Driving age and road rules
Let’s start with the basics, like the driving age and driving licenses – and which side of the road we drive on here! In Spain, as in almost all of the rest of Europe, you must drive on the right side of the road. The only exceptions are Cyprus, Ireland, Malta, and the UK – all island countries, which is probably just as well! For all other Europeans, you drive on the same side as in your home country.
To drive a car in Spain, you must be at least 18 years old, and the same goes for a motorbike over 125cc. At 15, you can drive a motorbike up to 50cc, and this increases to 125cc when you turn 16. If you are a citizen of a European Union country, your license from your home country will be recognised in Spain.
If you are from the USA and planning on staying in Spain for longer than 6 months, your US license may also be recognized, depending on what state it is from, but most Americans will need to change their American license to a Spanish one. The same goes for Canadians. Despite Brexit, driving in Spain on a UK license is still the same as before as Spain and the UK are both part of the EEA (European Economic Area), and you can easily exchange your license for a Spanish one.
When do you need a Spanish driving licence?
EU citizens spending less than six months in Spain don’t need to do anything; you can continue to drive with your license from your home country. After six months, you are required to get a Spanish license, but if you are coming here to live, it’s probably a good idea to go ahead and apply for your Spanish license anyway, as soon as you have your N.I.E. (Número de Identidad Extranjero).
To apply for a Spanish driving license with the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico = National Department for Traffic), you will need to fill in the form – available in your local DGT office or from their website – as well as copies of your passport, your NIE, two passport photos, proof of address (empadronamiento) from your local Town Hall (ayuntamiento) dated within the previous three months and, of course, your existing driving license along with a sworn statement that your license hasn’t been suspended and that you hold no additional license from another country.
Once you have applied, you will be given a receipt and a copy of your original foreign license, and you will be able to drive with them until you receive your new Spanish license, which usually takes 30-90 days. When your Spanish license has been issued, your original license will be returned to the issuing authority in your home country. If you are under 65, the license is valid for 10 years; if you are aged 65 or over, it is valid for 5 years.
Importing your vehicle into Spain
If you are bringing a vehicle from another European Union country into Spain and will spend less than 6 months of the year here, you need to do nothing, as you can remain registered in your leading country of residence. If you are moving here to take up residency (again, from another E.U. country), you can bring your car with you free of import duties, but you should have your vehicle re-registered in Spain within 30 days of obtaining your resident status here.
Even if you’re feeling lazy and “couldn’t be bothered” going through the hassle and paperwork and would rather keep your old registration from home and risk the police checkpoints, the system will catch up with you in the end as your vehicle’s certificate of roadworthiness (known as the I.T.V. in Spain = Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) will eventually expire and you’ll then have the choice of either driving back to your original country to get it renewed – or re-registering your vehicle in Spain.
It is obligatory to display your ITV sticker on the top right-hand corner of your windshield and also to have the ITV papers in the car at all times. It is not possible to get an ITV on a foreign-registered car in Spain.
By the way, in case you think that by having a foreign-registered vehicle you can avoid picking up Spanish penalty points for any traffic violations you might commit, this is no longer true. If you are the holder of a Spanish NIE and, say, a Belgian or German driving license, you will lose points on your ‘virtual’ Spanish license for violations and when you eventually want to exchange that foreign license for a Spanish one, the penalty points will be there waiting for you!
There is quite a bit of bureaucracy involved in registering a foreign vehicle in Spain, with several steps and official procedures to complete.
Insurance
When it comes to insurance, the procedure is pretty much the same as in any other country, with plenty of companies and different types of policies to choose from, so it’s always good to shop around a bit before deciding on one. What is very important to be aware of if you are bringing a car into Spain is how long your insurance from your home country covers you from the moment you leave.
