If you’re driving to Spain for work or looking to escape the cold on holiday, there are a number of rules you will need to follow. Our guide is designed to take the stress out of your trip by providing 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 you do not need to apply for another type before visiting Spain if you’re aged 18 and over.
International driving permits are recognised in Spain, but are not a legal requirement.
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 police.
Your vehicle is allowed to be temporarily imported into Spain for up to 12 months from the UK without formality.
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 will need to pack a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), 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. The GHIC does not cover you in Liechtenstein or Switzerland, just in case you’re thinking of driving further into the continent.
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 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 covers you whilst you are abroad, as you may not have overseas cover.
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.
Check your satnav
It’s illegal in Spain and several other EU countries to use satnavs or other electronic equipment that alerts you of speed enforcement cameras. If yours provides such alerts, it’s recommended you switch them off before you enter Europe.
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 breakdown. You should therefore consider taking reflective jackets for yourself and any passengers along with you when you travel in Spain.
Warning triangle
A warning triangle is compulsory for every vehicle with four wheels or more.
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 Eurostar 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.
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.
Low emission zone sticker
Despite what you may have read online, you do not need an emission zone sticker on your vehicle if you are driving in Spain. Only those who are Spanish citizens require as such if you live in the cities of Madrid or Barcelona.
What can’t I take in my car to Spain?
When visiting Spain, you’re not permitted to take any meat or products containing meat, milk or dairy products.
On top of this, you are not allowed to take vegetables, plants or fresh fruit, unless you are willing to pay for them to be inspected upon entry to the country.
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.
Are driving rules different in Spain?
Like most countries, driving rules have slight variants in Spain. For a start they drive on the opposite (wrong) 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.
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.
Traffic light system
Spain still uses the three-coloured traffic light system we use in the UK, however they have one noticeable difference.
At some intersections green, amber and red arrows are used as opposed to just lights.
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 also have priority.
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.
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 on its rear.
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 for a period between one and two hours, and can be paid by mobile phone.
Parking illegally can see 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.
If you have a disabled parking permit, then the good news is these are recognised in Spain. 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.
What happens if I get fined whilst 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, you will be prosecuted once you get back home.
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.
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 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 look out:
- Built-up areas are 50km/h (31mph)
- Outside built-up areas between 90km/h (55mph) and 100km/h (62mph)
- 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. Points will be added to your licence based on how far over the limit you have driven.
If you are caught exceeding the speed limit by 60km/h (37mph), you can have your licence suspended for up to four years.
Spanish police have the ability to impose fines on the spot. If you pay these within a 20-day period then the fine will reduce 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.
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. It costs from as little as £76.80 a year. 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, with prices starting from £325 a year and EU cover available. Call us on 0344 381 9990 for a quote or request a callback at a time better suited to you.
