Driving in Spain can feel like opening the door to a thousand road-trip possibilities—sun-baked coastal highways, winding mountain passes and medieval towns that appear out of nowhere. Yet, for many international visitors, the excitement of the journey is matched by a fair share of questions: Is my licence valid? What about tolls, LEZ zones or fuel stops in 2025? This guide brings together everything you need to know about driving in Spain, so you can swap uncertainty for confidence and focus on enjoying the views instead of worrying about the rules. Whether you’re planning a quick city break or a month-long tour across the countryside, you’ll find clear, up-to-date advice to keep your trip smooth, safe and memorable. Buckle up—your Spanish adventure starts here.

Do I Need an International Driving Permit or Is My Licence Enough?

Is my home-country driving licence valid in Spain?

For most visitors, the answer is yes—your licence is valid for up to six months as long as it meets two conditions:

1. It was issued by an EU, EEA or UK authority, or by a country that has a bilateral agreement with Spain (e.g. Australia, Canada, USA, New Zealand).

2. It uses the Latin alphabet and clearly shows your full name, photo, licence number and expiry date.

If your licence is printed in a non-Latin script (Cyrillic, Arabic, Japanese, etc.) you’ll need an official translation or an International Driving Permit (IDP) to accompany it.

When do I need an International Driving Permit (IDP)?

Spain recognises both the 1949 and 1968 IDP conventions. You’ll need an IDP if:

• Your licence isn’t from the EU/EEA/UK and you plan to stay more than six months.

• Your licence doesn’t show information in the Latin alphabet.

• Your rental company specifically requests one (some still do, even for UK or US visitors).

Tip: Apply for the IDP in your home country before travelling. It usually costs under £6 GBP in the UK or about €15 elsewhere and is valid for one year. Carry it alongside your original licence at all times.

Minimum driving age & documents required to rent a car

• Legal driving age in Spain: 18 years.

• Typical car-hire requirements:

  • Minimum age 21–23 (varies by company and vehicle class).

  • At least one or two years’ driving experience.

  • Passport or national ID card.

  • A credit card in the driver’s name for the security deposit.

  • Your driving licence (and IDP if applicable).

  • Booking confirmation (printed or on your phone).

Some agencies offer a “young driver” surcharge for drivers aged 19–24; check the daily fee before booking. Always keep your rental agreement and insurance papers in the glove box—Spanish traffic police can request them during roadside checks.

Key Driving Rules and Speed Limits You Must Know

National speed limits: motorways, rural and urban roads

Spain keeps things simple with default limits, but they still trip up visitors:

Remember: limits are signposted in kilometres per hour, not mph. Many hire cars show both scales; double-check before pulling away.

Spanish road signs and right-of-way basics

• Road signs mirror the rest of Europe (red triangles for warnings, circular red borders for prohibitions). Look out for the white town-name sign with a red diagonal slash—it means you’re leaving an urban zone and the higher rural limit applies.

• Roundabouts: traffic already inside has priority; signal right only when you’re exiting, not while circling.

• Unmarked intersections in villages follow the traditional “priority to the right” rule. If you’re unsure, slow down—locals expect you to cede.

• Pedestrian crossings (zebra lines): stopping is mandatory if someone is waiting, even if there are no traffic lights. Fines for failing to yield start at €200.

If you’re caught speeding

Expect on-the-spot fines between €100 and €600 (higher for +50 km/h). Pay within 20 days and it’s halved. Rental firms add an admin fee if the ticket comes later.

Other essentials: drive on the right, wear seatbelts, use hands-free only, and keep a hi-vis vest + warning triangle/V16 beacon in the car.

Toll Roads, Autopistas and How to Pay Them

How Spanish toll roads work (tickets, barriers, apps)

Spain’s pay‐as‐you-go motorways are marked with “AP-” (Autopista de Peaje) and blue toll icons on road signs. You’ll meet two main systems:

1. Ticket & pay-on-exit – collect a ticket at the entry barrier, hand it over (or feed it into the machine) when you leave, then pay by cash or card.

2. Barrier-free “shadow tolls” and camera gantries – your plate is scanned as you drive. You pay online or the bill is passed to your hire company.

