. Remember to switch it back on when the seat is removed.

Other cases:

• Taxi in town: children under 135 cm may travel without a child seat, but only in the rear seats. Outside town or in the front, with a child seat.
• Bus with more than 9 seats: from age 3, a suitable child restraint or, if there is none, the seat belt if it fits them.

Motorcycles, bicycles and e-scooters: passengers and gear

To carry a passenger on a motorcycle or moped, the vehicle must be approved for two, the passenger must be over 12, wear an approved, fastened helmet, sit astride with feet on the footrests, in their own seat behind the rider. From age 7 they may ride if the rider is their father, mother, guardian or an adult authorised by them. Never between the rider and the handlebars. If the passenger has no helmet, the rider is responsible.

On a bicycle, only an adult rider may carry a passenger: since October 2026, a child up to 22 kg who can sit up unaided, on an approved extra seat.

Compulsory gear for motorcyclists and their passengers (also mopeds, tricycles, quadricycles and quads):

So riding a moped around town in sandals is not allowed. The only exemption is a vehicle with a protective frame and seat belts, approved and shown on its technical card; then the belts must be worn.

Cyclists: under-16s always wear a helmet; over-16s always on interurban roads (the old exceptions for heat or steep climbs are gone), and in town it is recommended. Anyone working on a bike (delivery riders) wears a helmet and a hi-vis vest at all times. E-scooters (VMP): from age 15, fastened helmet always, signal with your arm, and something reflective visible from 150 m at night.

The hi-vis vest is put on by drivers of cars, motorcycles, lorries or buses when they get out onto the carriageway or shoulder of an interurban road.

Loads: where, how and how far they may overhang

Loading and unloading happen off the road whenever possible. If it has to be done on the road: follow the stopping and parking rules (in towns, the council's places and times), work from the side nearest the kerb, as quickly as possible, with the engine off, and never put goods down on the carriageway, the shoulder or pedestrian areas, not even for a minute.

A load must be placed and secured so that it cannot drag, fall or shift, does not affect stability, makes no noise or dust and does not cover lights, number plate or arm signals. If it could shed dust or fall, it must be fully covered. The boot is the best place: a roof rack or roof box increases fuel consumption.

How far a load may overhang:

A load overhanging at the back is marked with the V-20 panel (red and white stripes) at its end. At night or in poor visibility, add a white light at the front and a red light at the back. Vehicles under 1 m wide do not mark it, but the end must be protected.

A motorcycle or moped may tow a trailer: up to 50 % of the vehicle's unladen mass, at 10 % less speed, and never at night or in poor visibility.

Signs on vehicles: the V plates

These are the plates and lights some vehicles carry to inform others. The ones that come up most:

• V-1, blue light: priority vehicle on an emergency call. Banned on any other vehicle.
• V-2, yellow light: a vehicle that is an obstacle on the road (working, stationary or doing 40 km/h or less). It gives no priority.
• V-4, disc with a number: the vehicle must not exceed that speed. V-5, triangle: the vehicle cannot exceed 40 km/h by design.
• V-6: a vehicle or combination over 12 m long.
• V-13, the green L: new driver during the first year, at the back on the left. V-14, L with "prácticas": driving school, front and back.
• V-16: the emergency beacon, compulsory except on motorcycles.
• V-19, ITV sticker: top right of the windscreen. V-25, environmental sticker (zero emissions, ECO, C, B): bottom right.

The blind-spot sign on lorries and buses is voluntary, not compulsory.

Trick answers in topic 5

Mini quiz: 8 real exam questions

These are official DGT questions on topic 5, translated from the Spanish. Pick an answer to see whether you got it and why.

Question 1 / 8

May you ride a moped around town in sandals?

ANo: closed footwear covering the whole foot is compulsory on every road.BYes, on urban roads.CYes, if you wear a full-face helmet.

Question 2 / 8

A 14-year-old cyclist is riding along a town street. Must they wear a helmet?

AYes: under-16s wear one on every type of road.BNo: in town a cyclist's helmet is not compulsory.COnly if a local by-law requires it.

Question 3 / 8

In a five-seat car, as a general rule, where should a child shorter than 1.35 m sit?

AAnywhere, as long as they use a suitable child restraint.BIn a rear seat.CIn the front seat.

Question 4 / 8

In a nine-seat car, including the driver's seat, may nine minors travel?

ANo, because that exceeds the authorised number of seats.BOnly if the children are under 12.CYes, provided the driver is their father, mother or guardian.

Question 5 / 8

May a child under 12 ride as a passenger on a motorcycle?

ANo, they must be over 12.BYes, if they are over 7 and the rider is their father, mother, guardian or an authorised person.CNo, unless they are taller than 150 cm.

Question 6 / 8

On a lorry shorter than 5 metres, an indivisible load may not overhang by more than...

A3 metres in front and 2 metres behind.Bone third of the vehicle's length, both in front and behind.C2 metres in front and 3 metres behind.

Question 7 / 8

Are pregnant women exempt from wearing a seat belt?

ANo, unless they hold an exemption certificate for serious medical reasons.BYes, and they do not need a medical certificate.CYes, because it could harm the baby.

Question 8 / 8

How far may an indivisible load, such as a pipe or a pole, stick out of the back of a car?

AOne third of the vehicle's length.B10 % of the vehicle's length.C15 % of the vehicle's length.

How to learn topic 5

This topic comes down to a few rules and a lot of numbers. First, people: one seat per person, a belt for everyone except three exemptions, 135 cm for the child seat, 12 and 7 for motorcycles. Then gear: helmet and closed shoes always, gloves outside towns. Finally loads: 10 and 15 % on cars, a third or 2 and 3 m on lorries, V-20 at the back.

Airbags, wearing the belt correctly and rear-facing child seats also appear in the topic 7 summary, and the V-16 beacon in the topic 2 summary.