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Driving in SpainDriving in Spain
Spanish cities can be very difficult to navigate, and traffic is generally congested all the time. If you are visiting a city for the day, it is often easier to locate a car park and walk or take public transport.  Basic Requirements
Legal Requirements
Driving Tips
Basic Legal RequirementsDriving LicenceWhen driving in Spain, you will need to ensure you bring both parts of your driving licence - the Photocard plus the Paper Counterpart (D740). If you do not have a Photocard yet, only the paper copy is required, but you will need Photo ID, such as a Passport
The International Driving Permit is not required, but if you would like one you can apply through the Post Office. The international driving permit is in addition to your driving licence, so you will need to carry both copies. While a photocopy may be useful if your licence is lost, you should carry the original with you. Car DocumentsYou should carry your vehicles Registration Certificate (V5C) with you, which should be updated to show your correct details. For security reasons, it's best NOT to leave the Registration Certificate in the vehicle while it is parked - it makes it harder to a thief to resell the vehicle if they do not have the documentation. While a photocopy may be useful if your Registration Certificate is lost, you should carry the original with you. InsuranceIt is compulsory to have at least third-party insurance for Spain, as for the UK. Most UK insurance policies will allow an element of European driving, often for a limited period. Before leaving the UK, it is a good idea to contact your insurer, and check what your existing cover allows. You can also request a 'Green Card' which is an internationally recognised form of proof of insurance. You should carry proof of insurance with you while driving. If your existing insurance does not provide European cover for the period required, most insurance brokers will have a suitable policy covering Spain. Your Vehicle
Standard halogen headlights and Autobulbs Xenon HID Conversion kits can be modified by the use of a stick on Headlight Beam Adaptor. Vehicles with factory fitted Xenon HID headlights may find there is an adjuster either on the headlights themselves or on the dashboard - check your manual for details. If there is no adjuster, you may need to visit a dealer for them to make the adjustments, and again to change them back after your visit. Reflective Jackets or vests must be worn when getting out of a vehicle stuck on a motorway, dual carriageway or other busy road. However, there is not yet the requirement to have them at all times. To comply in an emergency it makes sense to have one for each passenger in the vehicle.
If you are planning on driving in mountain areas in winter, you must carry snow chains and fit them when conditions demand it. Police can stop you if you are driving without snow chains when the conditions demand it - it is not an offence, but they will prevent you from continuing. Children under the age of 12 must not travel in the front seats, unless the seat belts have been modified for them. All passengers must use seat belts if fitted. Children under 135cm (4 feet 5 inches) must use child seats, booster seats or seatbelt adaptations suitable for their size. Children under 18 cannot been carried on a motorcycle unless it is being ridden by a parent or authorised person, and even then they must be at least 7 years old.
There is no legal requirement to carry a first aid kit in the vehicle, but it is recommended. Similarly, there is not a requirement to carry a fire extinguisher, but they are generally a useful safety item to carry in your vehicle if you have the space. You must carry a spare bulb kit suitable for your vehicle. While HID bulbs last longer than their halogen counterparts, it makes sense to carry at least one spare Xenon HID bulb suitable for your headlights. Feel free to add comments or your experiences of driving in Spain below... Customer Comments
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Spain has some beautiful mountain roads,
picturesque coastal routes, and empty motorways, but also has one of
the highest road fatality rates in Western Europe. Traffic volumes
have grown hugely in the past 20 years, but many locals will still
overtake on blind crests and bends.
You must be the holder
of a full driving licence (not a provisional), and have passed your
test. Even if you have already passed your full test, you must be at
least 18 years old, or 16 for motorcycles up to 125cc.
Your headlights will
need to be adjusted to ensure that they do not dazzle oncoming users.
You must also carry a
reflective 
You may have a number
plate that already has a valid 'GB' mark. If you do not, you will
need to apply a GB sticker to the back of your vehicle.
Dipped headlights are
required on motorcycles all the time, and on other vehicles when
there is low visibility, such as when it is raining. They are also
required when driving through tunnels - you will see reminder
signs before and after the tunnels. You must not use main beam in
built up areas.
Drink
driving in Spain is taken seriously. Over 50mg of alcohol per 100ml
of blood will result in a fine. Significantly more will result in
much larger fines and loss of your licence. Note that this is
slightly lower than the 80mg blood alcohol allowed in the UK, so the
safest option is not to drink at all when you are driving.
Motorway toll roads are expensive, but are by far the fastest and
easiest way to get across the country at speed. Many locals avoid
them so they are usually very quiet. Take a ticket from the gate
you enter, and pay at the gate you exit. Cash is the often the
easiest choice for toll payment, but some take credit and debit
cards. Automated booths will expect coins to be dropped into the
basket. Some lanes are restricted to vehicles carrying automatic
payment devices - as a visitor, ensure you use the ones marked
for Euros.
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