If you’re driving in Spain for work or looking to escape the cold on a road trip holiday, there are a number of rules you will need to follow.
To take the stress out of your trip, we’ve put together a guide to provide you with everything you need to know.
What driving licence do I need to drive in Spain?
Thankfully, if you hold a full UK driving licence with a photocard, you do not need to apply for another type before visiting Spain if you’re aged 18 and over. However, if you own an old paper licence, or your licence was issued in the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Jersey or Guernsey, you will need to get a 1968 International driving permit before you travel.
Documents needed to drive in Spain
Besides your full UK driving licence, there are a number of other documents that you will need to take with you. This includes:
- Proof of ID, such as a passport
- V5 registration document
- Car insurance certificate
These will need to be carried with you when you drive, just in case you are pulled over by Spanish authorities.
The new Entry/Exit system EES
Launched in late 2025 gradually, the European Union’s new Entry/Exit system means you will no longer get a physical passport stamp when travelling to our European neighbours in France. A new digital border system is in place for those travelling to the Schengen area, of which Spain is part of, from non-EU countries.
EES checks have been phased in and have been since October 2025, and as of 10 April 2026, they’re fully implemented. It’s designed to record your entry and exit in this area of Europe.
The new rules mean you will need to register your biometric details (such as your fingerprints and photo) when you first arrive. This will often cause a longer trip, so factor this into your journey time. It’s worth noting that children under 12 don’t need to provide fingerprints, but will still need to register and have their photo taken.
You will need to create a digital record of who you are at the port on your first visit to the Schengen area at dedicated booths to have your photo and fingerprints taken. If you’re going through the Eurotunnel, the checks will be completed in the UK. Your EES digital record will last for three years (and is re-verified when you cross the border), and your total stay for leisure or work can be for no longer than 90 days in a 180 day period.
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)
This is a new document that is expected to launch in late 2026 (but exact timings are subject to change) for UK citizens and other visa-exempt travellers and will act like an ESTA when you visit the USA. If you’re looking to travel to Europe later this year, it’s a good idea to check if it’s active before you go, as you will need to complete this prior to your journey.
You will need to apply online before you get to the Channel Tunnel, and it will cost a small fee. However, those under the age of 18 and those over 70 will not need to pay a fee.
What do I need to drive in Spain?
Besides the legal documents you need to take whilst driving in Spain, there are other items you should be aware of when crossing the channel to our European counterparts, including mandatory ones.
If you’re driving through France to get to Spain, take a look at our guidance for driving in France.
Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
Motorists driving in Spain don’t need to pack a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), but it is a good idea to, which replaces the old European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
GHIC offers similar protection for travellers as that afforded by EHIC when a UK resident is in the EU on a temporary stay, for business or pleasure. It allows UK residents access to emergency and necessary state care and is valid throughout the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and several other countries outside of Europe.
GHICs can be obtained through the NHS website and are free of charge. Travellers are advised to apply at least two weeks before their trip.
It must be noted that this shouldn’t be seen as a replacement for regular travel insurance, which you should take out for protection in case of emergency illness or injury.
Car insurance
If you’re driving in Spain, it’s always best to ensure your car insurance stays at a high level whilst you are abroad. Whilst all UK car insurance policies provide the legal minimum of third-party cover abroad for the EU by law, having comprehensive cover does not follow you across the border. That’s why it’s always best to check your policy before you set off.
We offer free European cover with our car insurance policies for up to 30, 60 or 90 days, depending on your needs.
European breakdown cover
Our European breakdown cover is available from £42 a year and provides you with 60 days’ breakdown cover while driving in Spain, in any one calendar year. Sterling can arrange roadside recovery or a reliable home repair service, whether your car or van breaks down in the UK, Europe or further afield.
Note that you are not permitted to do your own repairs on a motorway, should you break down in Spain.
Reflective jackets
You could be fined for walking on a road or on a hard shoulder if you are not wearing a reflective jacket, should you break down. You should therefore consider taking reflective jackets for yourself and any passengers along with you when you travel in Spain and storing them inside in a safe place, such as the glovebox.
V16 beacons
Spain transitioned to V16 beacons to replace warning triangles in January 2026 for Spanish-registered cars.
For foreign vehicles entering Spain, warning triangles (Spanish authorities recommend you have two: one at the front and one at the back in case you break down) are still being accepted until a common EU law is introduced, but the Directorate-General for Traffic (Spanish traffic authority) encourages all drivers to use beacons and adopt the new system for the safest way to travel. Note that these beacons require an Internet of Things (IoT) connection to send GPS to the Spanish traffic authority; they aren’t just a flashing light.
