tenerife 17 year olds driving licence eu rules

17-year-olds in Tenerife to get driving licence under new EU rules

New EU directive brings change for young drivers

Young people in Tenerife aged 17 will soon be able to obtain a full driving licence, just like the rest of Spain, thanks to a legislative change driven by the European Union. The measure, set out in Article 17 of EU Directive 2025/2205, will allow drivers to get their licence before reaching the age of majority. However, there is a key condition: they must never drive alone.

The ‘German model’ of accompanied driving

Under the new rules, 17-year-olds will be able to get behind the wheel only when accompanied by an experienced driver. This system, known as the ‘German model’, is designed to help young drivers gain skills and experience real road situations, but always under supervision. “The accompanied driving set out in this directive is based on what is known as the ‘German model’, which involves bringing forward the minimum age for obtaining a driving licence to 17,” explains Montserrat Pérez, Deputy Director General for Training and Road Safety at the DGT (Spanish traffic authority).

The licence will also include a specific code, 98.02, which will identify this requirement until the driver turns 18. “Let’s not forget that a very high percentage of us, when we got our licence, drove for the first few times with someone we trusted in the passenger seat,” she adds.

Who can be the accompanying driver?

Not just anyone can act as the accompanying driver. They must meet a series of criteria to sit alongside the young driver:

  • Always comply with alcohol and drug laws
  • Be at least 24 years old
  • Have held a driving licence for more than five years
  • Not have lost the right to drive in the last five years

Each country may also limit the number of accompanying persons and “impose additional conditions within its territory beyond those described in the directive that the person accompanying the licence holder must meet.”

Benefits for young people and road safety

“The aim is to make it easier for young people to get a licence, which could be particularly interesting for those living in sparsely populated areas or useful for those who want to start university already able to drive their own car. It is an option they did not have until now. Furthermore, it ensures that until they turn 18, their driving will be supervised, which can also be a positive thing,” summarises the Deputy Director General for Training and Road Safety.

Despite this change, the process for obtaining a driving licence in Spain remains the same. Candidates for a B licence must still pass a theory test and a practical test as before. “The new directive does not change the training model. This text does not regulate how you train your drivers; it sets out the content we must examine for each type of licence, regulates exam times, the requirements examiners must meet… but it does not specify a particular training model, and we already have our own,” specifies Montserrat Pérez.

When will the change take effect?

Although the measure has already been approved at European level, Spain must still adapt it into national law. The deadline for doing so is the end of 2028. With this change, the European Union aims to reduce accident rates among novice drivers by allowing young drivers to gain experience with experienced drivers before venturing out alone. In this way, the accompanying driver can reinforce safety and correct mistakes from the very beginning.

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