Driving in Spain

Things you must keep in the car when driving in Spain.



1. You must have 2 warning triangles.
2. 2 day glow jackets in case you break down.
3. A first aid kit.
4. A fire extinguisher
5. Spare bulbs and the tools to change them.



Paperwork you need to carry.

Warning if you do not have the relevant paperwork the Guardia can and will confiscate your vehicle.

1. A valid green card for insurance unless you have 90 day cover from your U.K. insurance.

2. Driving license.

3. Passport or Spanish I.D. card.( If you only have your Spanish I.D. card all paperwork must be the correct Spanish paperwork or you will, at best be warned by the Guardia or at worst they will take your vehicle.

4. The ownership document for the vehicle.

5. A valid M.O.T if registered in the U.K. or valid I.T.V. if Spanish registered

6. The owners hand book for the vehicle.



Things to know.

If you have a right hand drive car from the U.K. fit beam deflectors to your headlights before you come.

If you intend to register your right hand drive car in Spain try to obtain left hand drive headlights before you leave the U.K. They are expensive here.

The speed limits unless otherwise stated are:

The limit on urban roads is 50 kph.

The limit on the open road is between 90 and 100 kph.

The motorway limit is 120 kph.



The minimum driving age is 18 or 16 for scooters under 50cc.

There is now a 0 tolerance for drink driving.

No one under 12 years old is aloud to sit in the front seat.

Seat belts are compulsory front and rear.

If you are riding a motorcycle you must wear a crash helmet.

If going through a tunnel you must turn on dipped head lights.

Parking is at a premium especially in small villages and towns if you find a parking space that is marked in blue you need to look for the pay and display machine. You don’t need to pay during siesta or usually after 7 pm.

Take care when driving through towns and villages because there does not seem to be any law that prevents reversing into a main road, everybody does it.

Have a Sat nav handy if you have your own car because asking for directions is a no no everybody means well but most of the time you will be sent in the opposite direction to where you need to go.

When driving in Spain you will probably see none of the above adhered to, but if you don’t you will get fined.