If you rent a car, you may also need to purchase excess insurance if your standard policy does not include coverage for driving rented vehicles. Fines range from €100 for a minor speeding offence to €6,000 for driving a vehicle equipped with a radar jammer. You do not need a driving license to buy a car in Spain, but you do need proof of Spanish residence, for example, a residence permit or a NIE number. You will also need to take out car insurance. When buying a used vehicle, make sure it has an ITV certificate if necessary. If you are in Spain for a short period of time or just want to use a car from time to time, renting one may be a better option. The requirements for renting a car in Spain are slightly higher than for the purchase. For example, you usually need to be at least 21 years old and have had your driver`s license for at least a year. Many companies also charge additional fees to young drivers (aged 21-24). Always have the following documents in your vehicle when driving in Spain. The minimum age to drive, For holders of the full UK driving licence, you are allowed to drive Class B vehicles which are cars, bicycles up to 75cc and light goods and vans weighing up to 3500 kilos. If you want to ride motorcycles over 75cc, you must pass the appropriate test in Spain or abroad.
Spain is usually a very safe country to drive as long as you follow a few simple rules. The country has entered modern times, just like the highway code, recent legislation has now made some traffic offenses punishable rather than civil, and therefore the consequences can be much more serious than a simple fine. You can drive a car in Spain if you are 18 years of age or older and have a valid driver`s license. Citizens of EU/EFTA countries can use a driving licence from their own country, although they will have to register with their local authority and replace it with a Spanish driving licence when it expires. Citizens from outside the EU/EFTA can use their existing foreign driving license in Spain for six months, after which they must exchange for a Spanish driving license. Alternatively, they can obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP), which is valid for up to one year. In addition to the required documents, motorists are legally required to carry the following while driving in order to avoid high fines on the spot: The national speed limit on Spanish highways is 120 km / h (75 mph). If you drive on a main road outside a built-up area, the limit is 90 km / h and in built-up areas 50 km / h. Although Spanish motorists drive on the right side of the road, as in the United States, there are many subtle and obvious differences between driving laws in the United States and those in Spain.
From the need to travel with a fluorescent jacket and warning triangles in the car to the fact that you can not use your phone or screen navigation while driving, you need to learn these traffic rules before driving in Spain. The amount you pay per toll depends on the length of the road and the area in which you drive. Visit www.viamichelin.com to calculate the cost of your trip. To rent a vehicle in Spain, you must be at least 21 years old and have a valid driving license. Many companies also require you to have your driver`s license for at least a year or two. To complete the car rental process, you will need a credit card. Driving licences issued in the UK, EU and EEA countries are accepted. International driving permits are recognized but not mandatory. You may need an International Driving Permit if your UK Driving Licence was issued on the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey or Gibraltar. If you are stopped by the police, you will usually be asked for your driver`s license before checking the vehicle`s documents. If you are a non-resident and you are driving with a UK driving licence, it is advisable to have proof that you are just visiting, such as travel documents, a return ticket, etc.
If you are a resident, it is likely that the police will match your driver`s license with the details of your residence card. If you drive a Spanish vehicle registered in Spain, there are four mandatory documents that you must carry in the car. To rent a car in Spain you need a valid driving license recognized in the EEC, rental companies will also set age limits for people who want to rent cars with them, usually between 21 and 70 years old, it is better to check with the rental company their policy before renting a vehicle. » Insurance documents. » The rental agreement » At least one reflective jacket. » 2 approved breakdown triangles If you refuse an exam, your vehicle may be taken out of service by the police and your driver`s license may be suspended for one to four years. If you are in the process of registering the vehicle in Spain, it is best to keep all the documents that prove it, such as the Ficha Tecnica Reducida, an appointment at the ITV station or, if the documents are with a company that has registered the vehicle on your behalf, a letter from them stating: that the registration of the vehicle is in progress. During the registration process, the vehicle must still be legal to drive with the current licence plates, for example, in the case of a UK vehicle, it must have a valid TÜV and a valid tax, as well as compulsory insurance. You can apply to the DGT for temporary green license plates, which are a pre-registration in Spain, which allows you to insure the vehicle for 60 days when processing the registration. For professional drivers (bus, coach, truck or public utility vehicle) as well as for newly qualified drivers (less than two years of experience), the limit is 0.03%. As in other EC countries, there are different speed limits in Spain depending on where the type of road and the area in which you drive.