Spain · Code de la route
Spain road traffic laws and penalties
Spanish speeding, phone and alcohol sanctions, with current V16 emergency-light and radar-detector rules.
- Pays
- Spain
- Sujet
- Code de la route
- Dernière vérification
- 24 août 2026
- Source officielle
- Ouvrir la source ↗
Key rules
• Traffic keeps to the right. Follow the posted limit: Spanish default limits and urban limits vary by road layout, and cities can impose lower limits.
• Seat belts and approved child restraints are compulsory. Motorcyclists and moped riders must use an approved helmet.
• Holding a mobile phone while driving is a serious offence, normally €200 and 6 licence points. Other prohibited manual interaction can carry fewer points, and careless or dangerous driving can add sanctions.
Fine levels and speeding
Minor offences can cost up to €100, serious offences normally €200, and very serious offences normally €500. The official speeding table runs from €100 with no points for the lowest band through €300 and 2 points, €400 and 4 points, €500 and 6 points, to €600 and 6 points for the most serious band. The exact band depends on both the posted limit and recorded speed.
Passing a red light or STOP sign normally costs €200 and 4 points. Driving the wrong way or improperly occupying lanes can cost €200–€500 and up to 6 points, depending on the offence.
Alcohol
For most drivers the breath-alcohol limit is 0.25 mg/L (0.5 g/L blood). Novice and professional drivers are subject to 0.15 mg/L breath (0.3 g/L blood). A reading above the applicable limit and up to 0.50 mg/L breath normally costs €500 and 4 points. Higher readings, repeat offences or criminal thresholds can bring €1,000, 6 points, prosecution, imprisonment or a driving ban. Drug-driving and refusing a lawful test also carry severe sanctions.
V16 emergency lights and rules visitors often miss
From 1 January 2026, a connected, DGT-certified V16 warning beacon is the sole lawful breakdown-warning device for vehicles registered in Spain. Place it on the highest practical part of the vehicle without walking into traffic. A foreign-registered vehicle visiting Spain may continue to use the warning device permitted by its country of registration, such as warning triangles, under the applicable international rules. A V16 sold only as a light, without current DGT certification and connectivity, does not satisfy the Spanish-vehicle requirement.
Carrying a radar detector in the vehicle is itself prohibited even if it is not being used; the normal sanction is €200 and 3 points. This differs from lawful navigation information about known fixed-camera locations. Radar jammers are a much more serious offence.
When passing a stopped incident, recovery or road-service vehicle in the situations covered by the June 2026 rules, leave at least 1.5 metres where required and reduce speed by at least 20 km/h from the applicable limit. In difficult snow conditions, overtaking can be prohibited and traffic directed to the right lane. Follow police instructions and temporary signs.
Source and scope
Reviewed on 24 August 2026 against Spain's Dirección General de Tráfico penalty guidance, consolidated traffic law, V16 guidance and June 2026 vulnerable-road-user changes. Fine reductions for prompt payment can involve waiving an appeal, and circumstances or court action can change the result. Check the linked official source before travel.
• Traffic keeps to the right. Follow the posted limit: Spanish default limits and urban limits vary by road layout, and cities can impose lower limits.
• Seat belts and approved child restraints are compulsory. Motorcyclists and moped riders must use an approved helmet.
• Holding a mobile phone while driving is a serious offence, normally €200 and 6 licence points. Other prohibited manual interaction can carry fewer points, and careless or dangerous driving can add sanctions.
Fine levels and speeding
Minor offences can cost up to €100, serious offences normally €200, and very serious offences normally €500. The official speeding table runs from €100 with no points for the lowest band through €300 and 2 points, €400 and 4 points, €500 and 6 points, to €600 and 6 points for the most serious band. The exact band depends on both the posted limit and recorded speed.
Passing a red light or STOP sign normally costs €200 and 4 points. Driving the wrong way or improperly occupying lanes can cost €200–€500 and up to 6 points, depending on the offence.
Alcohol
For most drivers the breath-alcohol limit is 0.25 mg/L (0.5 g/L blood). Novice and professional drivers are subject to 0.15 mg/L breath (0.3 g/L blood). A reading above the applicable limit and up to 0.50 mg/L breath normally costs €500 and 4 points. Higher readings, repeat offences or criminal thresholds can bring €1,000, 6 points, prosecution, imprisonment or a driving ban. Drug-driving and refusing a lawful test also carry severe sanctions.
V16 emergency lights and rules visitors often miss
From 1 January 2026, a connected, DGT-certified V16 warning beacon is the sole lawful breakdown-warning device for vehicles registered in Spain. Place it on the highest practical part of the vehicle without walking into traffic. A foreign-registered vehicle visiting Spain may continue to use the warning device permitted by its country of registration, such as warning triangles, under the applicable international rules. A V16 sold only as a light, without current DGT certification and connectivity, does not satisfy the Spanish-vehicle requirement.
Carrying a radar detector in the vehicle is itself prohibited even if it is not being used; the normal sanction is €200 and 3 points. This differs from lawful navigation information about known fixed-camera locations. Radar jammers are a much more serious offence.
When passing a stopped incident, recovery or road-service vehicle in the situations covered by the June 2026 rules, leave at least 1.5 metres where required and reduce speed by at least 20 km/h from the applicable limit. In difficult snow conditions, overtaking can be prohibited and traffic directed to the right lane. Follow police instructions and temporary signs.
Source and scope
Reviewed on 24 August 2026 against Spain's Dirección General de Tráfico penalty guidance, consolidated traffic law, V16 guidance and June 2026 vulnerable-road-user changes. Fine reductions for prompt payment can involve waiving an appeal, and circumstances or court action can change the result. Check the linked official source before travel.