Driving in Spain

Many of the basic rules of the road in Spain are very similar to those across the rest of Europe. Spain imposes severe penalties on those not adhering to these regulations.

Information on the website of the Spanish Traffic Department (in Spanish).

On 25 May 2010, a Road Safety Reform (Reforma ley de Tráfico) came into force, introducing three categories of offences resulting in fines: minor, serious and very serious offences. Up to six points can be removed from the licence, depending on the offence.

• For detailed information about the law: Click here (in Spanish)
• For information from the Club de Automovilistas: Click here (in Spanish)

Speed cameras are used in Spain to detect drivers exceeding the speed limit. As of August 2010, some cameras (on the AP-7 in Castellón, on the A-7 in Murcia, on the A-31 in Alicante and on the A-52 in Zamora) are equipped to alert the nearest traffic officer in the event a foreign-plated car is caught exceeding the speed limit. The officer receives a photo of the offending car and has the authority to pull the vehicle over and impose a large on-the-spot fine. If the fine is not paid the car may be immobilised. More such cameras are planned to be installed.

Speed Limits, Road Signs and Traffic Conditions

Rules and Regulations

• Drive on the right in Spain
• The legal age for driving is 18 years
• Drivers must have a valid driving licence
• The use of mobile phones, unless completely hands-free, is illegal while driving in Spain.
• The use of any type of headphone or earphone (for example to listen to music or make telephone calls) is illegal and punishable by a large fine and penalty points.

Safe road usage

• It is illegal to pass on the right (to "undertake") in free-flowing traffic
• Drivers must give way to traffic from the left, particularly at roundabouts/traffic circles
• Motorists must not change lanes when there is a solid white line in the road
• On motorways the driver must indicate before overtaking, and again before pulling back into the nearside lane after overtaking
• When entering a motorway from a sliproad, drivers must wait until the solid white line changes to a broken line before pulling out
• Headlights must always be used in tunnels

Driver, passenger safety

• It is compulsory to wear a seat belt (el cinturón de seguridad) including in the back seats if belts are fitted. It is the driver's responsibility to ensure all passengers wear their belts (and the driver will be fined if passengers are not belted)
• Children under 12 years may not travel in the front seats, unless they are over 150cm tall
• Child safety seats must be used for all children under the age of three
• Dogs must be restrained in a moving car
• It is illegal to drive with headphones connected to a sound device
• Mobile phones may only be used with a full hands free unit, withoutearpiece attachments. Before handling a mobile phone, the driver must pull off the road and away from all moving traffic
• It is no longer forbidden to use speed camera detectors (although radar jammers are not allowed)
• Navigation aids - GPS and similar - may not be handled while driving
• Motorbike drivers may not carry passengers under the age of 12
• Motorbike and moped drivers and passengers must wear a helmet

Documents to carry in the car

The following documents, or copies certified with an official stamp (fotocopia compulsada), must always be carried with the driver in the car:

• Valid driving licence
• Residence card, passport or identity card
• Vehicle registration document (permiso de circulación, vehicle log book)
• Roadworthiness certificate (ITV inspection certificate)
• Receipt for paid road tax

Photocopies of documents can be certified at the local town hall (Ayuntamiento).

Note: Previously it was obligatory to carry proof of vehicle insurance in the car; this is no longer law, but it is recommended.

Items to carry in the car

The following items must be carried in the car at all times. Not having these can result in a fine if pulled over by the police, or failure of the vehicle roadworthiness test (Inspección técnica de Vehículos, ITV).

• It is compulsory for any person exiting an immobilised vehicle on a motorway or main road to wear a reflective vest
• Warning triangle: Spanish registered vehicles must have two warming triangles; non-Spanish registered vehicles may carry just one

• A spare wheel, inflated and the tools necessary to change it
• Approved child seats for children under 12 and/or 150cm
• Drivers that need corrective glasses must keep a spare pair in the car

Accidents and injuries

Drivers involved in an accident must stop and help injured people, collaborate in avoiding danger and other possible accidents and call the police if there are injured people or if the road cannot be cleared (Police Tel: 112 or Policia Local 092)

• Spain's breakdown and recovery service is RACE
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Road Traffic Accidents in Spain

Road Tax in Spain

All owners of vehicle which are in use on the roads pay an annual local car tax (Impuesto sobre Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica [IVTM] or Impuesto de Circulación de Vehículos [ICV]) to the municipality.

While the Spanish government sets a maximum and minimum rate for this tax on motor vehicles, the charge varies between regions, depending on the density of population. The rate is also determined by the horsepower of a car (potencia fiscal) - the more powerful, the higher the tax. Some municipalities also tax vehicle's with high CO2 emissions and offer an "eco bonus" or discount for low emissions, hybrid and electric cars.