Some insurance companies may cover you for six months (after which you should switch to Spanish registration and insurance). However, many policies cover only 90 days of international travel – another reason to re-register your vehicle sooner rather than later if you plan to stay. If you spend more than 90 days each year but less than six months in Spain, be sure to check with your home insurer that you are adequately covered. Better safe than sorry, as they say!
At callCarlos, we regularly assist people in sourcing the most suitable insurance policy, and we are even registered sub-agents.
If you are driving a Spanish-registered car, it is no longer required to carry your insurance documentation with you in your vehicle, as this can be checked digitally via your registration number.
Driving in Spain requirements
What should you always have in your vehicle in Spain? Here’s what is obligatory by Spanish law to carry at all times:
- A V-16 emergency warning light with GPS (this replaces the warning triangles from 1 January 2026)
- A fluorescent hi-vis vest for each occupant in the vehicle
- A spare tyre or tyre repair kit, plus the tools to use it
In terms of documentation, you are required to carry:
- Your driving licence
- A valid ITV sticker displayed on the windscreen, plus the accompanying ITV document
- Your Permiso de Circulación, showing who the vehicle is registered to
It’s also sensible to carry your insurance details and a European Accident Statement (Declaración Amistosa de Accidente de Automóvil). These are not strictly mandatory, but they can save time and stress if you’re involved in an accident.
Driving through France
If you’re heading to Spain from most northern European countries, you’ll likely drive through France. French road rules are updated regularly, and the police there may stop foreign-registered vehicles to check that you meet local equipment requirements, which can differ from those of both your home country and Spain.
Here’s what applies in France now:
- High-visibility vest – one per occupant must be carried and kept accessible inside the vehicle.
- Alcohol limit – the legal blood alcohol limit in France remains at 0.5 g/L for most drivers (lower for professional drivers).
- Emergency equipment – unlike older rules, carrying a breathalyser kit or a spare bulb kit is no longer mandatory for cars, although many drivers still keep them as practical tools.
The important point is that French police will enforce local regulations regardless of where your vehicle is registered, so you must follow French rules just as you would in Spain.
In case of an accident…
If you are involved in a road accident, there are a few important steps to follow. If the accident is minor and no significant damage has been caused, you may be able to resolve the situation directly with the other driver. If no agreement can be reached, or if anyone is injured, the police must be called and the incident officially reported.
Always exchange insurance details with the other driver. If the other party refuses to cooperate, make a note of their vehicle registration, the type of vehicle, and any details that could help identify them, including witness information.
If you or a passenger requires medical attention, ensure that the medical report clearly states that the injuries resulted from the accident, as this documentation is essential for any insurance claim.
You must report the accident to your insurance company within seven days. If language is a barrier, it may be helpful to seek assistance from a translator or someone who can help communicate clearly with the police or other parties involved.
Quick checklist after an accident
- Ensure safety first
Switch on hazard lights and put on a high-visibility vest before leaving the vehicle - Secure the scene
If possible, move to a safe location and place the required warning signal or V-16 beacon - Call the police if needed
Required when there are injuries, disputes, or significant damage - Exchange details
Share names, insurance details, and vehicle registration numbers - Collect evidence
Take photos of vehicles, damage, surroundings, and any relevant road signs - Note witnesses
Ask for names and contact details if anyone saw the accident - Seek medical attention
Make sure any injuries are officially recorded as accident-related - Inform your insurer
Report the accident within 7 days
Or a breakdown?
It is obligatory to have a spare tyre or tyre repair kit in your vehicle, along with the tools to use it. That said, it is generally safer to call a roadside assistance service rather than attempt a tyre change at the roadside.
If your vehicle breaks down, try to move it onto the hard shoulder or, ideally, to the nearest rest area. Switch on your hazard lights immediately. Before exiting the vehicle, put on your high-visibility vest.
Since 1 January 2026, warning triangles are no longer permitted in Spain. Instead, you must use a V-16 emergency warning light with GPS, which should be mounted on the vehicle’s roof. The advantage of the V-16 is that it can be activated without stepping into traffic and automatically alerts the DGT and emergency services to your location.
