14 Essential Tips for Driving in Spain

Are you planning a road trip in Spain and wondering what driving in Spain is really like? One of the most common questions from travellers heading to Spain is about the driving experience and rules.

As one of Europe’s larger countries with so many amazing places to visit and activities to enjoy, planning your Spanish itinerary is just the start of your adventure. If it’s your first time visiting, you might be curious about the driving rules and what to expect on the road.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. For further info, please see our Disclosure

In this guide, we’ll cover the main rules and share essential tips for driving in Spain, what to watch out for and how to handle various road conditions along with local traffic regulations. Whether you’re navigating through busy city streets, soaking up the scenery on rural roads, or cruising at speed on the Spanish highways, being prepared makes all the difference.

TIP: Looking to rent a car in Spain? Check here to find out the best deals and prices for rental cars in Spain.

Spain drives on the right hand side

In Spain, vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road, with the steering wheel on the left. This is important to remember, especially if you’re coming from a country where driving is on the left. In Spain and the rest of mainland Europe you always keep right and overtake on the left.

Understand the Spanish road system

When going on a road trip in Spain, it helps to understand how the road network is organised. Spain has a well maintained and extensive road system, with each type of road identified by a letter code. Knowing this code gives you an idea about what to expect in terms of speed, access and driving conditions.

• AP – Autopistas: These are highways or multiple carriageways for high speed travel, connecting major cities and popular tourist regions. Most AP highways are toll roads, in good condition and with multiple lanes.
• A – Autovías: Also dual carriageways for fast travel, but unlike AP roads, autovías usually don’t have tolls. They may have roundabouts or intersections, especially near urban areas, so stay alert.
• N – Carretera Nacional: These are national roads connecting smaller towns and regions and are mostly single carriageways, with sometimes a third lane to make overtaking possible on slopes.
• C – Carreteras Comarcales: Local or regional roads, connecting villages and rural areas. The C roads are generally smaller and less busy, mostly used for local access and scenic routes. Speed limits and driving conditions vary a lot. Be prepared for winding roads, sharp bends, livestock crossings and agricultural vehicles.

Stick to the speed limits

Speed limits in Spain are strictly enforced with speed cameras on highways and in cities. Fines can be steep, so always pay attention to the actual road signs and adjust your speed accordingly. The posted speed on your GPS can be wrong.

• Autopistas – maximum 120 km/h (75mph)
• Autovías – maximum 120 km/h (75 mph)
• Carretera Nacional – 90 km/h (56mph)
• Urban areas: Between 20km/h and 50 km/h (12mph and 31mph)

Use the correct fuel

When driving in Spain, whether with a rental car or your own vehicle, knowing the correct fuel type for your vehicle is essential. Spanish fuel stations typically offer several fuel options, each with their own local names and labels that you should familiarize yourself with before hitting the road. These are the most common fuel types in Spain:

• Petrol Unleaded 95 Octane = Gasolina 95 / SP95 or Sin Plomo 95 (E5)
• Petrol Unleaded 98 Octane = Gasolina 98 / SP98 or Sin Plomo 98 (E10)
• Diesel = Gasóleo
• LPG = GLP (Gas Licuado del Petróleo)

Have the correct paperwork

Make sure to have the correct paperwork with you before getting behind the wheel in Spain. The required documents to drive legally and to avoid any issues with your rental car are:

• Valid driver’s licence: You’ll need a valid driver’s licence from your home country. You may need an International Driving Permit along with your original licence, if you don’t have a EU issued licence.
• Vehicle registration documents: If you are driving your own car, make sure to carry the original vehicle registration papers. When renting a car, the rental company will provide you with these documents.
• Insurance: You must have a valid motor insurance covering your vehicle and make sure to carry those documents with you. A rental car includes insurance, but every coverage is different. It is highly recommended to rent your car with full coverage to avoid high costs should something happen.
• Passport or National ID Card: Always carry your passport or national ID with you as proof of identity.

TIP: It is advised to also have a certified copy of your passport or ID card with you in case of loss or theft of the original documents.

International Driving Permit

We want to highlight the importance of having an International Driving Permit (IDP), depending on the country where your driving licence was issued.

If your licence was obtained in a country of the European Union or from Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway you can drive in Spain using only that licence during your holiday, as long as it is valid.

If your licence was issued in any other country, we recommend obtaining an International Driving Permit (IDP) from your country of origin before traveling. This document is only valid when presented together with your original driving licence. It may be required by both Spanish police during roadside checks and by the car rental company when picking up a vehicle.

How to use and pay for toll roads

Using toll roads in Spain is quite easy as it is well signposted. As a general rule, most AP roads are or used to be toll roads, while A roads (or Autovías) are free to use. But in recent years, Spain has eliminated many toll roads as old private concessions have expired. This is mainly in the regions of Catalonia, Valencia, Aragon and part of Andalusia.

The signage for toll roads are marked with the prefix AP and the word peaje (which means toll in Spanish). When entering a toll road, you’ll usually pass through an entry barrier. You either take a ticket and pay depending on the distance when exiting the toll road, or you pay a flat fee for certain stretches.

You can pay tolls using cash (euros) or most credit/debit cards, including Visa and Mastercard. Many toll roads also offer electronic toll lanes, known as VIA-T or Telepeaje. Most rental cars have an electronic tag attached to the windscreen allowing you to drive through the designated lane without stopping. The toll will be charged to your bill later by the rental company, if they offer this service.