The taxed period follows a calendar year, with the tax payment due annually (usually between March and May) at the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento). Usually announcements are made on municipal noticeboards and local newspapers when the payment is due, however it is advisable to contact the Town Hall for further details.

Taxes can be paid in person at the town hall, tax office (oficina municipal de impuestos), through local banks, by direct debit from a bank account or by post. Late payments have a surcharge added of 5 percent in the first month, and 20 percent in the following months. The unpaid sum is liable to interest.

Take the following:

• The vehicle's registration document (permiso de circulación)
• Technical certificate (Certificado de Características Técnicas)
• Proof of identity - NIE or CIF number as appropriate

Types of Roads in Spain

Spanish roads were re-classified in 2004 in order to make them easier to understand and more consistent across the country, however, be aware that there may remain instances where the road may have two names and maps may be outdated.

• The motorway network is the Autopista; the Autopista's road signs are blue
• The regional road signs are white
• Motorways have an A or E prefix to the road number; an AP prefix signifies a toll road
• Carretera Nacional, main roads, have a N or CN prefix before the road number
• Carretera Comercal, country roads, have a C prefix before the road number

Motorways

For up to date information on the Spanish motorways see ASETA.

• The speed limit (límites de velocidades) on Spanish motorways is 120 Kph (74mph). Note: From 7 March 2011 this is temporarily reduced to 110 Kph
• There are orange emergency SOS telephones approximately every 5 Km on motorways
• Motorway exits, salidas, (or sortidas in Catalan) are numbered
• For current traffic conditions from the DGT: Click here and select the region and province from the drop down menus

In the event of a motorway breakdown, put on the reflective jacket and place the reflective triangles (ideally about 50 m and 100 m behind the vehicle) to warn oncoming traffic.

Toll roads

A toll fee is charged on most motorways at the tollbooths (autopistas de peajes). Each motorway has its own pricing structure, so tolls vary. In general it is more expensive in the summer.

A ticket is taken from the peajes at the start of the route and handed over at the tollbooth where the payment is made at the end of a stretch of motorway.

Near major cities, tollbooths take an automatic payment for each stretch of road covered. Lanes allowing for "basket" payment system (automatic coin payment) are sign posted as Automatico - importe exacto. Payment can also be made by credit or debit card.

Frequent motorway users can buy a tarjeta de la autopista, which offers savings and priority queues at the tolls.

The latest system introduced for frequent users is the Electronic Toll Collection system. A small device known as On Board Equipment (OBE) is fitted into the vehicle to allow the driver to pass easily and quickly through the tolls.

• For further information: Click here (in Spanish)
• For further information on tolls and routes: Click here

Main Trunk Roads

For up-to-the-minute information on Spanish road conditions see the Dirección General de Tráfico website (in Spanish).

• Dual carriageways (autovias) are toll free
• The speed limit is 100 Km (65 Mph) on a normal dual carriage way
• Main roads (carretera) have a speed limit of 90 Km (56 Mph)
• Passing on the right - the inside - is illegal on these roads and overtaking is banned if there is a solid white line separating the traffic
• Orange emergency SOS telephones are usually spaced 5 Km apart on main roads.

Rural and secondary roads

• Speed limits are 50 Km (31mph) in built up areas and will be sign posted if there are further restrictions - to as low as 20 Km (12 Mph) in residential areas
• There may be railway crossings with no barriers
• Mountain passes are closed in extreme weather
• Snow tyres are recommended and snow chains are obligatory in some areas in the winter

Fuel (Petrol and Diesel) in Spain

Gasolineras are usually attendant service. Fuel types are:

• gasolina: petrol
• gasoline sin plomo: unleaded petrol
• gasoleo: diesel

Parking in Spain

Parking regulations vary depending on the time of day, day of the week or even the week of the month. For example, some towns may state that parking on an even day of the month means that parking is available next to the even numbered houses and some streets change which side parking is on mid-month. Signs are in blue and red and numbered 1-15 for the first half of the month and 16-31 for the second half when parking is restricted to the other side of the street. Some places require a permit to park during work hours (horas laborables).

Car Parks and Parking (Estacionamiento/Aparcamiento)

Parking is restricted and most of the time roadside parking must be paid for at a parking meter. Individual meters (parquímetros) are being phased out and replaced with ticket machines (expendedor de tickets de estacionamiento). Blue zones (zonas azuls) indicate that parking must be paid at a ticket machine.

• Usually, parking must be paid for Monday to Friday 09:00-14:00 and 16:00-21:00 and Saturdays 09:00-14:00

Many city centre car-parks are underground, (aparcamiento subterráneo), with signs outside indicating if there are spaces (libre) or if it is full (completo). It is the norm to pay at the cash desk or pay station (cajero) before returning to the car and leaving. Prices vary depending on the town.

