Spain → United Kingdom

Driving in the United Kingdom when you know Spain

Differences first, worst-to-get-wrong first. Rules that match are folded away at the bottom.

What's different (9)

Which side of the road you drive on

Critical

Spain · homeRightChecked 6 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationLeftChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on the motorway

Critical

Spain · home120 km/h — about 75 mphAutopistas and autovías.Checked 6 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination70 mph — about 113 km/hChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on country roads

Critical

Spain · home90 km/h — about 56 mphConventional roads outside towns.Checked 6 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination60 mph — about 97 km/hSingle carriageway roads.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit in towns and cities

CriticalVaries by region

Spain · home50 km/h — about 31 mphOnly on streets with two or more lanes in each direction. Streets with one lane each way are 30 — which is most city streets — and single-platform streets where the pavement and road share a level are 20.Checked 6 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination30 mph — about 48 km/hEngland and Scotland. Wales uses 20 mph as the default in built-up areas.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Wales20 mph — about 32 km/hThe default in built-up areas. Some roads are signed back up to 30.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

How much alcohol you may have in your blood

CriticalVaries by region

Spain · home0.5 g/l — about 50 mg/100mlChecked 6 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination80 mg/100ml — about 0.8 g/lEngland and Wales. Scotland uses a lower limit.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Scotland50 mg/100ml — about 0.5 g/lChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Whether you need an International Driving Permit

Critical

Spain · homeDepends on where your licence is fromEU and EEA licences are accepted as they are. Tourists from elsewhere may drive for up to 3 months but must carry an International Driving Permit, issued at home before the trip, alongside their national licence.Checked 6 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationNot requiredA full foreign licence is accepted on its own for visits.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

How long you may drive on your own licence

Good to know

Spain · home3 monthsFor non-EU tourist licences, counted from entry into Spain.Checked 6 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination12 monthsCounted from when you last entered Great Britain.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Emergency number

Good to know

Spain · home112Checked 6 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination999112 also works and reaches the same service.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Typical fines

Minor

Spain · home

Holding a phone — fine from 200 EUR, 6 points

Checked 6 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination

Holding a phone — fine from 200 GBP, 6 points (Drivers who passed their test within the last 2 years lose their licence instead.)

Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Known on one side only (22)

What you must carry in the car

Spain · home

Reflective warning light
High-visibility vest

The warning light is the V-16 connected beacon — since 1 January 2026 it is the only legal way to signal a broken-down vehicle, and warning triangles are no longer valid. Rental cars should have one; check before driving off. The vest must be worn by anyone stepping onto the road or shoulder outside towns.Checked 6 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationNot yet verified

Which side you overtake on

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destinationRightChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on a dual carriageway

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destination70 mphChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit in living and residential zones

Spain · home20 km/hStreets where the road and pavement share one level.Checked 6 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationNot yet verified

Speed limit when towing a trailer or caravan

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destination

Motorway — 60 mph
Dual carriageway — 60 mph
Country roads — 50 mph

Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Alcohol limit for drivers who passed their test recently

Spain · home0.3 g/lFor the first two years of holding a licence. Zero for drivers under 18.Checked 6 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationNot yet verified

Youngest age you may drive

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destination17 yearsChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Turning at a red light

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destinationNot allowedRed means stop for every direction. A separate green arrow is the only exception.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Who must wear a seatbelt

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destinationEveryone, in every seatA seatbelt must be worn in any seat that has one.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Age below which a child needs a child seat

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destination12 yearsUntil age 12 or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

What the lines and painted kerbs mean

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destination

Double yellow line — no parking. No waiting at any time, even without an upright sign.
Single yellow line — no parking during signed hours. The hours are on nearby time plates, not on the road.
Double red line — no stopping. Red routes. No stopping at any time.
Single red line — no stopping. Red routes. Applies during the times shown on nearby signs.
White zigzag line — no stopping. Marks the approach to a pedestrian crossing.

Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Winter tyres

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destinationNot requiredChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

How you pay for motorways

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destination

Toll booths
City charges

Almost all motorways are free. The M6 Toll and several bridges and tunnels charge. London and Durham charge to drive in the city centre.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Alcohol limit for professional drivers

Spain · home0.3 g/lChecked 6 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationNot yet verified

When you must switch your headlights on

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destinationNot requiredHeadlights are required at night and when visibility is seriously reduced.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Hands-free phone calls

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destinationAllowedThe phone must be in a holder or fully hands-free, and must not block your view.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Who has priority at a roundabout

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destinationTraffic already on the roundabout goes firstGive way to traffic approaching from your right, unless signs say otherwise.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Parking on the pavement

Varies by region

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destinationNo single national answer:

EnglandAllowedExcept London, where it is banned. Discouraged everywhere, and obstructing the pavement can be fined.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

ScotlandNot allowedChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

WalesAllowedDiscouraged, and obstructing the pavement can be fined.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Parking facing against the traffic

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destinationAllowedBy day only. At night you must not park facing against the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

How far you must park from a junction or crossing

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destination

A junction — 10 m

Advisory rather than a fixed law, except where markings say otherwise.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Congestion charges

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destinationIn some citiesLondon and Durham.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Whether police can fine you on the spot

Spain · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destinationYes — visitors must pay at the roadsideFixed penalties are normally paid later, not at the roadside. A driver who cannot give a UK address must pay a deposit on the spot.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Same in both (3)

Holding a phone while driving — Not allowed official source
Height below which a child needs a child seat — 135 cm official source
Low-emission zones — In many cities official source