DRIVING IN SPAIN
The last thing you want if you're on holiday is a mishap when you're driving. Here are a few things that you should take into account to make your car hire in Spain trouble-free.
What you need to bring to drive a hire car in Spain
- Your passport.
- Your driving licence, preferably E.U. type (if you are from outside the E.U., you will need an International Driving Licence.
Failure to have either of these documents on your person could mean a fine if stopped. The hire car itself should be equipped with the following:
- Two E.U. approved, red warning triangles.
- Approved reflective jacket to be worn outside the vehicle in case of breakdown.
- A spare set of lamps/bulbs for the vehicle.
- Valid insurance.
Types of road and speed limits
These are the main types of road and general speed limits applicable:
- Autopista (motorway) - 120 kph (75 mph).
- Autovia (dual carriageway) - 100 kph (63 mph).
- Carretera Nacional (main road) - 90 kph (56 mph).
- Urban roads - 50 kph (31 mph).
- Roads in residential areas - 20 kph (12.5 mph).
Radar speed traps, whilst less common than in the U.K., are becoming more and more frequent. On motorways and main roads it's also quite common for the Guardia Civil to use marked or unmarked vehicles to carry our radar speed control.
As a toursit without assets in Spain, if you are stopped for speeding the fine will be payable 'on the spot' in cash. For very serious speeding offences (driving at a speed of over 50% more than the speed limit), the fine can reach 600 €!
Drink-driving
It goes without saying, of course, that you should never drink and drive. In recent years, Spain has 'toughened up' considerably on drink-driving. The legal drink-drive limit in Spain is currently 0.25 mg of alcohol per litre of blood, that being approximately half the present limit in the U.K. Penalties for drink-driving are very severe, and can include losing your licence on the spot. If you are caught drink-driving and you cannot pay the fine in cash, you could even spend time in a police cell!
Remember, also, if you are involved in an accident and you test positive for alcohol, the insurance of your hire car will not cover the damage to the vehicle.
Seatbelts
It is compulsory for all in the car to wear seatbelts, both front and rear where fitted. The driver is responsible for any fines where passengers are not wearing an approved belt. Children under 12 years of age are not allowed in the front seats of the vehicle unless they are using a suitable restraint system. Also, if seated in the back, the belt must fit correctly, or a babyseat or child booster seat must be fitted.
Safe driving!
