Spain Travel: Car Tips and Advice

In Spain, travel car is one of the most common ways to visit the country. Travelling by car is great because you have the freedom to travel where and when you want, stopping whenever you need to. On top of it, Spain's roads and highways are in very good condition.

Basic information to travel by car in Spain

Getting around by car makes sense if you plan to move from one city to another from time to time. Spain is a country of contrast and diversity, with beautiful a scenery that deserves a drive.

There are two types of highways in Spain: autopistas, or highways, and autovias, which are main roads with two lanes. Depending on the region, autopistas will be toll roads while autovias are generally free of charge.

The speed limit on highways is 120 km/h (75 mph), 100 km/h (62 mph) on main roads or roads with 2 lanes (also called autovias, 90 km/h (56 mph) on all other roads and 50 km/h (31 mph) in urban areas (towns and villages).

In major cities like Madrid and in mid-sized ones like Seville, moving around by car is both expensive and stressful. By the way, fines for wrong parking are terribly high (€90 or even more!).

I don't recommend parking overnight in large cities because you'll have to pay for it most of the time. And parkings can be quite expensive, especially in Madrid and Barcelona.

Finally, having a driving map is a must because many streets are one-way and you can easily get lost.

Spain travel: Car tips

Drive on the right, even if this sounds ridiculously obvious! A lot of tourists coming to Spain are used to driving on the left (as in the UK, Ireland, Australia, India and Japan). If it's your case, focus on the road and try to practice on less travelled roads before driving on a highway.

Remember, you'll need your driving license with you at all times. And you might also need an international driver's licence.

When driving on a highway, don't overreact to cars flashing their headlights before overtaking you. It's the law! It's a warning sign to let you know they are about to pass.

Intersections of two highways typically have a roundabout under the higher one. So you can use it as a U-turn (completely forbidden in Spain) in order to start driving in the opposite direction.

Again, on a highway, never cross a solid white line. Wait for the broken line, and when overtaking, always indicate when you're pulling out and back in. Spanish authorities are strictly enforcing this law, so don't break it!

The Spanish Police is usually approachable and friendly, only too keen to help tourists whenever possible. But if they stop you for any reason, try to be as polite as possible and not to argue with them.

The Guardia Civil is the branch of the government that patrols the highways. Since Spain joined the European Union, laws have become stricter and are more strictly enforced.

You should know that the Guardia Civil collect fines on the spot from non-residents in Spain, so make sure that you always carry cash or a bank debit/credit card. If you are not carrying cash, they may impound your car if you cannot find a resident to sign on your behalf.

The filling procedure for gas stations varies from brand to brand. Generally, you first fill the tank yourself and then pay inside the store. Sometimes, you have to pay first. This applies during night hours (after 11pm and until 6am).

Gasoline is relatively inexpensive compared to other countries in the EU and Japan, but still more expensive than in the US. Remember that most rental cars are diesel and that leaded petrol is not available in Spain anymore.

While you plan your trip, have a look at driving distances in Spain and read some additional information about driving in Spain.

Return to top

  

Share this page:		Get travel advice, Seville news, insider tips, and a free copy of the Seville Pocket Guide!
Tweet		Find out more
+1 Seville Traveller:
Page	Site