Driving License Delays in the Balearic Islands: A Growing Crisis
In the *Balearic Islands*, obtaining a driving license requires more than just mastering traffic rules and demonstrating driving skills; it also demands a significant amount of patience . Aspiring drivers in Mallorca have been warned by driving schools that they might have to wait for several months to take the practical driving exam. This bottleneck is largely attributed to a significant shortage of traffic examiners . The situation is compounded by the high cost of living, which drives many existing examiners to seek positions in mainland Spain.
The cost of housing in the islands has become so prohibitive that many examiners end up requesting transfers to the mainland as soon as they can. The difficulties in recruiting and retaining sufficient examiners pose real challenges for the educational and transport systems in the region.
Summer Struggles with Limited Examiners. This year, the *Diario de Mallorca* reported that, despite the influx of students hoping to obtain their driving licenses during their summer break, the Balearic Islands are facing a perilous situation with a severe lack of traffic examiners . Currently, there are only 16 examiners active on the islands, and unfortunately, many of them are set to leave due to various reasons in the coming months.
According to Joana Ribas, the President of the Balearic Association of Driving Schools, out of the 16 officials responsible for examining in the archipelago, eight plan to leave , another has passed competitive exams for a different position, and one is approaching retirement. “I had anticipated losing four or five, but ten was unexpected,” she admitted.
A Worsening Problem. After highlighting the potential crisis of losing these crucial professionals, the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has reportedly committed to delaying some of the transfers of these examiners by several months, allowing for coverage during the busy summer months. Additionally, the DGT will send temporary staff to fill vacancies on the islands.
Nonetheless, driving schools are looking towards the future with concern. The community has been alerting about the chronic shortage of traffic personnel for some time now, especially since many of those who have requested to leave cover areas such as Ibiza and Menorca .
A year ago, there were approximately 8,000 students awaiting their driving exams, and at the beginning of 2025, the waiting list is still at 7,000 . It’s no surprise that to take the practical exam, a requirement for obtaining a driving license, students have to wait months . “The problem lies in the constant makeshift solutions from the Ministry, which fails to consider expanding the number of examiners. We need about seven to eight more examiners in the Balearics,” Ribas stated.
More Than Just Drivers. The difficulties faced by the Balearic Islands in meeting the demand for driving licenses stem not only from the availability of examiner positions, but also from the issue of attracting new personnel. Examiners relocating from other regions of Spain often struggle to settle in a place where the cost of living is skyrocketing. Over the past year, housing prices in the archipelago have surged by over 17% , according to data from Idealista.
The net result? Public servants moving to the islands often look to transfer to other regions where the cost of living, particularly in terms of housing, does not approach the staggering €6,625 per square meter seen in places like Ibiza. Ribas emphasizes that even if new recruits arrive to meet immediate vacancies, the underlying issues are likely to resurface in just a few years.
Is This a New Issue? No. A year ago, *El Confidencial* already warned of the complex scenario faced by driving school students in the Balearics and the challenges of making the islands appealing to examiners from the mainland. The newspaper noted that the insularity bonus for those in the archipelago was only €80 , a stark contrast to the €400 provided in regions like the Canaries, Ceuta, or Melilla. Traffic authorities recognize that one of the primary factors influencing the shortage of examiners is high living costs , especially in places as expensive as Ibiza.
Local associations have been vocal about the need for more examiners and have suggested several solutions. Ribas, for instance, proposes creating internal pools to facilitate filling examiner vacancies in more problematic areas with local personnel. The ultimate goal is to prevent scenarios as seen this summer and discourage students from pursuing their licenses in other parts of Spain, where waiting times are much shorter.
Beyond Just Examiners. In the Balearic Islands, driving schools face challenges not only in securing traffic examiners but also in hiring instructors. Recently, *El Diario* revealed that schools are actively seeking teachers from the mainland or even from other European countries, often offering relocation packages that include accommodation.
The issue of high living costs, particularly housing, affecting the recruitment of essential services is not unique to the Balearic Islands. For instance, similar challenges are faced in Galicia , especially with the recruitment of summer lifeguards.
In conclusion, the severe shortage of traffic examiners in the Balearic Islands presents not only an immediate challenge but also hints at a broader issue concerning the attractiveness of the region for professionals. Without effective solutions, the dream of acquiring a driving license may continue to be a distant reality for many aspiring drivers in the archipelago.