Practical driving test for licence B (car) at the DGT

What you need to have ready

1. Cl@ve or certificado digital to pay the fee and check results.
2. DNI or NIE in force (bring the physical document on exam day, a phone photo is not enough).
3. Psicotécnico done at a Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores (CRC).
4. Money for Tasa 2.1 and, if applicable, presentation/car fees charged by your autoescuela.

Documentation

• DNI/NIE physical document to identify yourself to the examiner.
• Informe de aptitud psicofísica (the CRC sends it to the DGT; keep your receipt in case of errors).
• Proof of payment of Tasa 2.1: NRC if you pay online or Modelo 791 if you generate the payment slip and pay at a bank.
• Expediente with theory APTO in the DGT. If you haven't passed the theory, forget the practical.
• Enrollment or agreement with an autoescuela to use a dual-control car and an instructor.

Step by step

1. Do the psicotécnico at a CRC. They give you a receipt and send the data to the DGT. Without this they won't register you for tests.
2. Pay Tasa 2.1 at https://sede.dgt.gob.es/es/tramites-y-multas/pago-de-tasas/ with Cl@ve or certificado. Keep the NRC or the Modelo 791 if you paid via the bank.
3. Check your expediente and that the theory shows APTO at https://sede.dgt.gob.es/es/permisos-de-conducir/examenes/ (Exámenes section). If something looks wrong, talk to your autoescuela.
4. Coordinate with your autoescuela for the date. They register you electronically with the Jefatura and assign car/instructor.
5. Go to the exam with DNI/NIE. Arrive early (traffic jams are the usual thing that can ruin the day). Phone on silent, listen to the examiner and the instructor.
6. Check the mark on the sede (Exámenes > Consulta de notas) or with your autoescuela. If you're APTO, they continue with the issuance and give you a temporary authorisation to drive.

Time-saving tips

• Pay the fee online and save the NRC as a PDF. If there's any issue with registration they'll ask for it.
• Avoid last-minute cancellations: if you cancel or miss your slot you can lose it for weeks.
• Ask about common routes used by your Jefatura. It's not cheating, it's being practical.
• Practice manoeuvres in the zones the instructor points out. A silly kerb clip can fail you.
• Check results in the evening: sometimes the system takes a few hours to publish marks.

Common mistakes that can ruin it for you

1. Going without the physical DNI/NIE: they won't let you take the test.
2. Tasa 2.1 used up or expired (two fails): you'll be removed from the list if you don't pay again.
3. Theory expired (more than 2 years): you must retake the theory before the practical.
4. No dual-control car: being 'private' is unrealistic; without an autoescuela car there's no exam.
5. Paying the fee and not saving the NRC: recovering the proof can be a headache.
6. Arriving late to the exam point: if they call you and you're not there it's treated as a withdrawal and you lose the attempt.