EU to drop manual licence restriction as automatic car licences surge in Spain

The European Union approved a new regulation in autumn 2025 that will progressively eliminate the code 78 restriction on driving licences, which currently limits holders to automatic‑transmission vehicles. Member states have four years to transpose the rule, and by 2029 new cars sold in Europe are expected to be automatic only.

In Spain, the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) is preparing a model where the default licence will be issued for automatic cars. Drivers who wish to operate a manual vehicle would only need to complete a seven‑hour specific course, without a fresh theory or practical test.

Demand for automatic licences is rising, especially among young people, women over 50, and foreign residents, according to driving‑school officials. Auto schools note that most new vehicle purchases are already automatic, and professional transport fleets have long been fully automatic, reinforcing the shift away from manual transmission.