The DGT also recommends, although it is not compulsory, that you carry jump leads and a torch in your vehicle. Your insurance provider will have supplied a 24-hour roadside assistance number. If you break down on an Autopista and cannot call for help, there is always an SOS roadside phone within 2 km. In an emergency, you can call 112.
Try to give breakdown services as accurate a description of your location as possible. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use any of this, but it’s good to be prepared.
Parking
Parking in Spain is colour-coded and pretty straightforward. If a parking space is indicated with white lines, anyone can park there for free. If the lines are green, then registered residents of the municipality can park without charge; all others must pay at the meter, while blue spaces mean that everyone must pay. In municipalities that experience a surge in their population during the tourist season, the parking fees are often waived during the rest of the year, and anyone can park in the blue and green spaces. Pay attention, though, because the date on which they begin to apply again (usually around Easter) may vary somewhat from one town to the next.
If the parking meters are covered or removed altogether, then you can assume parking is free of charge. Yellow lines mean you can never park, the only exceptions usually being for deliveries and the like, and only at certain times of the day. Apart from these, you may come across other signs telling you when parking is allowed and when it is not, and when it is free and when you need to pay, but these are pretty self-explanatory.
Be warned: parking ticket inspectors on the Costa Brava are numerous, efficient, and ruthless during the summer season! If you do get a parking fine, rather than try to contest it, you’re better off paying it at the parking machine or as soon as possible afterwards, as you’ll only have to pay 50% (in most municipalities).
Oh, and parking illegally in a disabled parking space will cost you 3 licence points and a hefty fine!
One way to be virtually certain of avoiding parking fines altogether is by using applications on your smartphone like Blinkay or Telpark, which are increasingly being used in municipalities all over Spain. These apps allow you to pay for your parking via your smartphone, and you only pay for precisely the length of time you park – and you don’t need to search for change or even bother getting a ticket from those annoying parking ticket machines!
Many towns now use parking apps instead of machines, so always check local signs or payment instructions on arrival.
ZBEs (Zonas Bajas Emisiones)
Zonas de Bajas Emisiones (ZBEs) are Low Emission Zones in Spanish cities, where only vehicles that meet certain emissions standards are allowed to enter without penalty.
In Spain, many larger cities have had ZBEs in place for several years to reduce air and noise pollution. Since 2023, all municipalities with a population of more than 50,000 (including Girona) either already have, or are implementing, a ZBE.
From 2026, Catalonia has also agreed that all municipalities with more than 20,000 inhabitants will need to implement a Low Emission Zone when certain conditions are met, though the exact implementation dates and rules can vary by local council.
What you need to know about Eco Stickers
Depending on your vehicle’s emissions category, you may need an eco sticker (a coloured emissions label) to drive in a ZBE. While having an eco sticker is not compulsory outside of a ZBE, it is required to enter a ZBE without restriction.
You can obtain your eco sticker:
- at Correos (the Spanish Post Office) offices
- online via the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) official website (you enter your vehicle registration to find your emissions category)
Important note for foreign-registered vehicles:
- You cannot buy a Spanish eco sticker for a vehicle registered abroad.
- However, some European stickers (e.g., Crit’Air from France) are accepted in many Spanish ZBEs — especially where municipalities formally recognise them.
Rules can differ slightly by city. Always check the local ZBE signage and municipal website for up-to-date entry requirements and exemptions before driving into a Low Emission Zone.
Speed limits
Spain has updated many of its urban speed limits in recent years to improve safety and reduce accidents. Current general speed limits in built-up areas are:
- 20 km/h on single-lane roads without a sidewalk
- 30 km/h on roads with a sidewalk and one lane in each direction
- 50 km/h on urban roads with two or more lanes in each direction
- 80 km/h where motorways or dual carriageways cross through towns or cities
These limits are widely applied across Spain’s cities and towns as part of the ongoing road safety strategy.
