The 10 Topics You Must Know for the DGT Permit B Exam
The DGT Permit B theory exam draws from a structured syllabus covering ten distinct topic areas. Each exam contains 30 questions distributed across these topics. Understanding what each topic covers — and which ones are hardest — gives you a clear study plan.
1. Road Signs and Signals
This is the largest topic and typically accounts for 5 to 7 questions per exam. It covers regulatory signs (prohibition, obligation, priority), warning signs, informational signs, road markings, and traffic lights. You must know not only what each sign means but also the hierarchy when multiple signs or signals conflict. Pay special attention to the less common signs — most candidates know the common ones but stumble on rarely seen regulatory signs.
2. Right of Way and Priority
Expect 3 to 5 questions on priority rules. This topic covers intersections without signals, roundabout priority, emergency vehicle right of way, and the general rule of yielding to the right. Questions often include complex intersection images with multiple vehicles, and you must determine the correct order of passing. This is consistently the topic where the most candidates make mistakes.
3. Speed Limits
Usually 2 to 3 questions. You need to know the default speed limits for different road types (urban roads: 20, 30, or 50 km/h depending on lane configuration; conventional roads: 90 km/h; motorways: 120 km/h) and for different vehicle types. Also covered: minimum speed requirements, speed limit signs, and when reduced limits apply (rain, fog, towing).
4. Alcohol, Drugs, and Driver Fitness
Typically 2 to 3 questions. The legal blood alcohol limit in Spain is 0.5 g/l (0.3 g/l for new drivers and professional drivers). Questions cover the effects of alcohol and drugs on driving, medication interactions, fatigue, and the consequences of driving under the influence. This topic also includes questions about mandatory rest periods during long journeys.
5. Vehicle Safety and Maintenance
Usually 2 to 3 questions covering seatbelt rules, child restraint systems, tyre requirements, the ITV (vehicle inspection) system, required documents to carry, and basic vehicle maintenance (lights, brakes, tyres, fluids). Know the specific rules about when children can sit in the front seat and what safety equipment must be in the vehicle.
6. Motorway and Dual Carriageway Driving
Expect 2 to 3 questions on motorway rules: merging, lane discipline, minimum speed, overtaking, stopping and reversing prohibitions, and what to do in breakdowns. The difference between autopista (toll motorway) and autovía (free motorway) is important to understand, as are the specific rules for entering and exiting.
7. Urban Driving
Usually 2 to 3 questions covering city-specific rules: pedestrian crossings, bus lanes, loading zones, parking regulations, residential zones (zonas 30 and zonas 20), and cyclist priority in shared zones. Urban speed limits changed in 2021, so make sure your study materials are current.
8. Overtaking and Lane Discipline
Typically 2 to 3 questions. When you can and cannot overtake, how to overtake safely, the 1.5-metre rule for cyclists, overtaking on hills and curves, and the obligations of the overtaken driver. Also covers lane usage on multi-lane roads and the obligation to drive in the right-most lane when possible.
9. Vulnerable Road Users
Usually 1 to 2 questions on rules relating to pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and people with reduced mobility. Key topics include pedestrian priority at crossings, the obligation to leave 1.5 metres when passing cyclists, special rules in school zones, and how to interact with emergency vehicles.
10. First Aid and Accidents
Expect 1 to 2 questions on what to do at an accident scene: the PAS protocol (Protect, Alert, Help), when to move an injured person, basic first aid principles, and the obligation to assist. Questions are practical rather than medical — you do not need to know medical procedures, just the correct sequence of actions and basic principles.
Which Topics Should You Study Most?
Road signs and right of way together account for roughly a third of every exam and are where most mistakes happen. If your time is limited, prioritise these two topics. Speed limits and vehicle safety are the next most important. The remaining topics each contribute fewer questions but can still be the difference between passing and failing — remember, you can only afford 3 mistakes total.