Getting your category B licence in 2026: a step-by-step guide
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Getting a category B licence takes 3–6 months in most countries: a theory test, 20–45 hours of practical lessons, and a ~25–40 minute practical test. Costs range from under €1,000 in southern Europe to over €3,000 in the Netherlands and Germany. Passing first time is the biggest saving anywhere.
Getting a driving licence is one of those errands everyone postpones until it becomes urgent: a job offer, a move, a child on the way. This guide walks through the category B car licence in 2026 — the requirements, the two tests, the real price across countries, and the mistakes that fail the most tests.
Requirements for a category B licence
Before enrolling anywhere, check the standard requirements (details via Your Europe and your national authority):
- Minimum age 18. Theory can often be started earlier, but the practical test and issue require majority — except in accompanied-driving schemes (from 15–17 in France, Germany, the UK and others).
- Residence in the issuing country, with ID.
- Medical fitness. A sight test is standard; some countries require a full medical certificate or a first-aid course.
- No driving disqualification in force.
Documents typically requested
Photo ID, recent photographs, proof of residence, the medical or eyesight certificate, and payment of the test fees — which in most countries include a limited number of attempts, so each re-sit beyond that costs again.
Step 1: the theory test
Formats differ, but the pattern is a multiple-choice test on signs, rules, safety and first response:
| Country | Format (indicative) |
|---|---|
| Spain | 30 questions, max 3 errors |
| France (Code) | 40 questions, max 5 errors |
| Germany | 30 questions, weighted errors, max 10 points |
| United Kingdom | 50 questions (max 7 errors) + hazard perception |
| Italy | 30 true/false, max 3 errors |
How to prepare without getting stuck
- Study by topic, not test after test. Signs, priorities, speed, alcohol, lighting, documents. Understanding the logic beats memorising answers.
- Move to mock tests once theory is solid. Aim for a streak of 10–15 mocks within the pass margin before booking.
- Drill the trap topics: stopping distances, alcohol limits by driver type, speed limits by road and vehicle, and first-response protocol at a crash.
- Sleep and arrive early. Rushed misreads in the final questions are a classic fail.
Self-study
Theory can usually be self-studied, saving the school's theory fee — but you lose the commented question bank and date management. For the practical test, the dual-control car makes a school near-obligatory.
Step 2: practical lessons
Once theory is passed (validity for booking the practical test is commonly around 2 years), lessons begin on real roads: roundabouts, merging, parking, turning and faster roads.
How many lessons you really need
- Under 15 hours: only with prior driving experience (private land, previous bike licence).
- 20–30 hours: typical for a beginner practising 2–3 times a week.
- 35–45+: common where lessons are spaced out — each session starts almost from zero.
Money-saving advice: concentrate lessons. Two or three sessions a week in the final stretch beat ten spread over three months. Single lessons run roughly €25–70 depending on the country, so consistency shows in the wallet.
Step 3: the practical test
The test lasts about 25–40 minutes depending on the country. The examiner assesses autonomous, safe driving: observation, signalling, positioning, adapted speed and manoeuvres.
How marking works
- Serious/dangerous fault: one fails you (running a stop or red light, forcing another driver to brake hard, mounting the kerb, instructor intervention).
- Minor faults: tolerated up to a threshold (around 10 in several systems).
- Repeated hesitation and poor observation accumulate into a fail.
Common fails
- Mirrors and blind spots before turning, changing lane or leaving roundabouts — the number-one fail cause everywhere.
- Roundabouts: giving way inside, lane choice, signalling the exit. Freezing at the entry also penalises.
- Wrong speed: too slow from fear (obstructing traffic counts) or over the limit in 30/50 zones.
- Endless parking: more than 3–4 moves or correcting without observing. Ask to restart calmly instead of forcing it.
- Nerves at the start: stalling twice leaving the test centre colours the whole test. Breathe, clutch gently, go when clear.
- Forgetting signals: indicators for every turn, lane change and roundabout exit. Minor alone, but they accumulate.
What a B licence costs in 2026: realistic ranges
| Country | Indicative total |
|---|---|
| Spain | €700–1,500 |
| Portugal | €700–1,000 |
| Italy | €800–1,200 |
| France | ~€1,800 |
| United Kingdom | £1,500–2,000 |
| Germany | €2,000–3,500 |
| Netherlands | €3,000+ |
Capitals run higher; smaller towns cheaper. Each failed practical test costs a re-test fee plus refresher lessons: passing first time is the biggest saving possible.
After passing: novice rules
Most countries impose novice restrictions for 1–3 years: lower alcohol limits (e.g. 0.15 mg/l in Spain, zero in Germany during probation), reduced points balances, and sometimes speed or passenger limits plus a novice plate or sticker. Check your country's exact scheme.
First months at the wheel
- Practise known routes before motorways or rush-hour centres.
- Keep the phone away: handling it costs points and money everywhere. A mount plus voice alerts removes the temptation.
- Respect limits even if "everyone speeds": average-speed and mobile cameras do not forgive, and on a novice balance the margin is thin.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a category B licence cost in 2026?
From under €1,000 in southern Europe to over €3,000 in the Netherlands and Germany. Lessons are the dominant cost everywhere.
How long does it take?
Three to six months at a normal pace. Intensive courses can deliver it in 6–8 weeks where test dates allow.
How many theory errors are allowed?
It varies: Spain allows 3 in 30, France 5 in 40, the UK 7 in 50 plus hazard perception. Check your country's current format.
Can I learn privately without a school?
Theory usually yes; the practical test needs a dual-control car and qualified instructor in most countries, so schools dominate in practice.
What alcohol limit applies to novice drivers?
Lower than the general limit almost everywhere — commonly half the standard rate or zero during probation. Verify your country's figures.
Start on the right foot
Picking a school with good pass rates, concentrating lessons and taking theory seriously are the three decisions that most affect the final price and timeline. And when the novice plate goes on, drive your first months with a co-driver that warns you of cameras, limits and hazards without looking at your phone: try Soplo, the real-time camera and traffic alert app, free on iOS and Android.