Driving Licences
To drive on public roads, every driver must hold an administrative authorisation certifying their competence. This authorisation is the driving licence. Driving without a valid licence constitutes a serious offence.
The Class B Driving Licence
The Class B licence is the most common and authorises the driving of a wide range of vehicles. It is essential to know its limits and possibilities:
Cars: You can drive vehicles whose Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) does not exceed 3,500 kg and which are designed to carry no more than nine people, including the driver. The number of seats authorised on the vehicle registration must never be exceeded, and minors occupy a full seat just like an adult.
Trailers: It is possible to tow a light trailer (up to 750 kg MAM). You can also tow a non-light trailer (over 750 kg) provided that the MAM of the combination (towing vehicle + trailer) does not exceed 3,500 kg. It is important to know that the trailer is not required to carry its own spare wheel.
Other vehicles: From the first day of obtaining the B licence, driving two-, three- and four-wheeled mopeds is authorised.
The Points-Based Licence System
The driving licence operates under a points system that rewards good drivers and sanctions risky offences. The initial points balance and its evolution is a key fact for the exam.
Allocation and Loss of Points
The initial allocation of points depends on the driver's seniority:
Novice drivers: Start with a balance of 8 points.
Experienced drivers: If during the first 3 years no offences resulting in point deductions are committed, the balance automatically increases to 12 points.
Bonuses: A driver with 12 points can reach a maximum of 15 if they maintain an impeccable record over the following years.
Loss of points occurs when serious or very serious offences are committed. For example, endangering cyclists by overtaking them incorrectly may result in the loss of 4 to 6 points. In the event of committing an offence, the vehicle's owner is obliged to identify the responsible driver to the Administration.
Recovering Points
The duration of the two types of courses shall be as follows:
• Partial courses shall have a minimum duration of 10 hours, 7 hours in the common part and 3 hours in the specific part. They allow the recovery of 4 points.
• Licence recovery courses, compulsory for drivers who have lost all their points or who have been deprived of the right to drive by judicial sentence, shall last at least 20 hours, 16 in the common part, 4 in the specific part. In addition, a theoretical exam on the course taken must be passed.
Mandatory Documentation for Driving
To drive legally, it is compulsory to always carry a series of documents in the vehicle. These may be the originals or duly certified photocopies.
Documentation of the Driver and the Vehicle
Driving Licence: Certifies that the driver is authorised to operate the vehicle.
Vehicle Registration: The document that identifies the vehicle, indicating its number plate, owner and essential technical characteristics, such as the number of authorised seats, which must never be exceeded.
Vehicle Technical Inspection Card (ITV): Certifies that the vehicle meets the technical and safety conditions to drive. All trailers and semi-trailers must have their own technical inspection card.
The Technical Vehicle Inspection (ITV)
The ITV is a compulsory periodic inspection. The frequency depends on the type of vehicle and its age:
Private cars and vans with up to 9 seats: They are exempt for the first 4 years from the date of their first registration. They undergo inspection every 2 years between 4 and 10 years of age. From 10 years onwards, inspection is annual.
Motorcycles: They undergo their first ITV at 4 years of age. From then on, they must pass it every 2 years.
Any major modification made to the vehicle requires an extraordinary technical inspection for its homologation. Furthermore, it is the driver's responsibility to ensure that the number plates are always clean, unobstructed and perfectly legible.
Compulsory Third-Party Liability Insurance
All motor vehicles and mopeds must be covered by compulsory insurance that guarantees the driver's civil liability. Driving without this insurance can lead to a heavy fine and the immobilisation of the vehicle.
Coverage of the Compulsory Insurance
It is crucial to understand what this basic policy covers and what it does not cover:
It does cover: Personal and material damage caused to third parties (the victims of the accident). This includes the non-guilty driver and vehicle.
It does not cover: Personal injuries suffered by the driver responsible for the accident, nor the material damage to their own vehicle.
Other Driver Obligations
In addition to documentation, the driver must comply with other important rules for safety and proper administrative functioning.
Responsibility for passengers: The driver is responsible for ensuring that all occupants maintain an appropriate position. However, adult passengers are responsible for using their own seat belt.
Rules when stopping the vehicle: When getting out of the vehicle, it is compulsory to switch off the engine and disconnect the ignition system. When refuelling, the engine must always be switched off.
Administrative procedures: The sale of a vehicle must be notified to the Traffic Authority (Jefatura de Tráfico) within a maximum period of 10 days.
Mandatory equipment: It is compulsory to carry in the car at least one high-visibility reflective vest.
Vehicle condition: You cannot drive if the vehicle emits smoke or gases above the permitted limits.