Driving rules, and the ones that bite.
- Drive onRight
- Motorway limit120 km/h
- Drink drive0.5 g/L · about 1 pint or 1 small wine
- Emergency112
Spain drives on the right. The motorway speed limit is 120 km/h. The emergency number is 112.
The legal limit is lower than in England and Wales. Drinks in Spanish bars are often stronger than they look, and enforcement is thorough. If you are driving, stick to soft drinks.
Driving tips
- Always carry photo ID. Spanish police can detain you until your identity is confirmed, and a driving licence alone may not be enough.
- If another motorist tries to flag you down, only pull over in a well-lit public area. See the note below on highway pirates.
- Unmarked police cars display a flashing sign in the rear window showing 'Policia' or 'Guardia Civil'. If there is no sign, treat the stop with caution.
- Car rental companies must legally register your passport details upon collection.
- Do not leave your passport at hotel reception; wait for it to be registered or copied.
- You must not touch any screen while driving, including your sat-nav. Set your route before you move off.
- Sound your horn before blind bends on mountain roads. It is expected, not rude.
- Trams always have priority. Give way to them at all times, even if you have a green light.
- Roads prefixed AP are toll roads (shown in red on most maps). Roads prefixed A are toll-free motorways (shown in blue). When your sat-nav offers both, the free route is often only a few minutes longer.
- Spanish vehicles must now carry a V16 amber beacon instead of a warning triangle. As a foreign visitor you can use either a V16 beacon or a standard warning triangle. A triangle still satisfies the legal requirement.
Worth knowing before you go.
Radar detectors are illegal in Spain. If you have one fitted, switch it off and stow it before you cross the border. Having it visible is enough to get a fine, even if it is not in use.
The toll system, and the city emissions rules.
- TollsMixed
- VignetteNot required
- Emission zoneYes · Distintivo Ambiental
Motorways prefixed AP are toll roads. The ones prefixed A are generally free. If your sat nav offers both, the free route is often only slightly longer.
If anyone approaches you at a toll booth or lay-by asking for cash, do not stop. Genuine police will only ever ask for documents. They will never ask for money on the spot.
No vignette needed. Tolls are paid per journey at the booth or via Via-T electronic tag.
Low emission zones
The Distintivo Ambiental is Spain's vehicle emissions sticker. Most of the country is not yet enforcing the scheme, but Barcelona and Madrid both are, and other cities are starting to follow. If your route goes anywhere near a major city centre, get the sticker before you leave the UK. It is far easier to arrange from home than to sort on the road.
Read our complete guide to motorhome tolls and vignettes in Europe, and our guide to low emission zones.
What to carry, and what to bring.
- Required kit4 items
- Documents5 items
- Daytime headlightsNot required
Spain requires a set of kit to be carried in the vehicle. Most of it is cheap and worth having anyway, so pack it before you leave rather than buy it at a roadside price.
- Reflective jacket.
- Warning triangle.
- UK sticker.
- Headlight converters. Carry 1 pair.
Towing a caravan or trailer.
Standard UK leisure caravans do not need separate DVLA registration to tow in Spain. The UK trailer registration scheme covers commercial trailers over 750 kg used for international haulage. It does not apply to holiday caravans.
Read this before you go.
Highway pirates are a known problem on Spanish roads, particularly for tourists towing caravans. The usual trick is to flag you down claiming you have a tyre problem or a fault. Do not pull over unless it is a marked Guardia Civil vehicle or a staffed service area. If in doubt, keep driving to the next services.
Documents to bring
For your own vehicle, carry your Passport, Driving licence, V5C log book, Insurance certificate and Travel insurance documents.
For a rental or hire vehicle, you also need your Passport, Driving licence, VE103 certificate and Licence check code.
Gas, electric, and the weekly shop.
- LPG fittingEuronozzle
- CurrencyEUR
- Emergency112
- Sunday shoppingOpen in tourist areas, varies elsew...
Spain uses the Euronozzle fitting for Autogas. Some older stations still have Bayonet pumps, so check before you pull in. The network (signposted as GLP) is growing, but coverage clusters around motorways and larger cities. Rural gaps are real. The main providers are Repsol and Cepsa.
Buying a local gas bottle is trickier than in France. Officially, you need a Spanish gas safety certificate and a formal contract just to buy your first Repsol or Cepsa bottle. Some petrol station attendants will swap an empty for cash, but getting that first bottle by the book is notoriously hard for visitors.