Traffic fines and the miDGT app
If you breach a speed limit or another traffic regulation, fines are issued based on the offence and its severity. Spain uses a points-based system on driving licences; exceeding limits, using a mobile phone while driving, or failing to wear a seatbelt all result in fines and penalty points.
Spain’s official miDGT app allows you to:
- check and download your digital driving licence
- view any fines you’ve incurred
- pay many fines directly through the app
In many cases, paying promptly (usually within a set period) can reduce the fine — often to 50 % of the original amount, depending on the municipality and type of offence.
Common fines to be aware of
- Using a mobile phone while driving – significant fine and points deducted
- Radar detectors – heavy fine and points
- Not wearing a seatbelt or using the correct child seat – fine and points
- Throwing objects from a vehicle – fine and points
Exact amounts and penalties can vary slightly depending on the province or municipality, but the above reflect current national enforcement practices.
Electric Scooters (VMPs)
Electric scooters (Personal Mobility Vehicles, or VMPs) are subject to updated national regulations in Spain as of 2026.
- Mandatory registration
All VMPs must be registered with the National Register of Light Personal Vehicles, managed by the DGT. Registration links the scooter to its owner and is required in order to take out the mandatory civil liability insurance.
- Identification label
Once registered, scooters receive an official identification label that must be displayed in a visible place on the vehicle.
- Speed and classification
Only single-rider electric scooters designed to travel between 6 and 25 km/h are classified as VMPs under Spanish traffic law.
- Where you can ride
VMPs may only be used on cycle lanes or appropriate low-speed roads and must follow standard traffic rules. They are not permitted on pavements or in pedestrian zones.
- Transitional rules for older scooters
A transitional period applies to scooters sold before 22 January 2024 that lack full certification. These may circulate under specific conditions until January 2027, but must still be registered and insured.
- Costs and fines
Registration currently costs €8.67. Riding without proper registration or insurance can result in fines ranging from €202 to €800, depending on the offence.
- Local variations
Local rules, including helmet use and enforcement, may vary by municipality.
And finally… more rules
Spanish road traffic law allows the Guardia Civil, in certain circumstances, to stop a vehicle and prevent it from continuing its journey. This may include immobilising the car or, in serious cases, confiscating it.
Most of these rules will be familiar, but it’s worth reviewing them to avoid fines or being taken off the road.
Child Seats
In Spain, child seat rules are based on height, not age. Children under 135 cm must use an approved child restraint system. Only seats compliant with the ECE R129 (i-Size) standard are now valid. If a child seat does not meet current safety regulations, the vehicle may be ordered off the road.
ITV
If a vehicle has serious defects, such as non-functioning lights, major damage, or an expired ITV, the police may immobilise it.
Emissions and noise
Vehicles producing excessive emissions or noise may be stopped and immobilised.
Insurance
If the police find out that a driver has no insurance, the car will be immediately immobilized and/or confiscated.
Driving licence
If you are driving without a valid licence or have lost all penalty points, the vehicle will not be allowed to continue.
Alcohol and drugs
If a driver is over the legal alcohol limit or under the influence of drugs, the vehicle will be immobilised unless another sober occupant can legally take over driving.
Fatigue
Professional drivers may be stopped if police believe fatigue poses a safety risk.
Too many occupants
Vehicles carrying more passengers than authorised may be stopped, with excess occupants required to continue on foot or find alternative transport.
Helmet
Riding a motorbike or moped without a helmet results in a fine, penalty points, and possible vehicle confiscation.
Manipulated cars
Suspected tampering with a speedometer or vehicle systems may result in the car being taken off the road.
Radar detectors
Radar jammers are illegal. If found, both the device and the vehicle may be confiscated, with fines of up to €6,000.
Need help?
From NIE applications and driving licences to vehicle registration and insurance, callCarlos helps make Spanish bureaucracy easier, clearly and correctly.