Planning a trip to Spain? If you want to drive while you’re there, or any European country for that matter, it’s worth brushing up on the local road rules before you go. Things work differently there – and simply being unaware of the local conventions could land you with a hefty fine.
For example, Spain introduced a new set of environmental regulations in 2018. The changes dictate that you now need to display compliance stickers to prove that your car is green enough to enter large cities such as Barcelona and Madrid. It works like the system the French use for driving in Paris.
Read on for all the information you need about speed limits, speeding fines and the rules of the road. We’ve also included a list of all the items that you’re required to carry in your car by law, so make sure to pick that lot up before you travel. Don’t forget to check out our tips on European car insurance to keep yourself covered.
Speed limits in Spain
Speed limits in Spain work a lot like they do in the UK. On minor roads in built-up areas, you’re limited to 50km/h. This speed cap is lifted to 90km/h for major metropolitan routes such as ring roads or city dual carriageways. However, look out for road signs indicating a lower limit.
A big difference between the UK and Spain is its enforcement of residential zones. The controlled areas are indicated by signs – and speed within the zones is limited to 20km/h.
Once you’re away from built-up areas, speed limits creep up. A 90km/h–100km/h limit applies to the Spanish equivalent of a two-lane A-road, with the speed being signalled by signs. Motorways and dual carriageways have a maximum speed limit of 120km/h.
There are a couple of quirks about Spanish speed enforcement. First, you’re not allowed to take any vehicle on the motorway that can’t reach 60km/h. Also, you’re temporarily allowed to exceed the speed limit on major roads outside built-up areas (not motorways or dual carriageways) by 20km/h to overtake slower traffic.
Speeding fines in Spain
Spanish speeding fines start at €100 (around £85), but they can climb as high as €600 (roughly £500) depending on the speed and the area you’re caught speeding. For example, the fine for driving at 100km/h in a 50km/h zone will be far higher than it would be in an 80km/h zone.
There are speed cameras in Spain (pictured below), but they’re painted matte grey rather than the fluorescent yellow favoured here in the UK. They look an awful lot like junction boxes or transformers, so keep an eye on your speed. The police also use radar equipment to monitor the speed of traffic.
Like in Italy, it’s illegal to carry radar-detecting equipment in your car. If the police catch you with the technology, you could face a fine of €500 (around £420) – even if the detector is switched off and you had no intention of using it. It’s best to leave it at home.
Police can issue fines on the spot. The fee can be reduced by up to 50% if paid within 20 days – and the maximum period in which a driver can appeal a fine is 15 days. However, these rules only apply to residents.
If you’re a visiting motorist, you’ll need to pay the fine immediately or the police have the legal right to impound your vehicle until you do. You can then appeal the fine through the Spanish court system. Cars can also be confiscated for excessive noise or pollution, dangerous mechanical problems, no insurance and if the driver is under the influence of alcohol.
Spain and Portugal have also rolled out speed-triggered traffic lights. There are sensors in the road which recognise whether a passing vehicle is speeding – and if it is, a set of traffic lights further up the road will switch from green to red, halting the driver. There are no fines for this method of speed enforcement. The idea is to shame the driver into slowing down.
Rules of the road
In Spain, you must be aged over 18 to drive a car or ride a motorcycle, even if your licence from your home country allows you to drive at a younger age than that.
Motorists in Spain drive on the right-hand side of the road and overtake on the left. Generally, vehicles on the right have priority. At roundabouts, vehicles that are already on the roundabout have priority over those approaching.
Some motorways are tolled. Roads labelled Autovia can be driven on free of charge, but Autopistas require payment to access. Like the M6 Toll in the UK, you pay to access these roads at tolls stations. They accept cash and credit cards – and if you’re staying for longer, you can purchase a tag.
We advise to never drive a car after consuming any amount of alcohol. However, if you must drive under the influence, be aware that the legal drink-driving limit is lower in Spain than it is in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A blood alcohol level of just 0.05% is enough to get you prosecuted.
Towing in Spain
Campervans and cars towing caravans cannot be more than 18.75 metres long, four metres tall and 2.55 meters wide. If your camping rig is more than 12 metres long, you must display one long (130cm × 25cm) or two small reflectors (50cm × 25cm) at the rear.