Typical cost for a family car: €0.08–€0.15 per km. A 100 km stretch like the AP-6 towards Galicia can set you back around €12. Summer and Easter often bring peak-season surcharges.

Payment options

• Credit/debit card (contactless works)

• Cash (keep coins for older booths)

• Mobile apps such as Copilot or Autopistas en Ruta – link a card and scan the QR on your ticket to skip the queue

Rental cars will charge unpaid tolls to the card on file plus an admin fee, so settling on the spot is always cheaper.

Free motorways and scenic alternatives in 2025

Good news: since 2019 Spain has been phasing out concession contracts, turning several big routes toll-free:

• AP-7 Tarragona ↔ Alicante ↔ Vera (Costa Daurada & Costa Blanca)

• AP-2 Zaragoza ↔ Barcelona

• AP-4 Seville ↔ Cádiz

• AP-1 Burgos ↔ Armiñón (Basque Country)

You’ll still pay on the AP-9 in Galicia, the AP-6 northwest of Madrid and stretches of the AP-68 (Zaragoza–Bilbao). If time allows, detour onto parallel A- or N- roads: they’re free, often scenic, and dotted with traditional roadside cafés called ventas—perfect for a break and a plate of tortilla.

Road-trip tip: Factor toll savings into your fuel budget; taking the slower but toll-free A-7 along the Mediterranean adds about 45 min between Valencia and Alicante but saves ~€10 each way.

With a little planning—checking which routes still charge and having a payment method ready—you can glide through Spain’s toll network without nasty surprises.

Parking in Cities: Paid parking areas

Blue Zone: pay-and-display 1–4 h, from ~€1/h.
Green Zone: up to 2 h for visitors, ~€2–€4/h (cheaper for residents).
Tip: Overstaying triggers a yellow ticket; pay at the meter within an hour to cut the fine to €6–€9.

Fines, Drink-Driving Limits and Roadside Checks

Drink-driving limits in Spain

Standard limit: 0.5 g/L blood / 0.25 mg/L breath.
Drivers with less than 2 yrs’ experience or commercial licences: 0.3 g/L / 0.15 mg/L.
Above 0.60 mg/L breath is a criminal offence.

Paying traffic fines from abroad

1. Pay on the spot (card/cash) – 50 % discount applied.
2. Or pay online at multas.dgt.es within 20 days for the same discount.
3. If your rental firm handles it later, expect the full amount + €30–€60 admin fee.

Tip: Keep every receipt. If another fine arrives for the same offence, email the proof of payment to the DGT (Spanish traffic authority) and the rental firm.

Documents & safety kit checks

• Carry passport/ID, driving licence (+ IDP), rental contract & insurance.
• Hi-vis vest and warning triangle or V16 beacon are mandatory.

Low-Emission Zones (LEZ): Madrid, Barcelona and Beyond

Do tourists need the DGT environmental badge?

Spain classifies vehicles with coloured windscreen stickers—0 (blue), ECO (green/blue), C (green) or B (yellow)—based on emissions. Most hire cars already carry a C or ECO sticker, so you’re covered by default. If you’re driving your own foreign-registered car, rules vary:

• Barcelona & Madrid: foreign plates must be pre-registered online before entering the LEZ. You’re assigned a virtual sticker—no need to stick anything on your windscreen.

• Other cities (Valencia, Seville, Bilbao, etc.): enforcement is still ramping up; some offer a grace period for tourists. Always check the city council’s website before arrival.

• EU plug-in hybrids and EVs qualify for free circulation in every zone once registered.

Failing to comply triggers an instant €200 fine captured by ANPR cameras and mailed to your home address (or to the rental company).

LEZ in most large and medium Spanish cities: check maps before entering the centre

Since 2024, Spanish law requires every municipality over 50 000 inhabitants to implement a low-emission zone. The boundaries are usually the historic centre or the first inner ring road. Best practice:

1. Search “zona de bajas emisiones + city name” on Google Maps—many zones appear shaded in green or red.

2. Download the council’s official PDF map (often under Movilidad Sostenible).

3. Plot a detour or park-and-ride site if your accommodation lies inside the zone and your vehicle class is restricted at certain hours.

Staying outside the LEZ and taking public transport in can save time, fuel and a potential fine—especially on weekends when enforcement cameras operate 24/7.

