The statistics show that passing the driving license is not a simple process: currently, the average pass rate in Spain is 51.48% in the theoretical exam and 50.90% in the practical exam, which means that practically one out of every two applicants fails at least one of the two tests.
A study by Carwow has analyzed the most recent official pass rates and has compared them with the evolution recorded during the last decade. The objective of the report is to identify in which provinces of Spain applicants are most likely to pass the driving test first time and in which it is more complicated.
Las Palmas, the most difficult province to pass
According to the combined ranking of the report, Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) is the province where it is most difficult to obtain a driving license in Spain.
The data show that it records the lowest pass rates in the country both in the theoretical exam and in the practical one:
- Passed in the theoretical exam: 40.69%.
- Passed in the practical exam: 37.19%.
- Combined average: 38.94%.
After Las Palmas, the provinces with the greatest difficulty to pass the driving license are Balearic Islands, with an average of 41.85%, followed by Huelva (44.51%), Almería (44.94%) and Segovia (45.20%).
Soria, where it is easier to obtain the license
At the opposite end of the ranking is Soria, which according to the study becomes the easiest place to be examined in Spain, with a success rate of 60.70%.
This province leads the ranking in the theoretical exam, with 59.95% pass rate, and occupies the third place in the practical test, with 61.45%.
For its part, Badajoz registers the highest pass rate in the country in the practical exam, with 63.29%, which places it in second place in the general ranking, with an average of 58.34%. Very close appears Albacete, with 58.03% of total passes.
The theoretical exam has become more difficult
The Carwow study also analyzes the evolution of the exams in the last decade and concludes that the theoretical test has become significantly more demanding.
According to the data analyzed, all provinces have registered a decrease in the pass rates in the theoretical exam during the last ten years. The most notable case is that of Ciudad Real, where the drop has been -23.25%.
In contrast, the evolution of practical exams has been more uneven. Some provinces have improved their results, while others have worsened. Among the most notable advances is that of Ávila, where the pass rate has increased +16.72% since 2014.
Nationally, the pass rate in the practical exam has remained relatively stable, with a slight decrease of 0.48% in ten years, a figure much lower than the drop recorded in the theoretical exam.
| Pos. | Province | Theory | Practical | Total Average |
| 1 | Soria | 59.95% | 61.45% | 60.70% |
| 2 | Badajoz | 53.39% | 63.29% | 58.34% |
| 3 | Albacete | 53.16% | 62.91% | 58.03% |
| 4 | Ávila | 54.11% | 60.80% | 57.45% |
| 5 | Castellón | 57.59% | 55.26% | 56.42% |
| 6 | Pontevedra | 58.99% | 53.49% | 56.24% |
| 7 | Salamanca | 56.94% | 54.94% | 55.94% |
| 8 | Cuenca | 56.39% | 54.13% | 55.26% |
| 9 | Asturias | 54.22% | 55.60% | 54.91% |
| 10 | Toledo | 50.84% | 58.94% | 54.89% |
| 11 | León | 55.53% | 54.10% | 54.81% |
| 12 | Cádiz | 53.79% | 55.14% | 54.46% |
| 13 | Jaén | 59.70% | 48.77% | 54.24% |
| 14 | Murcia | 55.34% | 52.53% | 53.94% |
| 15 | Sevilla | 56.47% | 51.33% | 53.90% |
| Pos. | Province | Theory | Practical | Total Average |
| 1 | Las Palmas | 40.69% | 37.19% | 38.94% |
| 2 | Baleares | 40.93% | 42.77% | 41.85% |
| 3 | Huelva | 44.75% | 44.27% | 44.51% |
| 4 | Almería | 46.33% | 43.55% | 44.94% |
| 5 | Segovia | 42.90% | 47.50% | 45.20% |
| 6 | Cáceres | 45.89% | 44.95% | 45.42% |
| 7 | S/C de Tenerife | 44.08% | 48.10% | 46.09% |
| 8 | Madrid | 49.47% | 44.89% | 47.18% |
| 9 | Burgos | 50.51% | 43.99% | 47.25% |
| 10 | Córdoba | 52.13% | 42.59% | 47.36% |
| 11 | Lleida | 42.00% | 53.65% | 47.83% |
| 12 | Araba/Álava | 48.79% | 47.20% | 48.00% |
| 13 | Tarragona | 44.66% | 52.33% | 48.49% |
| 14 | Palencia | 54.22% | 43.22% | 48.72% |
| 15 | Ciudad Real | 49.31% | 49.08% | 49.19% |
License at 17 years old
The European Parliament updated, last October, the rules regulating driving licenses in the European Union. The objective of this reform is to improve road safety and reduce accidents, which each year cause almost 20,000 deaths on EU roads.
These are the main novelties:
More demanding training
The new rules established changes in the training and in the exams to obtain the driving license. Among the mandatory contents are included the risks of blind spots, driver assistance systems, the safe opening of doors and the dangers of distraction due to mobile phone use.
Validity and medical controls
Driving licenses for cars and motorcycles will be valid for 15 years, although Member States may limit it to 10 years if the license is used as a national identity document.
In the case of trucks and buses, the validity will be five years. EU countries may also reduce the duration of the permit for those over 65 years old, with the aim of carrying out more frequent medical checks or refresher courses.
Before obtaining the first permit or renewing it, drivers must undergo a medical examination that includes vision and cardiovascular condition tests, although countries may replace it with self-assessment forms or other national systems.
New drivers
The new rules introduced a probationary period of at least two years for new drivers, who will be subject to stricter rules and harsher penalties, especially in cases of driving under the influence of alcohol or for not using seat belts or child restraint systems.
It will also be allowed for 17-year-olds to obtain the permit for cars (category B), although they must drive accompanied by an experienced driver until they turn 18. Member States have three years to apply this rule.
Digital card
The reform established that the digital driving license, accessible from the mobile phone, will progressively become the main format in the EU.
Nevertheless, drivers will retain the right to request a physical permit, which must be issued without undue delay and, in general, within a maximum period of three weeks.
Sanctions across the EU
To reinforce road safety, decisions on the withdrawal, suspension or restriction of the driving license will be transferred to the country that has issued the permit, with the aim of guaranteeing the cross-border enforcement of sanctions.
National authorities must inform each other without delay about sanctions related to serious infringements, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, involvement in fatal accidents, or speeding.