What do I need to know about driving in Spain?

What are the most important rules? In Spain, we drive on the right, safety belts are mandatory for all the occupants of the vehicle and there are speed limits on all roads. These are 120 km/h on dual carriageways and motorways, 90 km/h on all other roads and 30 km/h in built-up areas.



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Driving in Spain is generally very easy once you get used to driving on the right side of the road. All main roads are in good condition and well signposted, and the toll motorways are very quiet. Be careful if you go off the beaten track, however, as the quality of the roads and signage can vary considerably.

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What side of the road do I drive on in Spain? All traffic in Spain drives on the right-hand side of the road, not on the left like the UK. If you hire a car, the driver's seat will be on the left side of the car.

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As a general rule, a non-resident can drive a foreign registered vehicle in Spain for up to six months in a calendar year. However for a Spanish resident, it's just 30 days from the date the vehicle first entered the country. In all cases the vehicle needs to be fully legal in the country of current registration.

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Petrol stations in Spain are self-service and many accept card payments at the pump, but some require you to pre-pay before you add fuel. It's often cheaper to fill the car up in a town or city as the more rural you go, the more expensive fuel tends to be. Now you're in the know, enjoy your trip – Hasta luego!

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Uber in Spain operates in exactly the same way that it does in every country. Therefore, if you already have the app downloaded and an active account – away you go. However, if you haven't used the platform yet you will need to download the app from your app store (find it for Android here and Apple here).

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Spanish motorists are very aggressive drivers. Use the left fast lane on motorways only if you are going fast or overtaking another car. Otherwise, use the right or middle lane.

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Do you need to learn Spanish before moving to Spain? or can people speak a good level of English in Spain? The short answer is yes, people do speak English in Spain. However, the English proficiency level, the number of people speaking in English, or the areas where you'll hear English on the streets are limited.

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An International Driving Permit is a translation of your national driving license. The IDP allows motorists to drive vehicles in foreign countries. You must always have your IDP along with your national license at all times. To get an International Driving Permit in Spain, visit Dirección General de Tráfico Provincial.

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