Spain

España · Capital Madrid · € EUR · +34

Drives on the
right

Last reviewed 2026-05-10 by AI-draft → Semir K review. Always verify with official sources before travelling — see references at the bottom of the page.

Rules of the road

Urban speed limit
50 km/h
Rural speed limit
90 km/h
Motorway speed limit
120 km/h
Alcohol limit (BAC)
0.05 g/L (novice 0.03)
Minimum driving age
18
Headlights by day
Tunnel
Mobile phone
Hands-free only. Touching the phone whilst driving is a 6-point penalty.
Dashcam legal
Yes
Radar detector legal
No
On-the-spot fines
Yes

Child seats: Approved restraint up to 135cm; under-12 cannot ride in front unless boostered.

  • Urban limit is 30 km/h on single-lane streets in towns since 2021.
  • DGT — Dirección General de Tráfico — issues environmental labels (distintivo) which gate LEZ access.
  • Spare prescription glasses must be carried by drivers who need them.

Mandatory equipment

Warning triangle
Required
Hi-vis vest
Required × 1
First-aid kit
Not required
Fire extinguisher
Not required
Breathalyser
Not required
Spare bulbs
Required
Headlamp converters (RHD)
Required

Snow chains / winter tyres: No general winter-tyre law. Snow chains required on signed mountain roads in winter (Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada).

Hi-vis note: Reflective vest worn before exiting the vehicle on a motorway.

  • From 2026 the V-16 'help flare' (luz de emergencia) is recommended; mandatory by 2026 across the country, replacing the warning triangle in some scenarios.

Documents you must carry

Licences accepted
EU, UK, IDP, national
International Driving Permit
Not required
Insurance Green Card
Not required
Vehicle registration (V5C)
Required
MOT certificate
Not required
  • UK licences accepted without IDP.

Emergency & breakdown

EU 112
Active
Police
091 (Policía Nacional) / 062 (Guardia Civil)
Ambulance
061
Fire
080

Roadside assistance

Fuel & EV charging

Petrol 95 (avg)
€1.55/L
Diesel (avg)
€1.49/L
LPG (avg)
€0.99/L

EV plug standards: Type2, CCS, CHAdeMO, Tesla.

Major networks: Iberdrola, Endesa X Way, Repsol, Ionity, Tesla Supercharger, Wenea.

  • Network growing fast on the AP-7 corridor; gaps remain in Extremadura and inland Andalusia.

Parking, congestion & low-emission zones

Parking disc: Not generally required — Zona azul (paid) and zona verde (residents) widespread — pay at the meter or via app.

Low-emission zones

  • Madrid (ZBE Distrito Centro / Madrid 360)Fine ~€200
    DGT environmental label required to enter; vehicles without label barred. M-30 ring tightening yearly.
  • Barcelona (ZBE)Fine ~€200
    Pre-2000 petrol and pre-2005 diesel banned weekdays 07:00–20:00 inside the Rondas.
  • Valencia (ZBE)Fine ~€200
    DGT label required; non-labelled banned from city centre 24/7.
  • Sevilla / Zaragoza (ZBE)Fine ~€200
    Local ZBE in force — DGT label required.
  • LEZ enforcement is camera-based — fines arrive by post weeks later.

Ferries & major tunnels

Major ferry routes

  • Algeciras–Tangier — Algeciras → Tangier (MA)FRS / Balearia
  • Barcelona–Mallorca — Barcelona → PalmaBalearia / Trasmediterranea
  • Bilbao–Portsmouth — Bilbao → Portsmouth (UK)Brittany Ferries
  • Santander–Plymouth — Santander → Plymouth (UK)Brittany Ferries

Major tunnels

  • Túnel de Vielha (N-230)Free · Free; alternative to Pyrenees crossings in winter.
  • Cadí Tunnel (E-9 Pyrenees)~€13 · Toll, single passage.
  • Many former-toll motorways were freed (AP-7, AP-2, AP-1) — tolls now mostly only on AP-9, AP-66, AP-68.

Tolls & vignettes

Toll system
Mixed
Operator
Website

Spain has a mixed motorway network. Most autovías (A-numbered) are toll-free. Some autopistas (AP-numbered) charge distance-based tolls — pay at péages by card or Vía-T transponder. AP-7, AP-2 and AP-1 became free in 2021. AP-9 (Galicia), AP-66 (León–Asturias) and AP-68 (Bilbao–Zaragoza) remain tolled.

Pets & border crossings

Pet passport / AHC
Required

EU pet passport / UK AHC required. Up to 5 pets non-commercial.

  • XL Bully and certain other breeds are 'potentially dangerous' under Spanish law — additional licence + insurance + muzzle required.

References

Profile version 1. Last reviewed 2026-05-10 by AI-draft → Semir K review. Rules change frequently — verify with official sources before travelling.