Rules of the road!

The rules of the road! For many people owning their own car in Spain is an essential. Spain is a beautiful country and site seeing in your own car opens up the whole country! But you do need to know the rules before you get started! Driving on the “other side” of the road is nothing to fear, it’s surprising how quickly you get used to it! Here at AutosDirect it is our mission to help you get on the road, and to help you drive legally and safely. We will assist you in any way possible.

What do I need with me in the car?

To drive your own car in Spain you will need the following things with you:

• Your current driving licence.
• Two red warning triangles.
• Reflective jackets that must be worn by anyone outside the car at anytime, day or night.
• A set of spare bulbs. – Update 2010 – Not needed any more!
• Valid insurance
• The V5 registration document (remember we supply these in your name in just 24 hours!)
• Drivers who wear glasses must carry a spare pair.

The good news is that apart from the driving license AutosDirect are able to help with everything else! Including of course the car! With ever used car we supply we are happy to include a full safety pack which includes the luminous vests and safety triangles. We can also help arrange cheap motor insurance. We have you covered!

Can I drive my current “foreign” car?

You can only be a “tourist” for three months in Spain and after that period your insurance will be invalid. The police are hot on this these days…it is not like it used to be ten years ago!

The roads in Spain

In our area, here on the Costa Blanca, roads are excellent, but perhaps the sign posts are not quite so good. A GPS is always a handy thing to have! With regards to speed limits, please consult the following guide:

• Motorway (Autopista) – These have an A or E prefix to the road number, and are either standard or toll roads (peajes). Maximum speed 120 kph (73 mph)
• Dual carriageway (Autovia) Speed limits from 80 to 110 kph
National road (Carretera Nacional) – These have an N or CN prefix to the road number and are main roads, such as our “famous” E332! Speed limits are 100 to 60 kph
• Local road (Carretera Local) Speeds as signed posted, but usually no more than 100 kph

Please note that the speeds are somewhat less for some vehicles including caravans or people towing trailers.

A few rules of the road and laws

Give way to traffic coming from the left, especially on roundabouts! Do not pull over into the middle of the road to turn left if there is a solid line in the road. Sometimes however there are special lanes for this, signposted “cambio de sentido” (change of direction), especially on the motorways.

Do NOT drink and drive – the limits are roughly half of those in the UK and the penalties are extremely high including losing your licence on the spot. You will not be allowed to leave the area where you have been stopped until you have paid the fine. You may even be spending time in the cells if you cannot pay cash! Ensure a receipt is issued by the officer collecting the fine!

You are not allowed to have a speed detector in your vehicle and speed traps are becoming quite frequent and the cameras – just like in the UK – are on the rise.

If you are not a resident in Spain, all fines are payable “on the spot” in cash. The legal drink-drive limit is currently just 0.5 grams per litre of air using a breathalyzer. If caught with excess alcohol or drugs, you can expect to lose your licence (in Court, probably that same day) or, if you are resident, have to attend a special school.

It is compulsory for everyone in the car to wear seatbelts, both front and rear. The driver is responsible for any fines when passengers do not wear a seatbelt. Children under twelve are not allowed in the front seat. Also, if seated in the back, the belt must fit correctly, or a special “booster seat” must be fitted.

Road tax and vehicle inspections

If you are using your foreign registered car in Spain for a few months (no more than six months in any year is allowed) then it must be legal. That means roadworthy, insured and taxed. You cannot get your car MOT tested here in Spain and if the certificate runs out, not only will you be illegal in all of Europe – including the UK of course. All used cars from Autosdirect will be delivered with a full ITV (Spanish MOT) so you will have complete peace of mind.

GB stickers

UK registered vehicles displaying Euro-plates (with a circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on blue background) no longer need to have a GB sticker when driving in European Union countries.

Mobile telephones

The use of a mobile telephone, other than hands-free, is now completely banned in Spain. You have to pull off the road completely to use a phone. Penalty points can now be awarded for this – watch out!

Headlamps

Headlamp converters are compulsory on right hand drive cars in Spain. Motorcycles must use dipped headlights during the day at all times.

Parking

Do not park in where the curb is painted yellow or where a no parking sign. There are parking spaces marked in blue which require a ticket from a nearby machine. They usually have a two hour maximum, but can be free on weekends or fiestas and after about eight in the evening.

Parking illegally, especially in a foreign car, will almost certainly see you becoming a victim of the “grua” (tow truck) If you come back to find your car “missing” look a sticker left on the curb with the phone number and address of your car’s new temporary home! Getting your car back will cost you a fine, and will certainly require use of Spanish. Our clients are welcome to call us in such an emergency where we will provide what assistance we can on the phone!

Fuel

All grades of unleaded petrol (benzin), diesel (gasoleo A) and LPG are available as well as lead substitute additive. Leaded no longer exists in Spain. It is allowed to carry petrol in a can. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted at garages. If you’re only here for a little while, then it’s a good idea to let your card issuer know you will be travelling abroad. This ensures they don’t suspend your card if they spot it being used in unfamiliar places, which they sometimes do as an anti-fraud measure.

This article was written on Monday, April 12th, 2010
It's filed under: "Motoring in Spain"

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