Spain

Key points for young drivers:

• Motorway and autovía 120 km/h, outside built-up areas 90; in towns usually 30 km/h.
• Alcohol: 0.3 ‰ for 2 years after passing your driving test.
• Phone only with a hands-free kit – no earphones.
• In the car: warning triangle, high-visibility vest, spare wheel (V-16 is required only for cars registered in Spain).
• You pay fines on the spot – until then the car stays put.

Seat belts and child seats

Everyone must wear a seat belt. Children travel in a child seat until they are taller than 135 cm – as a rule in the back seat.

Traffic lights

Almost as in most EU countries. A steady amber light means stop, unless you are already so close that braking would be dangerous. A red “X” above a lane – that lane is closed.

Helmet not compulsory

• bicycle – from 16 in built-up areas a helmet is only recommended

Helmet compulsory

• motorcycle, moped, tricycles and quadricycles – in and outside built-up areas
• bicycle – always up to 16, from 16 outside built-up areas

Compulsory equipment in the car

• warning triangle (a car registered abroad may carry warning triangles)
• high-visibility vest
• spare wheel and tools to change it

Note: from 1 January 2026, cars registered in Spain must carry a yellow V-16 warning light instead of triangles. Foreign cars don’t have to – triangles are enough. A rental car will have a V-16. Details at dgt.es.

Compulsory equipment on a bike

• helmet (see above)
• in poor visibility: front and rear light and a rear reflector
• outside built-up areas in poor visibility: reflective clothing or elements

Winter tyres and snow chains

Winter tyres are not compulsory, but when driving on snow you must have snow chains (e.g. in the Pyrenees or Sierra Nevada).

Phone, drugs and other bans

• Phone only with a hands-free kit or Bluetooth – earphones are not allowed. The police also fine you for operating the satnav while driving.
• Drugs – driving under their influence is banned; the exception is prescription medicines that don’t affect driving.
• Bus, taxi and bike lanes – don’t enter them.
• Radar jammers are banned (very high penalty).
• E-scooters and bicycles may not ride on the pavement.

Vignettes, tolls and low-emission zones

• There are no vignettes. Some motorways (marked AP) are tolled – at the toll booths you pay in cash or by card. Autovías (A) are free.
• Have your own toll transponder? Check that it works in Spain.
• Many cities have low-emission zones (ZBE). The entry rules are set by the city – check the city council website and compare your car’s environmental label with the Spanish stickers (dgt.es).

Documents and insurance

• A driving licence from an EU/EEA country is valid (EU).
• Carry your vehicle registration certificate and valid third-party motor insurance – no Green Card needed.
• As a tourist you can drive a car with foreign number plates for up to 90 days.
• Leased car: have the original or a notarised copy of the leasing contract – not having it is one of the most frequently fined offences.

What to watch out for

• The Guardia Civil de Tráfico is very strict. You pay the fine on the spot – until you pay, the car is immobilised and your documents are held. Several fines add up.
• In towns, keep to the 30 and 20 km/h limits – 50 km/h applies only on streets with at least two lanes in each direction.
• If you have held your licence for up to 2 years, your limit is 0.3 ‰, and drink-driving can mean a fine and arrest.

Sources

• Your Europe – Road rules: Spain
• DGT – Normas básicas de circulación (basic rules for tourists)
• DGT – Antes de conducir por España (before driving in Spain)
• DGT – En ciudad (ZBE zones, e-scooters)
• DGT – V-16 in international traffic
• DGT – alcohol and drug checks (July 2026)
• Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Odyseusz: Spain (in Polish)
• Last updated: September 2026.