Driving In Spain

DRIVING IN SPAIN
Let’s keep it simple and deal here only with the main issues you will encounter and firstly state the obvious, “It’s cheaper to be legal”. All holders of current full UK/EU driving licences are legal to drive in Spain provided they are legally entitled in their country of origin and without driving bans or suspensions. You should be familiar with and comply with all Spanish traffic rules and regulations regardless of whether you are driving an E.U. or Spanish registered car. The driver and the car they are charge of, is the one responsible, so if you have a hire car you should check the basics which will affect your licence should you be challenged. (Tyres being the most obvious). If you are driving another EU registered car, let’s say you are using your English registered one: The vehicle must be legal in the UK, insured in the UK, have and display an up to date road tax disc and have a current UK based MOT. Some people may tell you that you can get a Spanish.
ITV instead of an English MOT. A Spanish ITV has no value in other EU countries. The vehicle you are in must carry the following:
The vehicles original registration document.Proof that the vehicle is currently insured and if you are not the owner proof that you are entitled to drive the vehicle. (Policy holders who have policies that allow others (any driver) to drive should give a signed letter in Spanish stating this and naming the driver.
The vehicles MOT (depending on the age of the vehicle)
The driver must have their driving licence, the credit card size one and the paper one.
Spanish registered vehicles need proof (receipt) that their local road tax has been paid.
Two hazard Triangles.
Two reflective jackets/waistcoats, which must be worn by anyone who gets out of the vehicle in the case of a breakdown or accident. Strangely hire cars usually only supply one triangle? and no reflective jackets?, check your responsibility and supply them yourself if necessary is the safest way. A set of replacement vehicle bulbs and spare relevant fuses.
A Torch.
If you wear glasses, a spare pair.
It is compulsory since 1994 for all persons in the vehicle to wear seat belts at all times and that includes passenger in rear seats. Children under 12 or less than 150cm (5ft) must travel in the back unless the front seat has an approved child seat. Insurance companies can and do refuse claims for personal injury should you or a passenger not be wearing one at the time of the accident. Again it is the driver who is responsible for making sure all passengers wear the seat belts. Dogs must also be restrained with suitable harnesses. That’s the basics in a nutshell, but most important the new Spanish drink driving regulations are very tough and now including immediate jail sentences and huge fines for serious offenders. Enough said. There are of course many other traffic regulations regarding use of lights, horn, vehicle importation, trailers, caravans, speed limits etc. which we will not go into here. These you should know, learn or deal with on a “need to know basis”. It’s the drivers’ responsibility. A guide to all matters regarding motoring in Spain takes up 45 pages of David Hampshire’s very comprehensive book “LIVING AND WORKING IN SPAIN” available at most booksellers or www.survivalbooks.net. Priced at €24 euros it could save you a fortune.