Driving in Spain
Prepare for your holiday with Via Michelin. Regulations, traffic laws, fuel types, parking: everything you need to know about driving in Spain!
Driving in Spain: get up to speed on the regulations
- Valid driving licences: valid licences from an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. Otherwise, an international driving permit is required.
- Essential documents: driving licence, ID, international insurance, and vehicle registration.
- Mandatory equipment: 2 warning triangles, a reflective vest for each vehicle occupant, a spare wheel with tools to change it, and a set of spare bulbs.
- Child transport: Children must use an approved child restraint system and cannot sit in the front if they are under 135 cm in height.
- Winter regulations: Winter tyres are not mandatory in Spain, except where explicitly indicated.
Helmets are mandatory, and protective clothing is highly recommended. Headlights must be on at all times.
Spanish traffic regulations
- Speed limits:
- Motorways: 120 km/h
- Secondary roads: 90 km/h
- Urban areas: 50 km/h
- Blood alcohol limits:
- 0.5 g/l of blood or 0.25 mg/l of breath
- For novice drivers (less than two years’ driving experience): 0.3 g/l of blood or 0.15 mg/l of breath.
- Driving in Spain, specific regulations:
Dipped headlights are required during the day outside urban areas. Hazard lights must be used in case of slowdowns on major roads. The use of mobile phones, earphones, and headphones is strictly prohibited, even when stopped at a red light.
To hire a vehicle in Spain, you need a valid driving licence, to be at least 21 years old, and have a credit card. Some agencies require a minimum of one or two years of driving experience and may apply additional charges for drivers under 25.
Everything you need to know about roads and motorways to drive in Spain
- Types of roads:
- Motorways: “autopistas” (AP), toll roads.
- Dual carriageways: free of charge.
- Very well-maintained network. Watch out for traffic jams in summer, especially on major routes along the Mediterranean coast.
- Tolls:
- Motorways: Spain is moving towards toll-free roads, but there are still about ten tolled sections (on average €10/100 km).
- Some tunnels and bridges may have tolls.
- Remember to calculate your route and travel costs on ViaMichelin.
- Toll tag:
Beneficial if provided with a hire car. With a personal vehicle, it will only be cost-effective if you frequently travel to Spain due to subscription fees and a deposit for the device.
Stick to the well-maintained secondary roads for a more relaxed drive, save on tolls, and enjoy beautiful landscapes and quaint villages. However, if your holiday rental is on the Andalusian coast, it’s worth taking the motorway for a smoother trip, especially on the way there!
Fuels and charging stations
City driving and parking
- Driving restrictions:
- LEZ: low-emission zones (major city centres). Petrol vehicles older than Euro 3 (registered before 2000) and Diesel vehicles older than Euro 4 (registered before 2005 or 2006) are banned.
- Foreign vehicles must be pre-registered to enter these zones (e.g., in Barcelona).
- Parking options:
Metered parking and car parks. Payment methods include cash, card, or mobile app. - Average parking costs:
- In Madrid, on-street parking typically costs between €1.20 and €2.40 per hour.
- In Barcelona, all-day parking near metro stations is around €17.
