FrancevsSpain
France and Spain share a land border — here's how their driving rules differ, side by side.
VERIFIED 2026-07-29 & 2026-07-29 · METHODOLOGY| RULE | France | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Driving side | Drives on the right | Drives on the right |
| Urban speed limit | 50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural speed limit | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Motorway speed limit | 130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Alcohol limit (general) | 0.5‰ | 0.5‰ |
| Alcohol limit (novice) | 0.2‰ | 0.3‰ |
| Mandatory equipment | Warning triangle, Hi-vis vest | Warning triangles (two required), Hi-vis vest |
| Tolls | Toll booths | Mixed tolls |
| Headlights | Dipped headlights recommended in poor visibility; not generally mandatory in daylight outside tunnels, though many newer cars run daytime lights by default. | Not generally mandatory in daylight outside tunnels, though carrying and using dipped headlights in poor visibility is required; motorcycles must run headlights at all times. |
| Winter tires / chains | In designated mountain zones (Alps, Pyrenees, Massif Central, Vosges, Jura, Corsica), winter tires or snow chains are required from 1 November to 31 March on routes marked with a specific sign — check signage before entering these areas. | No nationwide mandatory date-based rule; winter tires or chains can be required on specific signed mountain roads (e.g. the Pyrenees and parts of the north) during winter weather events — follow posted signs. |
| Low-emission / restricted zones | Numerous "Zones à Faibles Émissions" (Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, and others) require a Crit’Air sticker matching the vehicle’s emissions category. | Low-emission zones ("Zonas de Bajas Emisiones") cover Madrid, Barcelona, and a growing number of Spanish cities, generally requiring an environmental sticker ("distintivo ambiental") displayed on the windscreen — check each city's rules before entering. |
| Child seats | Children under 10 years old (or 135 cm) must use an approved child restraint; generally not permitted in the front seat unless an exception applies. | Children under 135 cm (roughly age 12) must use an approved child restraint suited to their height and weight; front-seat use is restricted for smaller children. |
| Mobile phone use | Hands-free only; holding a phone is prohibited even while stopped with the engine running. | Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited, including at traffic lights. |
| Currency | EUR | EUR |
| Emergency number | 112 | 112 |