Official parking attendants (guardacoches) are normally in uniform.

Some towns operate an Ora Zona system. Tickets allowing parking are sold by tobacconists and other retail outlets and are valid for 30, 60 or 90 minute stays.

"No Parking" signs (estacionamiento prohibido), are often blue with a red line across. Yellow or red painted signs on the curb also indicate No Parking.

Where the words "prohibido estacionar" or "vado permanente" appear beside a police code number on a garage door, police have authorisation to tow the illegally parked vehicle.

Certain zones display a sign of a tow truck, indicating that an illegally parked car may be towed (retiada grúa). In place of the towed vehicle, there should be a sticker or note stating where the vehicle has been impounded, or a giving number to call. If there is no note, contact the local policia municipal. If a vehicle is towed, a towing fee will be due (probably under €100).

Paying a Parking Fine

Parking offenders risk having points deducted from their license for persistently breaking the law. All parking fines must be paid at the town hall (ayuntamiento) of the town in which the ticket was issued. In a some areas payment can be made at the police station; the Town Hall enquiries desk will be able to advise (open 09:00-12:00). Fines must be paid within 15 days.

Facilities for Disabled Parking

Cars parked in disabled spaces must display the disabled sticker or blue badge in the window. A Spanish resident may request a disabled sticker and information on applying for a blue badge from their local town hall.

The blue badge is a standardised European Community disabled person's parking permit which provides parking entitlements to badge holders in all complying European countries - a blue badge from one EU country is valid in another. A person coming to Spain may apply in their home country for this universal badge which allows the use of reserved parking.

• Disabled spaces in car parks reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol
• Do not park if the space is marked with a vehicle registration number
• Some car parks allow vehicles displaying a disabled parking sign to park free of charge
• There are no concessions for disabled drivers on roadside parking

Driver's with a blue badge from another European country may display this Spanish translation beside a badge written in another language (text from the UK Automobile Association):

• See the UK Automobile Association website for more information: Click here

Driving Licence Penalty Points

Some foreign drivers' licences (and all EU licences) are valid in Spain

• See the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, Using or Exchanging a Driving Licence in Spain 

A Spanish driver is issued 12 points which may be deducted when offences are committed. A driver who commits no offences may accumulate additional bonus points up to 15.

• The Nerja town hall has produced a PDF in English outlining traffic offences and points deducted for each offence (note this information is subject to change): Click here (PDF)

If a foreigner is resident in Spain and commits a driving offence, points will be deducted as follows:

1. Foreigners with an NIE number are considered resident and therefore the same as a regular driver in Spain. A note with the points that have been deducted will be registered on the list of foreign drivers each time an offence is committed until 12 points have been removed. The driver is them arrested.
2. Foreigners without an NIE number are considered as a non-resident foreign visitor and must pay the fine immediately in cash or have the car confiscated until the fine is paid.

A driver can find out how many points they have from the traffic department (DGT,Dirección General de Tráfico) website:

• Select the top option: Click here and enter the NIE number and driver's licence details

Fines

All motorists should know their codigo de la circulación, the rules of the road in Spain - the Spanish Highway Code.

• On-the-spot motoring fines (muitas) allowed to be paid within 20 days will receive a 50 percent discount. Note that when agreeing to pay a fine early, the right to appeal is lost.

Driving and Drinking

A driver with a blood alcohol level of 0.5 grams per litre (or, a blood alcohol level of 0.15 grams per litre in the case of a driver who has had a licence for two years or less), will be considered to be driving under the influence of alcohol. The amount of alcohol in the system will vary according to weight, sex, normal alcohol consumption and the amount of food in the system. Six points can be lost from the licence for driving over the legal alcohol limit.

• The police have the power to carry out random alcohol tests on drivers at anytime. Testing is more common around Christmas/New Year and in the main holiday period of July/August
• Drivers involved in accidents or who are not driving in a suitable manner will be subjected to automatic testing
• Failure of a drink drive test has serious implications: a hefty fine will be imposed, and six points will be taken off the licence.
• A driver's Insurance is void if they cause an accident while under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Note: The same strict rules regarding driving while drunk also apply to cyclists.

Useful Information

• In the cities, rush hour (horas puntas) tend to be from 08:00-09:30 and 12:30-14:30 then again 15:30-17:00 and 18:30-20:30
• In Barcelona and Madrid the traffic jams (atascos) can last all day, the average traffic speed in Madrid is thought to be around 20 Kph
• Traffic around the coast can be much worse in the summer
• It is illegal for anything other than an authorised towing company to tow a broken down vehicle

Further Information

• Direction General de Trafico (DGT)
• Club de Automovilistas