The Department for Transport also advises that UK motorists cannot legally tow an A-frame behind their campervans in Spain. That means, if you want to take a car abroad with you, you’ll have to tow it on a proper trailer.
Insurance
All UK car insurance policies include clauses for driving in the EU. They provide a minimum of third-party cover. It’s worth checking with your insurer whether your policy has extra cover for theft and damage. You do not need to carry a green card when driving in EU.
Also, check whether the amount of cover offered by your policy is enough for the length of your trip. Some companies provide 90 days of cover abroad, while others offer as little as three days. Depending on the length of your stay, you might need to pay for additional days.
Breakdown cover
Make sure your breakdown cover remains valid if something goes wrong with your car outside of the UK. Getting a broken car home from Spain could cost you thousands in recovery fees – there are stories of unlucky drivers paying thousands to get their stranded motors home.
Low-emission zones
Spain has low emission zones in Barcelona and Madrid. To enter Barcelona on working days between the hours of 07:00 and 20:00, your car must comply with Euro 3 petrol emissions standards or Euro 4 diesel emissions standards at a minimum. You also must purchase the correct badge for your vehicle before entering the controlled zone. Failure to comply with these regulations will result in a fine. Madrid’s system works in much the same way.
Barcelona can also bar entry of all cars into the centre on when an episode of excess NO2 pollution is declared. You won’t be able to buy a permit on those days and you won’t be able to drive into the city. If you plan to drive a UK-registered car into the city, you must register it with the authorities before you arrive.
It’s also worth noting that new Spanish low-emission regulations have been in play since the start of 2023. Now, any urban area with at least 50,000 inhabitants must include a low emission zone – a rule that is set to affect around 150 towns and cities. So, no matter where you’re planning on going, we recommend checking the current LEZ status in that area first.
Things you’ll need in your car
Spain requires all motorists to always carry the following list of items in their cars, just in case of an emergency. Hire car companies should provide these items. The list includes:
- Full, valid driving licence
- Proof of insurance
- Proof of ID (i.e. a passport or national identity card)
- V5C registration logbook (or a VE103 document for rented vehicles)
- High-visibility jackets
- Warning triangle
- Spare pair of glasses if you need them for driving
If you plan to drive your own car from the UK, you’ll need to fix beam deflectors to your headlamps to avoid dazzling local motorists before you exit the ferry. You also need to attach a UK sticker to your car. Now that the UK has left the EU, old GB stickers (with the Council of Europe stars) are no longer recognised as national identifiers.
Emergency numbers
You can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to the correct emergency service for the country you’re in. Operators in Spain can communicate with you in Spanish, English or French.
If you have a breakdown on the motorway, there are emergency telephones situated at 2km intervals along the carriageway. Before walking to the phone, make sure to set up a warning triangle behind your stricken vehicle and put on your high visibility vest. Failure to do so may result in a fine.
Hiring a car in Spain
Shop around for the best deal. You may find that an off-airport company offers much lower hire rates than one situated on site. Also, weigh up the cost of the ferry crossing, fuel, additional insurance and breakdown cover. It could prove cheaper to fly to Spain and hire a car rather than drive your own.
Watch out for insurance premiums that include damage waivers. These often include exclusions that mean you won’t be covered for damage to wheels, tyres, interior trim or windows, making them far worse value. Parkers recommends buying a third party policy, as it’s normally a lot cheaper.
In Spain, it’s normal for hire car companies to offer cars on a full-to-empty basis. That means you pay an additional fee for a tank of petrol (normally at an inflated rate) before you set off and you can then choose to return the car empty if you want. You can claim a refund back on the fuel you haven’t used, but there’s normally an admin charge attached that defeats the point of the exercise.
We recommend opting for a full-to-full policy wherever possible, primarily for the simplicity. You get the car with a full tank of fuel and you fill it back up again before you return it.
Adding a second driver to your policy can significantly increase the cost of your booking. Some companies in Spain charge more than £10 per day for this service alone. It might be worth deciding on a designated driver before setting off.
As when hiring any car, be sure to take a full set of pictures when you collect it. Some rental companies scrutinise their car carefully to look for any additional charges they can levy at you – so if you see a dent on the car, snap it before you go to cover yourself when you return it.
