Getting your driving license without using the clutch and changing gears is now a reality within the reach of anyone who wants to learn to drive in Spain. This is the B permit limited to automatic vehicles, a modality that more and more driving school students choose, but which also raises many doubts about how it works or how to apply for it. That’s why below these lines we tell you all the details.
The Same Permission, but with a Nuance: Only Automatic
Despite what many people believe, there is no new or independent license for automatic cars. According to several driving schools, the permit remains the same as it has always been—Category B—only with an annotation added that indicates the holder can only drive vehicles with automatic transmission.
Those who obtain their license using a manual car are still enabled to drive both types of transmission without any restrictions. This note, known as “code 78,” is printed on the back of the license next to the category. As per Spain’s Instruction 2019/C-134 from the DGT, if the applicant takes their practical exam with an automatic car, it must be documented on the permit.
Increasing Popularity: Why the Demand for Automatic Permits Is Rising
The rise of this type of permit is mirrored in the automotive market. Two decades ago, automatic vehicles were rare in Spain. Today, an increasing number of models—especially electric and hybrid vehicles, which do not have a clutch—are marketed exclusively with automatic transmissions.
According to El Periódico, around 600,000 category B permits are issued each year in Spain, with between 33,000 and 37,000 bearing the automatic limitation, accounting for 5.5% to 6.2% of the total. In the driving school sector, estimates suggest the figure could be around 10% of the licenses issued.
This growing inclination is also a generational shift; younger drivers increasingly view manual transmission as outdated and often have no intention of driving manual cars.
How to Obtain the Automatic License: The Process Explained
The learning process for the automatic permit is similar to that of the traditional B license. This includes attending a driving school, passing a theory exam, taking practical classes, and completing a final exam—however, both the practical classes and the test are conducted using an automatic vehicle.
You don’t have to make a decision at registration; you can start with a manual car and later switch to an automatic if you wish. For example, student Elena García switched to an automatic after fifteen to twenty classes, as the vehicle she planned to use was already automatic.
Driving a Manual Car with an Automatic License: The Risks
If someone with a license noted with code 78 is caught driving a manual car, they face serious repercussions. According to Sergio Olivera from the National Confederation of Driving Schools (CNAE), such individuals risk a fine of 500 euros and the loss of four points on their license. This is classified as a serious infraction, akin to driving without a permit.
Easing the Process: Future Changes on the Horizon
Although currently, a complete practical exam is required to upgrade from an automatic to a manual license, a European directive set to be implemented by 2029 introduces a training course that will replace this requirement. This course, only seven hours long, allows automatic drivers to gain the manual driving privilege without re-taking the entire exam.
The Future is Automatic: Current Trends
In the last decade, the share of automatic cars in Spain’s vehicle registrations has surged from about 20% to over 50%, coinciding with the rise of electric and hybrid models. However, Spain remains one of the few countries where manual transmissions still hold significant sway, particularly in Mediterranean regions.
As the trend shifts towards automatic vehicles, the implications for driving habits and future license regulations are likely to evolve significantly.