Navigating roundabouts in Spain

Roundabouts are pretty common across Spain and come in two main types. Most are standard roundabouts where you yield to traffic already inside and signal only when exiting. Stay in the right lane if taking the first exit and use the inner lane for later exits and merge out carefully.

In larger cities, however, some roundabouts have traffic lights. You’ll need to treat them more like regular intersections and follow the lights, not just the flow of traffic. Local drivers can be unpredictable and are used to drive in the large cities with lots of traffic, so stay alert, drive defensively and basically have eyes everywhere.

Be aware of unusual left turns in Spain

In certain areas, mostly near major intersections or roads, turning left is not done from the usual left-hand lane. Instead, you might need to first move right, follow a marked lane or slip road and then loop left across the main road.

This design helps keep traffic flowing but can be confusing if you’ve never seen it before. Watch for arrows and signs that guide you through the correct path and don’t assume the left turn lane works like it does back home.

Don’t turn on red

Unlike some other countries such as the USA and Canada, in Spain, turning right at a red light is not allowed, unless there’s a specific green arrow signal pointing to the right. Red traffic lights in Spain are strictly enforced and ignoring them can lead to heavy fines. Always wait for the green unless clearly directed otherwise by signage or traffic lights.

Beware of cyclists

Cycling is growing in popularity throughout Spain, not just in cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia, where bike lanes and cycling infrastructure are expanding, but also in rural and mountainous areas frequented by both professional and recreational cyclists. Since you’ll often share the road with cyclists, it’s important to drive with extra care.

Spanish law requires you to give at least 1,5 meters (about 5 feet) of clearance when overtaking a cyclist. If the road is too narrow, slow down and wait until it’s safe to pass. Always stay alert near bike lanes, intersections and roundabouts, as cyclists have priority in many situations.

Rules of the road

Spain has some specific legal requirements and practical tips that drivers must be aware of. Here’s a list of some essential things you need to know before driving in Spain:

• Reflective safety vest: You need to carry a reflective safety vest for all passengers in your car. It must be worn if you get out of the car on a road or freeway due to an emergency.
• Two warning triangles: Unlike many other countries, in Spain you’ll need at least two hazard warning triangles in your car. In case of an emergency, you need to place one in front and one behind the vehicle.
• Seatbelts: Wearing seatbelts is mandatory for all passengers in the vehicle.
• Mobile phone use: It is prohibited to use your mobile phone while driving unless using a hands-free system.
• Children: Children under 135 cm (or 4’5″) must use an appropriate seat car.
• Don’t drink and drive: As a general rule, just don’t drink and drive. Spain has new limits coming in to force as from 2025. The new alcohol limits will be 0,2 g/L in blood and 0,1 mg/L in breath.

Low Emission zones in Spain (ZBE)

As part of Spain’s effort to reduce air pollution, many cities have introduced Low Emission Zones, known locally as Zonas de Bajas Emisiones (ZBE). These areas restrict access to older, more polluting vehicles, especially in larger cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Seville.

Spain uses an environmental badge system issued by the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico), to classify vehicles by how clean they are:

• 0 Emissions (Blue): Electric and hydrogen vehicles – full access.
• Eco (Green/Blue): Mainly hybrids and gas-powered vehicles – allowed in most zones with few restrictions.
• C (Green): Vehicles with internal combustion that meet the latest Euro emissions standards – limited access depending on the city and day.
• B (Yellow): Vehicles with internal combustion that do not meet the latest Euro emissions standards, but do meet older standards – heavily restricted or banned in many zones.
• No Badge: Older vehicles not classified – generally banned from ZBEs.

If you’re driving a foreign-registered car, your vehicle won’t have a Spanish emissions sticker, but you do need to have an emission badge from another EU country, like for instance France, Germany, Austria or Denmark.

In 2025, many things are changing regarding the ZBE and for certain areas you’ll need to register it with local authorities, especially if you plan to drive into a ZBE in cities like Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia. Each city has its own process and rules and fines can be issued automatically by cameras if you enter a zone without authorization. Best is to follow up on the official website of DGT.

Beware of highway scams

While driving in Spain is generally safe and enjoyable, unfortunately a few common scams targeting tourists do occur in certain areas, especially on highways and highway parking areas.

One well-known trick involves scammers pretending to signal a problem with your car, such as a flat tire or smoke from the engine. Once you pull over, they may distract you while an accomplice steals valuables from your vehicle. This scam is particularly well known to happen on the AP7 highway around Barcelona. To avoid this, never stop for strangers on the highway and if you do stop, make sure your handbag and valuables are safely stored away in your car.

Another scam happens in the parking areas near the highway, most commonly on the stretch along the AP-7 between Barcelona and Murcia. Someone will go to the back of your car pointing at your tyre. They will ask you to come and look. While you’re distracted, an accomplice quickly grabs your handbag or belongings. To avoid this, don’t give any attention to these strangers, even if they look like they mean well. Keep your doors locked and your valuables secured out of sight.

Unfortunately we have seen this happening twice right in front of our eyes (not with us, but a car standing next to us). They are so fast that you are looking at it and before you notice something is happening they are already gone.

Spain offers a fantastic driving experience with diverse roads and stunning scenery. Knowing the rules and local customs will help you stay safe, avoid fines and enjoy your trip to the fullest. Safe travels!