Spanish Driving Etiquette and Road-Trip Planning

Common gestures and road courtesy in Spain

Spanish drivers are mostly relaxed—until someone interrupts the flow. A few unwritten rules help you blend in:

• Thank-you flash: two quick taps of the hazard lights after someone lets you merge; you’ll get a headlight flash in return.

• Right-lane loyalty: on multi-lane motorways, stay right except to overtake. Lingering in the middle lane is frowned upon and the Guardia Civil can fine you.

• Slip-road “zip” merge: drivers take turns without signalling anger; indicate early and slot in when it’s your turn.

• Horn etiquette: brief “beep-beep” to alert (e.g., blind bend), never to vent frustration—unlike some countries, unnecessary horn use carries a €80 fine.

• Pedestrian respect: stop the moment a foot steps onto a zebra crossing. Locals expect cars to yield instantly.

Master these small courtesies and you’ll notice more cooperative behaviour around you—especially on crowded summer routes.

Building a realistic Spain road-trip itinerary

Distances can be deceptive: Spain is the EU’s second-largest country, and rural roads often snake through mountain passes. Keep travel days enjoyable by following the 3-3-3 rule:

1. No more than 300 km of driving per day.

2. Stop every 3 hours—Spain’s áreas de servicio offer shaded picnic tables, clean loos and a café for espresso (café solo) or a bocadillo.

3. Arrive by 3 pm to check into accommodation before siesta ends and reception closes.

Additional planning tips:

• Anchor nights: book at least two consecutive nights in every third stop to break the pack-unpack cycle.

• Mix toll and scenic roads: use free Autovías for distance, then branch onto an N- road for the last 40 km—perfect balance of speed and scenery.

• Reserve rural stays early: charming casas rurales and paradores (historic hotels) sell out months ahead for spring almonds (Feb–Mar) and autumn wine harvest (Sep–Oct).

Follow these guidelines and your Spanish road trip will feel unhurried, full of local encounters—and safely within both your energy and fuel budgets.

Frequently Asked Questions About Driving in Spain (Quick Answers)

Do I really need an International Driving Permit?

If your licence comes from the EU, EEA or the UK, you’re already covered. Visitors from the USA, Canada, Australia and most non-EU countries should carry a 1949 or 1968 IDP alongside their home licence; it keeps police checks and rental desks straightforward.

What’s the national speed limit on Spanish motorways?

Unless electronic signs say otherwise, the limit is 120 km/h (about 75 mph). Variable gantries around Madrid and Barcelona can drop it to 100 km/h—or even 80 km/h in heavy rain—so always watch the overhead boards and adjust your speed promptly.

Are Spanish toll roads cash-free now?

Most toll booths still take cash and cards, but new “free-flow” stretches use camera gantries and require online payment within 72 hours. If you miss that window, the bill goes to your hire company, which will add an administration fee on top of the toll.

Where can I park overnight in city centres?

Underground car parks signed with a blue “P” are the safest bet and cost roughly €20-€28 per 24 hours. Blue and Green kerbside zones are strictly short-stay. Leave a car there overnight and you risk a fine or towing once enforcement resumes at dawn.

Do Low-Emission Zones apply to tourists?

Yes. Barcelona and Madrid require every vehicle to be pre-registered online; cameras check plates on entry. Most rental cars already fit the allowed emissions class, but you must submit the plate when your hotel or car park requests it. Fines start at €200.

What happens if I’m stopped for a roadside alcohol test?

Police will ask for your passport, driving licence and rental papers, then take a breath sample. Readings above 0.25 mg/L incur an on-the-spot fine (halved if paid immediately). Blow over 0.60 mg/L and it’s a criminal offence, leading to a court summons.

How do roundabouts work in Spain?

Traffic inside the roundabout has priority. Stay in the inner lane until the exit before yours, indicate right, then move to the outer lane to leave. Cutting straight across multiple lanes—or exiting without signalling—can trigger hefty fines from roadside patrols.

Is mobile-phone use completely banned while driving?

Holding a phone for any reason is illegal, even when stopped at lights. Only fully hands-free systems are permitted. Police actively watch for drivers glancing down at screens; fines start at €200 and carry six virtual licence points for foreign motorists.