Headlamp beam deflectors
Deflector stickers are needed to prevent dazzling oncoming drivers. You can buy deflector stickers from most car shops and, more expensively, at ferry ports and the Eurotunnel (now known as LeShuttle terminal. You may also be able to adjust the beam manually.
Bulbs, basic tools and other spares
It’s also advised that you bring replacement bulbs, belts, wiper blades, oil, water and other lubricants, along with the tools to fit replacement parts or top-up lubricant levels with you on your trip. You should not drive with a blown bulb light. You must also carry a puncture repair kit or a spare tyre and the tools to replace it. However, you are only allowed to repair it in certain places, as it’s illegal to do so on a motorway or a main road, as stated in the Royal Decree 159/2021.
UK sticker
If your vehicle is registered in the UK, you will need a UK sticker on your car. This used to be a GB sticker, but has since changed since September 2021, partly due to Brexit.
This is so Spanish law enforcement can identify where the vehicle has come from. According to the UK government website, you need to display a UK sticker on the rear of your vehicle, no matter what is on your number plate, such as the Union flag or UK identifier, as Spain is an exception from other EU countries. If you still have a GB sticker, you will need to remove it.
Low emission zone sticker
Despite what you may have read online, only Spanish citizens can purchase the official low emission zone sticker. However, that doesn’t mean foreign cars are exempt from these emissions standards. To avoid a fine, you must be able to prove your car meets the standard in these zones known as ZBEs. You must pre-register your vehicle online before heading to Spain to avoid a fine, especially if you’re visiting cities such as Madrid and Barcelona.
What can’t I take in my car to Spain?
When visiting Spain or anywhere in the EU, you’re not permitted to take any meat or products containing meat, milk or dairy products.
On top of this, most fresh fruit and vegetables and plants cannot be taken unless you are willing to pay for them to be inspected upon entry to the country, or get a phytosanitary certificate, which is expensive and time consuming. There are some exceptions for some fruit.
If you require these items for medical reasons, then exceptions may be granted, but you will need to contact the embassy before you leave for your trip, and it’s a good idea to carry a doctor’s letter (ideally translated if you can) if you need to bring food for medical reasons.
There are also some exceptions for small amounts of powdered milk, baby formula/food and specialised medical pet food, but it must be shelf-stable, unopened and in its original packaging.
Are driving rules different in Spain?
Like most countries, driving rules have slight variants in Spain. For a start, they drive on the opposite side of the road to us in the UK.
Below are some of the other differences you will encounter:
Overtaking
As a general rule of thumb, you will need to drive on the right and overtake on the left of a vehicle on roads that permit overtaking.
Overtaking is forbidden when on and approaching level crossings, bends, intersections, when visibility is limited and on the brow of a hill. It’s also against the law to overtake a vehicle that’s slowed to allow pedestrians to use a crossing. You are also not allowed to speed when overtaking.
Seatbelts and car seats
Just like the UK, seatbelts, if fitted to your car, must be used by everyone in the vehicle. If you have a passenger who is under 18, it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure they are wearing one. Failing to do so will result in a fine of €200. Those who are 18 and over are responsible for paying the fine themselves.
Traffic light system
Spain still uses the three-coloured traffic light system we use in the UK, however they have a couple of noticeable differences.
At some intersections, green, amber and red arrows are used as opposed to just lights.
You may also see a flashing amber light when turning at a junction. You must yield to pedestrians crossing the road, as they will also have a green light to cross.
Who has priority when driving?
The priority rules for driving in Spain are also slightly different from those in the UK. As a general rule though, you must give priority to vehicles coming from the right or on rails unless signs dictate differently.
And, similar to the UK, pedestrians on crossings and cyclists have priority too. If you’re turning at a junction and a cyclist is continuing to cycle straight, or a group has entered a roundabout, you must yield to the group.
It’s also worth noting that roundabouts work the same way in Spain as they do in the UK in terms of giving way to traffic already circling. However, keep in mind that you will travel anti-clockwise, due to the nature of driving on the opposite side of the road and lane discipline is much stricter. You will need to exit from the outer lane. If you can’t get to the outer lane, you will need to go around the roundabout again to exit the roundabout safely, as you can’t leave from the inner lane.
Drivers on secondary roads must give way to vehicles coming from either direction when entering a main road.
Towing a camper or caravan in Spain
Your campervan or a car with a caravan must not exceed more than 12 metres in length and must have either one long or two short reflectors (known as V-6 long vehicle marker boards) on its rear.
