Failed the DGT exam: what to do now 🔄

First, the good news: it's the most normal thing in the world. The DGT's own microdata shows failing is part of the process for half of Spain. Here's the plan, with numbers.

First: the real context

Over the last 12 months, for permiso B, 50.5% failed the theory and 53.0% failed the practical. And among those who eventually passed:

61.9%

of theory passes happen at the first attempt. The rest needed 2 or more tries.

48.7%

of practical passes happen first time. One in four who pass did it at the second attempt.

Translation: one fail says almost nothing about you. What matters is what you do with the next attempt.

What happens to your file

  • Attempts: the €94.05 fee includes two. If this was your first, the second is already paid; if it was the second, a new fee is due (see the fees guide).
  • A passed theory: you don't lose it by failing the practical — it stays valid for two years from the day you passed.
  • New date: with a school, they book it; independently, you request a new slot at the DGT sede — TraficoTest has a step-by-step cita previa guide (in Spanish). Waiting times vary a lot by province.

The strategy, depending on what you failed

If it was the theory: the problem is almost never "study more" — it's practising with outdated questions or never training against the clock. Change the method, not just the date: official-format mocks (30 questions, 30 minutes, max 3 mistakes) until your score sits stably above 90%. And if Spanish isn't your first language, practise in the language you'll sit the exam in.

TraficoTest computes your real probability of passing from your own statistics and flags the topics you fail — in English or Spanish. Book the next attempt when the number says so, not before.

🚀 Try a free DGT test in English

If it was the practical: get the exact list of faults from your instructor and train those situations, not "kilometres in general". And look up your school's numbers in our search: if its pass rate sits well below the provincial average exam after exam, switching schools before your next attempt is a perfectly rational move — your file and your passed theory travel with you.

Frequently asked questions ❓

How many times can I take the DGT exam?

There's no legal limit on attempts. Each €94.05 fee covers two; once used, you pay a new fee and continue. The only clock is the two-year validity of a passed theory.

If I fail the practical, do I lose the theory?

No. A passed theory keeps its two-year validity from the date you passed it, even if you fail the practical along the way.

How long do I wait to retake the exam?

It depends on availability in your province and your school: from days to several weeks. Independent candidates request a new slot at the DGT sede electrónica.

Is it normal to fail first time?

Completely: only 48.7% of those who pass the permiso B practical do it at their first attempt, according to the last 12 months of DGT microdata.