Could Spain’s driving lessons soon look like this — but with your dad in the passenger seat? Credit: Smederevac from Getty Images
What if learning how to drive didn’t begin in a classroom, but with a family instead of paying hundreds to a certified school? That surreal scenario will soon become a reality in Spain. The country’s current traffic authority, the DGT, is proposing that learners take the wheel under the supervision of a family member or a friend, rather than just a paid instructor. Obtaining a driving licence at a lower cost, especially for rural and young residents who need a car more than they need another bill. Making licences more affordable, accessible and realistic expectations to people who need mobility but often cannot afford it.
What’s changing?
The DGT is rethinking who teaches and reimagining how people are tested. The age of memorising road signs and crossing your fingers for a multiple-choice test may soon become more dynamic. Short video clips of real-life traffic events, where the future of driving includes spotting hazards before they occur.
This new push comes from the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC), which has recently issued a report urging the DGT to modernise the driving training system. To cut costs, boost transparency and bring this procedure to the 21st century.
At the heart of this plan, there will be two significant changes:
- Let learners train with non-professional tutors, such as parents, siblings, or neighbours, rather than relying solely on licensed instructors.
- Modernise the exam by incorporating video-based risk scenarios to assess hazard perception in real-time.
Both of these action plans have already been implemented in countries such as the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. The CNMC argues that drivers are paying the price.
The licence will go local.
Once approved, learners can soon skip the expensive driving schools and instead take to the road along with a trusted friend or family member as their instructor. According to the CNMC, most drivers are young and reside in rural areas where driving is a necessity. Yet many cannot afford lessons and wait months to get exam slot dates.
Allowing family members to be involved as part of the learning curve can help reduce the burden. That said, it won’t be a free fall; the DGT would still oversee testing, and professional schools won’t disappear but will adapt.
Say goodbye to trick questions.
While the roads will open up to non-professional tutors, the test room will be more sophisticated. The DGT is planning a significant update for Spain’s driving licence:
- Real video clips showing risky traffic situations, where applicants must identify the hazard before it occurs.
- The DGT has already uploaded 21 sample clips to its website and will proceed with training in this format.
The reform is still being actively tested, and when it arrives, the standard 30-question theory test will feel more like the real-world driving.
What this means
This proposal will signal to Spain that driving licences will become more affordable, accessible, and relevant to their real-world skills. That is good news for many, including:
- Students and low-income families
- Residents in rural areas
- Skipping the unnecessary fees
But the changes will also prompt interesting questions:
- Will driving schools survive this shift?
- Will the new video-based exams assess the instincts or penalise slow reactions under pressure?
The Interior Ministry says it’s still evaluating the proposals, and no decision is final. However, with the CNMC’s urgent reform and the DGT already introducing new tools, it is clear and evident that Spain’s old-school approach to driving may be heading for a sharper turn. Soon, learning to drive may not just be cheaper, but it may also feel entirely different.