Boards must be made of aluminium and have an appropriate stamp on them, either ECE70 or ECE70.1. Even if the total length is under 12 metres, if you have a bike rack, you will need a sign. The V-20 sign is for those with anything overhanging the back of the vehicle.
Parking
Parking is slightly different in Spain, with drivers only being able to park on the right-hand side of the carriageway, unless you’re on a one-way street, when parking is allowed on either side, like in the UK.
Parking is prohibited within five metres of a bend or an intersection. It’s also worth noting that vehicles parked at night on dimly lit streets will need to have their side lights illuminated.
Road signs will indicate where parking is restricted and must be paid for. Generally, these are marked by either parking meters or machines which will issue tickets, much like in the UK.
In Madrid, there is a regulated parking zone (the ‘SER’) where parking spaces are shown by blue or green lines. Staying here will be limited to a period of four hours for the former and two hours for the latter, and can be paid by mobile phone.
Parking illegally can result in your vehicle being towed away. If this happens to you, you will need to visit the nearest police station in order to claim your vehicle back. You will have to pay the fine and the cost of towing your car.
Some places may say ‘Vado permanente’, which will be accompanied by a no parking symbol.
If you have a disabled parking permit, then the good news is these are recognised in most major cities in Spain, but it’s still a grey area after Brexit. You should always check if you can use it in the part of Spain you are in, and possibly have a translated note in Spanish with it. You will need to display it on your dashboard with the information being readable through the windscreen. This will allow the vehicle to be parked for an unlimited time in zones which are for loading and unloading, and with a time limit in pedestrian zones, but there are specific zones you can’t park like police stations and pharmacies.
What happens if I get fined while driving in Spain?
Thanks to an EU cross-border directive in May 2017, drivers who commit traffic offences whilst in EU countries can be tracked down and fined.
This means that if you commit a driving offence abroad, Spanish authorities can send the fine directly to your UK address.
What to do in an emergency in Spain when driving
Emergency telephones are linked to an SOS line, similar to the UK, and are installed every two kilometres along the motorways. However, it’s now advised to use your V16 beacon for help as it’s safer than walking alongside the road.
You can also dial 112 from anywhere in Europe, and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you’re visiting. Operators can answer your call in English.
Speed limits in Spain
Unlike in the UK, Spain’s speed limit signs are marked in kilometres per hour instead of miles per hour. This means if you see a sign for 80km/h, this doesn’t mean the same as 80mph.
Speed limits are also lowered when it’s raining and in other adverse weather conditions, while special restrictions apply for certain classes of vehicle, including coaches, motorhomes, mopeds and cars with trailers.
Spain, like most countries in Europe, uses the metric system for all of their road signs, meaning speeds will be measured in km/h instead of mph like in the UK. General speed limits in Spain are below, but road signs may indicate the actual limit, so always keep a lookout:
- The default speed for built-up areas for a street with only one lane in each direction is now 30km/h (18mph)
- Outside built-up areas, between 90km/h (55mph)
- Motorways 120km/h (74mph)
- Motorways and dual carriageways may not be used by vehicles that cannot reach a minimum speed of 60km/h (37mph).
Speeding fines in Spain
A standard fine for breaking the speed limit can range from €100 to €6,000, depending on the speed at which drivers are caught and the road they’re driving on.
Spanish police have the ability to impose fines on the spot. If you pay these within a 20-day period, then the fine will be reduced by 50%. You have the right to contest the decision, but must do so within 15 days.
If you fail to pay the fine, your vehicle can be confiscated until you hand over the money, or you can give the name of a person or corporation in Spain willing to guarantee payment of the fine.
Who can hire a car in Spain?
In order to hire a car in Spain, you must be at least 21 years old, own a full UK driving licence and provide a secondary method of ID such as a passport. It’s also worth noting that most rentals will not lend you a vehicle unless you have been driving for at least a year, and may ask you for a credit card to make the deposit and a DVLA check code.
Driving rules in Europe may have changed since this article was published in April 2026. Please check official government sources before travelling. This guide is for general information only and does not constitute as legal or travel advice. While we aim to keep information up to date, we can’t guarantee its completeness or full accuracy.
European car insurance and breakdown cover
If you’re planning on driving in Spain, you will need to ensure you have the right European car insurance to give you peace of mind should the worst happen.
No matter the vehicle, make sure to take our breakdown insurance with you. Read this blog to discover the true cost of not having breakdown cover.
Sterling also has a range of car insurance policies for every sort of car, van and campervan and EU cover available. Call us on 0344 381 9990 for a quote or request a callback at a time better suited to you.