RRoad Clarity

Spain

Drives on the right · EUR · Emergency 112
LAST VERIFIED 2026-07-29

Speed limits

Urban
50 km/h
Rural / outside built-up areas
90 km/h
Motorway
120 km/h

Alcohol limits

General limit
0.5‰
Novice drivers
0.3‰

Mandatory equipment

  • •Warning triangles (two required)
  • •Hi-vis vest

Winter tires & snow chains

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.

Tolls

System
Mixed tolls

Spain has a mix of toll motorways ("autopistas de peaje", mostly around Barcelona, Bilbao/the north, and parts of the Mediterranean coast) and free ones ("autovías"); toll roads are pay-by-distance at booths or via electronic tag, and several stretches have been converted toll-free in recent years — check your specific route before assuming a toll applies.

More things to know before you drive

Seatbelts
Mandatory front and rear for all occupants.
Mobile phone use
Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited, including at traffic lights.
Child seats
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.
Headlights
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.
Low-emission & restricted zones
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.
Right of way & roundabouts
Priority to the right at unmarked intersections; roundabouts give way to traffic already circulating.
Parking
Blue zones (ORA) are paid via meter or app with a time limit; green zones are typically resident-priority — always check posted signs for exact hours and rates.
Speed cameras
Extensive fixed and mobile camera network, including some average-speed sections and radar vans.

Good to know

Many urban streets now default to 30 km/h or lower under a 2021 national reform — the general 50 km/h figure above is the baseline for wider urban roads, not narrower residential streets, so watch for posted signs in town centers.