UK Calor bottles cannot be swapped anywhere in Europe. Carry a 3-piece adapter kit or fit a refillable system before you leave home. Read our complete guide to motorhome gas and LPG in Europe.
Electric hook-ups
Most Spanish campsites offer 6A to 10A hook-ups. On busy coastal sites, voltage can drop from 230V down towards 200V at the far end of long bollard runs. That is enough to push your fridge back onto gas and cause some chargers to cut out.
Reverse polarity is common, so pack a plug-in socket tester and a crossover cable before you go. Bollard cabinets are usually locked, so if you trip the breaker you will need a warden to reset it rather than fixing it yourself.
Read our complete guide to motorhome electric hook-ups in Europe.
Where to shop
Supermarkets here: budget chains are Dia, Lidl, Aldi; mid-range chains are Mercadona, Carrefour, Consum; premium chains are El Corte Ingles Supermercado.
Typical opening hours: weekday 09:00-21:30; saturday 09:00-21:30; sunday Open in tourist areas, varies elsewhere; where to buy Supermarkets.
Supermarkets in tourist and coastal areas often open on Sundays. Inland and in smaller towns, many stay closed. If Sunday shopping matters to your plans, stock up on Saturday to be safe.
Wine and beer are very good value in Spain. Decent Rioja and Ribera del Duero start from around 3 to 5 EUR a bottle in supermarkets.
- Wear gloves when picking fruit and veg in supermarkets. Most supermarkets expect it.
- Most towns have a mercado (covered market) with fresh local produce worth seeking out.
- For a cheap breakfast, find a churreria or a local bar. Coffee, tostada, and change from a couple of euros.
More detail in our guides to gas and LPG and electric hook-ups across Europe.
Taking a dog, and crossing the border.
- SchengenYes
- AHC requiredwithin 10 days
- Tapeworm on UK returnYes
- Dog leadRequired
To take a dog to Spain, the standard pet travel rules apply. The detail below covers what your dog needs.
- AHC required. Yes, issued within 10 days before entry
- Rabies vaccination. Yes, at least 21 days before travel
- Tapeworm treatment for UK return. Required between 24 hours and 5 days before arrival, administered by a vet
- Breed restrictions. None notable
- Lead. Required at all times in public
Pack the dog's Dog lead, Water bowl, Vaccination records and AHC.
The same rule applies across all EU countries. You cannot bring meat, milk, or dairy products into Spain from the UK. This includes things like a pack of sandwiches or a block of cheese in your fridge.
Spain is in the Schengen area.
Schengen area: Yes. EES biometric checks: Yes. You register fingerprints and a photograph on entry and exit. Allow extra time at the border when this launches. Trailer registration (UK): Standard UK leisure caravans do not need separate DVLA registration for Spain. The registration scheme applies to commercial trailers over 750 kg only. Mobile roaming: Most UK plans include roaming in Spain under Roam Like at Home terms. Check with your provider before you travel, as allowances and fair-use limits vary.
Useful links
- Gov.uk Spain Travel Advice: the official Foreign Office page, updated when the situation on the ground changes.
- ALERT COPS App: the Spanish National Police app for reporting incidents and receiving local safety alerts. Worth downloading before you cross the border.
See also our complete guides to the Schengen 90-day rule and taking a dog to Europe.
The questions people ask most.
Do I need a Distintivo Ambiental sticker for my motorhome in Spain?
The Distintivo Ambiental is an emissions sticker for Spanish city low-emission zones. If you are sticking to motorways and coastal campsites you may never need one. But if your route takes you into Barcelona, Madrid, or other large cities, order one before you leave home. It is easier to sort in advance than to sort at the city boundary.
What safety kit do I need to carry in my motorhome in Spain?
You must carry a reflective jacket, a warning triangle, and a UK sticker on your vehicle. If you wear glasses, keep a spare pair in the cab. Headlight beam deflectors are also required for UK-registered vehicles driving on the right.
Are Spanish motorway tolls expensive for motorhomes?
It depends on the road. AP-prefixed motorways are tolled and can run to around 8 to 12 EUR per 100 km. A-prefixed roads are generally free. A Via-T electronic tag lets you drive through without stopping, which saves time at busy booths.
Can I take my dog to Spain in a motorhome?
Yes. Your dog needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel, and an Animal Health Certificate from your vet dated within 10 days of entry. Coming home, a tapeworm treatment from a vet is required between 24 hours and 5 days before you arrive back in the UK.