Pere Navarro explains one of the major changes coming to Spain: driving will be allowed starting at 17 years old.

21/09/2026 17:30

Updated to

21/09/2026 17:30

Spain will need to adapt its driving license regulations in the coming years to one of the most significant changes approved by the European Union. The new rules will allow access to a Class B license at age 17, though within a supervised driving system until reaching adulthood.

Pere Navarro, Director General of Traffic, addressed this issue in the second part of his interview on Radio 5’s Motor 5 program, broadcast on September 20. Among the topics discussed was precisely the possibility of driving at age 17, along with other changes related to training, exams, and new traffic regulations.

Driving at 17, but always with a companion

The possibility of driving from the age of 17 does not mean that young people can travel alone at that age. European Directive 2025/2205 establishes a supervised driving system that allows applicants to obtain a B license before turning 18, but requires them to have a companion until they reach adulthood.

The DGT itself has explained that this model follows a formula similar to one already in use in other European countries. The young person will need to pass theoretical and practical tests, and once the license is obtained, it will carry a specific code indicating that they can only drive under supervision.

Therefore, it’s not simply about lowering the minimum age to drive. The idea is to advance access to the license while maintaining a supervised learning phase before allowing fully independent driving.

Pere Navarro does not expect a “revolution”

During the interview, Navarro downplayed the impact this measure could have, stating that he does not currently perceive significant social pressure in Spain to drive before the age of 18. The DGT director even said it “won’t be a revolution.”

He also explained that Tráfico does not believe there is particularly strong demand from young people or their families to lower the age limit for obtaining a driver’s license. The measure is primarily driven by new European regulations rather than an initiative specifically launched from Spain. That doesn’t mean the change won’t happen. Spain will need to adapt its laws to the community directive and determine how this new system of supervised driving will be implemented in practice.

The new model has not yet been fully implemented in our country. The European directive must be transposed into Spanish law, with the deadline for doing so set for November 26, 2028. The DGT has already established a working group to prepare this adaptation, though some details still need to be finalized. These include the requirements that must be met by the accompanying driver and the exact functioning of the system during the 17 to 18 age range.

Until this transposition is completed, the current regulations will remain in force. Therefore, supervised driving starting at 17 is a planned and mandatory change under the European framework, but it is still pending implementation in Spain.

Exams will remain mandatory

The European Commission proposes this system as a way to gain real driving experience under supervision before moving on to independent driving. In this way, new drivers would have accumulated more miles and encountered more real-world situations by the time they turn 18.

Apprentice driving starting at age 17 is part of a broader reform of European regulations on driver’s licenses. The new directive was approved in 2025 and requires member states to adapt their respective laws.

Each country will have some flexibility to implement the system within its national laws, but the possibility of obtaining a license at age 17 is part of the new community framework. Spain will therefore need to incorporate it in the coming years.

Pere Navarro, however, does not expect his arrival to bring about a radical change in the mobility of Spanish youths. The main novelty will be that minors under 18 will be able to obtain a Class B license and start driving legally, though they will have to do so always accompanied during that initial period.