What Languages Is the DGT Theory Test Available In?

The DGT theory test is available in Spanish, in Spain's co-official languages, and, for the car licence, in English, French and German. In practice this means an English speaker sitting the Permiso B (car) exam can take it entirely in English. Motorcycle, truck and bus exams are Spanish or co-official only. This guide breaks down exactly which languages apply where, and how you set your language when you book.

Which languages can you take the DGT theory test in?

For the car licence, the DGT theory exam is offered in Spanish, English, French and German, plus the co-official languages of some regions: Catalan, Basque (Euskera), Galician and Valencian. So a candidate has several options, but not every language applies to every licence, and not every centre offers every option. The core list is short and worth memorising.

• Spanish: available everywhere, for every licence category.
• Co-official languages: Catalan, Basque, Galician and Valencian, in the regions where they are official.
• English, French and German: for the car licence (Permiso B) only.

If you are an English speaker going for a standard car licence, the English option is what matters most. Our pillar guide, the DGT theory test in English, walks through the whole process end to end.

Are English, French and German only for the car licence?

Yes. English, French and German are available for the car licence (Permiso B) only. Every other category, including motorcycle licences (AM, A1, A2, A), the truck licences (C) and the bus licences (D), must be taken in Spanish or in a co-official language. There is no English motorcycle or lorry theory exam, so plan around that from the start.

Why does this matter? A lot of expats assume that if the car test is offered in English, the motorbike test will be too. It is not. If you want an A1 or A2 motorcycle licence in Spain and your Spanish is limited, you will still have to sit that theory exam in Spanish or a co-official language. The English exemption stops at Permiso B.

For the category most English speakers actually need, see the Permiso B test in English, which covers what the car exam looks like and how to prepare for it.

What to do if your category is not offered in English

Sitting the exam in Spanish and studying in Spanish are two different problems, and only the first one is fixed. Nothing stops you learning the material in English and then rehearsing it in Spanish. That is the practical route for any category you have to sit in Spanish.

The failure most candidates hit is not vocabulary, it is false confidence. You read a question in Spanish, recognise a few words, pick the answer that looks familiar, and never notice you had the rule backwards. Recognising the wording and understanding the rule feel identical from the inside, right up until the exam uses a phrasing you have not seen before.

Working through each question in both languages separates the two. Read it in English to be sure what is actually being asked, then read the same question in Spanish so the phrasing on exam day is not the first time you meet it. The rule sticks in English; the wording stops being a surprise in Spanish.

Every question on DGTTestPro carries both languages, so you can switch between them on the same screen instead of studying the same syllabus twice. Each category page shows the exam format and what its question bank currently holds:

• Permiso A2 and Permiso AM for motorcycles and mopeds
• Permiso C for trucks and Permiso D for buses

Allow yourself longer than you would for an exam in your own language. The material is the same, but reading every question twice takes time, and hurrying that is how the false confidence creeps back in.

What are the co-official languages by region?

Spain has four co-official languages besides Spanish, each tied to specific regions where it holds official status. The DGT lets you sit the theory exam in the co-official language of the region where you take it. This applies across licence categories, not just the car licence, which makes it different from the English, French and German options.

Catalan

Catalan is co-official in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. If you sit the exam in Barcelona, Girona, Palma or elsewhere in those regions, Catalan is available as an exam language alongside Spanish.

Basque (Euskera)

Basque, or Euskera, is co-official in the Basque Country and in parts of Navarra. Candidates examining in those areas can choose Basque as their exam language.

Galician

Galician is co-official in Galicia, in the northwest. The theory exam is available in Galician at DGT centres across the region.

Valencian

Valencian is co-official in the Valencian Community. Candidates sitting the exam there can take it in Valencian instead of Spanish.

The practical point for an English speaker: these languages help native regional speakers, not incoming expats. If you do not read Catalan or Basque comfortably, English remains the option to reach for on the car exam.

Can you take the practical driving test in English?

No. The practical driving test cannot be taken in English. It is conducted in Spanish, or in a co-official language where that applies, and there is no English, French or German option for it at all. The examiner sits with you in the car and gives directions in Spanish, so you need enough of the language to follow instructions like turn left, pull over, or take the next exit.

This catches people out. The English theory option can create the impression that the whole licence process is available in English, but it is not. Only the theory exam has the English, French and German choice. For the practical, plan to learn the handful of driving instructions in Spanish even if you prepare your theory in English.

How do you choose your DGT exam language?

You set the exam language when the exam is requested, not on the day you sit it. If you go through an autoescuela, the school arranges your exam and records your chosen language as part of the booking. If you book independently (por libre), the language is set on the exam request you submit to the DGT. Either way, you are not switching languages at the terminal on exam day.

One caveat worth knowing: English availability can vary by exam centre. Most Jefaturas that serve areas with many foreign residents offer it routinely, but it is not guaranteed at every single office at every session. The safe move is to confirm English is available when you register, before you commit to a date. Our step-by-step guide, how to book the DGT theory exam in English, covers exactly how the request works and what to ask.

Once your language is set, the whole exam, questions and answer options included, appears in that language on the computer at the DGT office. Nothing is mixed. If you booked English, you see English.

Frequently asked questions

Is the DGT theory test available in English?

Yes, for the car licence (Permiso B). The theory exam is offered in English, French and German for that category, alongside Spanish and the co-official languages. You choose English when the exam is requested.

Can I take the motorcycle theory test in English?

No. English, French and German apply to the car licence only. Motorcycle categories (AM, A1, A2, A), like trucks and buses, must be taken in Spanish or a co-official language.

Which co-official languages can I use?

Catalan in Catalonia and the Balearics, Basque (Euskera) in the Basque Country and parts of Navarra, Galician in Galicia, and Valencian in the Valencian Community. They are available in the regions where each is official.

Is the practical test available in English?

No. The practical driving test is conducted in Spanish, or a co-official language where that applies. There is no English, French or German option, so you need enough Spanish to follow the examiner's directions.

What if my local centre does not offer English?

English availability can vary by exam centre. Confirm it is offered when you register, before booking a date. If your nearest office does not offer it, a neighbouring Jefatura may, so it is worth asking around.

Sources

• Reglamento General de Conductores (Real Decreto 818/2009).

Last updated: August 2026.