With the new reform of the Traffic Law, there are a series of changes that will appeal to drivers, which include the facility to obtain two more points on your driving license. In Spain, the system works differently than in the UK, as you have 12 points and they get deducted for driving offences until you lose your licence when this gets to zero.
In 2023, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) have announced that you can get an extra two points by taking “safe and efficient driving courses” which aim to improve the standard of driving and driver behaviour.
Any driver can take a safe driving course certified by the DGT, where they will have the possibility of improving their driving skills, and once completed will be awarded two more points on their driving license.
These courses will combine theoretical training with practice and will be based on teaching and reinforcing techniques focused on avoiding accidents, as well as on driving efficiently, and saving fuel. The minimum duration of the course will be 6 hours.
CHANGES IN POINTS LOST FOR DRIVING OFFENCES:
The point-based driving license, known in Spain as the “points card”, was introduced in 2006, and has been updated in the new Traffic Law, not only by giving the opportunity for extra points but also by getting tougher in dealing with some of the infractions that subtract points.
Among them, are the following:
- Driving while holding a mobile phone in your hand: Now 6 points are subtracted (before it was 3 points), with a fine of 200 euros.
- Driving vehicles with radar detection mechanisms onboard: This is a loss of 3 points, even if it is not being used.
- Not wearing a seat belt, helmet, and other safety elements such as child seats: This is now penalized with one more point than in 2022, with 4 points deducted from your licence.
- Term to recover the initial balance of points: it has been decided to unify the term without infractions being committed to two years in order to recover the balance of 12 points, as long as all of them have not been lost. In this case, a recovery course would be necessary.
- Putting cyclists at risk: either by overtaking or hindering their progress in trafic, without maintaining the safety distance established at a minimum of 1.5 metres, will mean a loss of 6 points from your licence.
How the permit by points works:
Those drivers who have more than three years of experience start with a balance of 12 points and if no violations are committed that subtract points in three years, two more points are added to reach 14 points.
If in the course of another three years, there are no violations that entail the loss of points, the balance grows by one more point up to the maximum of 15 points allowed by the system. The bonus courses allow you to reach up to that maximum number.
For their part, new drivers or drivers who have obtained their driving license again, start with a balance of 8 points, and after two years without committing offenses that mean the loss of points, they will have 12 points. Following the same process as in the previous case, they will be able to reach the maximum balance of 15 points.
In any case, all drivers have the possibility of recovering points, there are road awareness and re-education courses that will allow a maximum of 6 points to be recovered and the initial balance of points can never be exceeded. These courses can be carried out every two years or one a year in the case of professional drivers.
If you lose your licence you are forbidden from driving any vehicle during that period, and if you do, can result in imprisonment.
