United Kingdom → Spain

Driving in Spain when you know the United Kingdom

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

United Kingdom · homeLeftChecked 3 Aug 2026

Spain · destinationRightChecked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on the motorway

Critical

United Kingdom · home70 mph — about 113 km/hChecked 3 Aug 2026

Spain · destination120 km/h — about 75 mphAutopistas and autovías.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on country roads

Critical

United Kingdom · home60 mph — about 97 km/hSingle carriageway roads.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Spain · destination90 km/h — about 56 mphConventional roads outside towns.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit in towns and cities

CriticalVaries by region

United Kingdom · home30 mph — about 48 km/hEngland and Scotland. Wales uses 20 mph as the default in built-up areas.Checked 3 Aug 2026

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

Spain · destination50 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 · official source

How much alcohol you may have in your blood

CriticalStricter than at homeVaries by region

United Kingdom · home80 mg/100ml — about 0.8 g/lEngland and Wales. Scotland uses a lower limit.Checked 3 Aug 2026

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

Spain · destination0.5 g/l — about 50 mg/100mlChecked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Whether you need an International Driving Permit

Critical

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

Spain · destinationDepends 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 · official source

How long you may drive on your own licence

Good to know

United Kingdom · home12 monthsCounted from when you last entered Great Britain.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Spain · destination3 monthsFor non-EU tourist licences, counted from entry into Spain.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Emergency number

Good to know

United Kingdom · home999112 also works and reaches the same service.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Spain · destination112Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Typical fines

Minor

United Kingdom · home

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

Spain · destination

Holding a phone — fine from 200 EUR, 6 points

Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Known on one side only (22)

What you must carry in the car

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

Spain · destination

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 · official source

Which side you overtake on

United Kingdom · homeRightChecked 3 Aug 2026

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

Speed limit on a dual carriageway

United Kingdom · home70 mphChecked 3 Aug 2026

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

Speed limit in living and residential zones

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

Spain · destination20 km/hStreets where the road and pavement share one level.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit when towing a trailer or caravan

United Kingdom · home

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

Checked 3 Aug 2026

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

Alcohol limit for drivers who passed their test recently

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

Spain · destination0.3 g/lFor the first two years of holding a licence. Zero for drivers under 18.Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

Youngest age you may drive

United Kingdom · home17 yearsChecked 3 Aug 2026

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

Turning at a red light

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

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

Who must wear a seatbelt

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

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

Age below which a child needs a child seat

United Kingdom · home12 yearsUntil age 12 or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

What the lines and painted kerbs mean

United Kingdom · home

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

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

Winter tyres

United Kingdom · homeNot requiredChecked 3 Aug 2026

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

How you pay for motorways

United Kingdom · home

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

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

Alcohol limit for professional drivers

United Kingdom · homeNot yet verified

Spain · destination0.3 g/lChecked 6 Aug 2026 · official source

When you must switch your headlights on

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

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

Hands-free phone calls

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

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

Who has priority at a roundabout

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

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

Parking on the pavement

Varies by region

United Kingdom · homeNo single national answer:

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

ScotlandNot allowedChecked 3 Aug 2026

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

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

Parking facing against the traffic

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

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

How far you must park from a junction or crossing

United Kingdom · home

A junction — 10 m

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

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

Congestion charges

United Kingdom · homeIn some citiesLondon and Durham.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

Whether police can fine you on the spot

United Kingdom · homeYes — 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

Spain · destinationNot yet verified

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