Rules of the Road

Having driven for 10 years in the US means nothing to the Spanish DMV. I wouldn't be so peeved if it just meant spending 15 Euros and taking a quick test, however there seems to be a Driver's Ed mafia looming in Spain. The only way to get a driver's licence is by registering with a private "auto school"...registration price...85 Euros. Same as in the States, there's a written test and a driving test. Price that the Spanish DMV charges to take the written test...83.40 Euros. Before you can do the driving test, the auto school has to give the OK that you're ready. One 45 minute driving lesson with the auto school is 18 Euros. New driver's need between 10 and 12 lessons before they get the OK to take the test. If you happen to fail either the written or the driving test twice you have to pay 185 Euros up front before you can try again, plus you have to take 2 more mandatory private lessons. I'm convinced it's a mafia. People have to take out mortgages just to get their driver's licence!

Anyway, so that's what I'm doing now. Going to driver's ed classes, despite having a driver's licence for 10 years and never having gotten a ticket. The world's gone mad.