Vehicle Maintenance: DGT theory test questions in English

Check the oil with the car on level ground and the engine off and cold. If the engine is hot or running, the reading will be wrong. You'll get a false oil level.

No. A fire extinguisher is only required in vehicles with a maximum authorized mass (MMA) of 3,500 kg or more, whatever type of service they provide. A private car doesn't need one, however many people it carries.

Coolant's main job is to cool the engine. It absorbs heat, keeps the engine at the right temperature, and prevents dangerous overheating. It also withstands very low temperatures, so engine parts don't freeze in winter. Heating and air conditioning are not its main purpose.

Systems such as the lights, steering, and suspension need regular checks as part of preventive maintenance. These checks are in addition to the service schedule set by the manufacturer. They're always needed, not just after an accident.

Your visibility depends on your wipers and washer being in good shape. Check the washer fluid level regularly, and make sure the spray nozzles aren't clogged so the fluid spreads properly. The washer has its own reservoir, separate from the engine's cooling system.

Measure the oil with the engine off and cold. If you've just been driving, wait at least five minutes after turning the engine off. Hot oil expands, so measuring it hot or with the engine running gives a false reading.

With a gasoline engine, it's best to start driving right after you start the engine, because its compression chamber heats up faster than a diesel's. Even so, you should always pull away gently without revving the engine too much. Waiting before you move off isn't the advice for gasoline engines, and accelerating hard goes against the advice to start gently.

Modern fuel-injection engines start with just the ignition, so pressing the gas pedal only burns extra fuel. Older cars needed it, but today it is not recommended. The ignition circuit is not harmed, and the advice is the same for diesel and gasoline engines.

Fourth and fifth are the high gears, used to reach and hold higher speeds at lower engine revs. First and second are for starting off and driving slowly. Third is for medium speeds or stronger acceleration.

Facing downhill, leave a manual car in reverse; facing uphill, leave it in first. Neutral gives no extra hold. Also turn off the engine, remove the key or ignition device, and set the parking brake before leaving the car.

Braking distance is how far the car travels from when you press the brake until it stops. It depends on the vehicle's weight, its load and how that load is placed, and the condition of the brakes, tires and shock absorbers. Reaction time and reaction distance depend on you, the driver, and your speed.

On a standard motorcycle layout, the gearshift pedal is by your left foot. Your right foot works the rear brake. Your left hand works the clutch, and your right hand works the throttle and front brake.

Regular checks and maintenance reduce the risk that comes from the vehicle itself, because they help prevent technical failures and breakdowns. A clean engine does little for safety. Seat position relates to you as the driver, not to the vehicle's condition.

Used motor oil must go into a special container for collecting used oil, or to a local recycling point for waste that can't go in regular trash. Never pour it down a drain or sewer or throw it in your trash can, because it causes serious pollution. Pouring it onto sand doesn't dispose of it properly either.

Before driving in expected rain, check your wipers, since they clear the windshield so you can see the road. Also check your tires, especially tread depth and pressure, so they keep grip on wet pavement. Brake fluid is not the main concern for rain, and skipping checks is unsafe.

After a crash, have your seat belts checked even if they look fine, because they may have been damaged by the impact. If they are damaged, replace them so they protect you properly. A belt that still seems to work may still be weakened.

On a standard layout, the throttle is on the right handgrip, worked by your right hand, which also works the front brake. Your left hand works the clutch. Your right foot works the rear brake, and your left foot works the gearshift.

The foot brake's main job is to slow the vehicle down and bring it safely to a stop. It is your normal brake, not a backup for the parking brake. Keeping a parked vehicle still is the job of the parking brake.

Most mechanical failures come from parts that are worn or poorly maintained, so regular servicing and maintenance can prevent many of these crashes. Such failures aren't pure bad luck, so they can often be avoided. Driving more slowly doesn't fix a mechanical problem.

Bad shock absorbers stop your tires from staying in steady contact with the road. This makes braking unstable and dangerously increases your braking distance. It also causes uneven tire wear. Braking distance never gets shorter, and you always need the brake pedal to stop.

Motor vehicles and mopeds may not be driven with a broken muffler, an open exhaust, or no muffler at all, because of the noise pollution. The ban also covers defective, unsuitable or damaged mufflers. It applies on both urban and interurban roads, and motorcycles and mopeds are included.

A temporary spare is only for emergencies and for a limited time and distance. You can't use it like a normal tire, and you must follow the manufacturer's limits on pressure, speed and so on. In any case, never go over 80 km/h or drive more than 200 kilometers on it. Raising its pressure or sticking to city streets doesn't make normal use OK.

The V-16 emergency beacon is the official device for warning other traffic about a breakdown or crash. From January 1, 2026, the connected V-16 is mandatory in Spain and replaces the old warning triangles, so keep one in your car ready to use. A fire extinguisher isn't basic mandatory equipment for a private car. A can of oil is a maintenance item, not required safety equipment.

Preventive maintenance means doing small checks and care tasks regularly instead of waiting for a breakdown. It keeps your vehicle working properly and prevents crashes caused by mechanical failure. It has nothing to do with installing accessories or improving aerodynamics.

A fairing acts as a protective shell that improves the motorcycle's aerodynamics and its stability in bad weather, such as strong crosswinds. Better aerodynamics means lower fuel consumption. So changing the fairing affects more than just looks, and its main effect isn't visibility.

Regular maintenance keeps your vehicle working properly and helps prevent crashes caused by mechanical failure, so it lowers the risk. It can't remove the risk completely, because many other factors cause crashes too, like the driver's condition and the weather.

Checking your headlights, signal lights and all other lights at regular intervals is essential for safe driving. This applies to every type of light, xenon included. Lights that don't work mean you can't see well or be seen.

You should regularly check the aim, condition and operation of all your lights: headlights, position lights, turn signals and brake lights. Make sure no bulb is burned out. Checking every wire isn't the routine check, and skipping checks is dangerous, because bad lights tire your eyes and keep you from seeing the road clearly.

Uneven tire wear can come from a bad suspension or from bad shock absorbers, because either one keeps your tires from staying in steady contact with the road. It isn't just one of them, so the options that say "only" are wrong. Worn shocks also make braking unstable and increase braking distance.

Older cars needed some gas to start, but modern fuel-injected engines start just by turning the ignition. Pressing the gas pedal only wastes fuel. This applies to both diesel and gasoline engines.