Two warning triangles + high-vis vest
RequiredSpain wants two triangles in case of multi-vehicle incidents. Vest in the cabin. Spare bulbs are also legally required.
← All country guides
Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in Spain
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Spain: 5 legal requirements + 4 other things worth knowing.
5
Required
0
Recommended
4
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for Spain
5 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
Two warning triangles + high-vis vest
Spain wants two triangles in case of multi-vehicle incidents. Vest in the cabin. Spare bulbs are also legally required.
Spare prescription glasses
If your licence has the glasses code, you must carry a spare pair in the car. Spanish police take this seriously.
DGT environmental label
Madrid, Barcelona, and other large cities operate ZBE (low-emission zones). Cars need a DGT label: order from Correos or check entitlement online.
Pet travel: Animal Health Certificate
GB pets need an AHC from a UK vet within 10 days of entering Spain. Valid for 4 months of onward EU travel and one re-entry to GB.
Source: gov.uk: AHC for EU travel →Strict alcohol limits: zero for new drivers
0.5 g/L for experienced drivers (0.25 mg/L breath), 0.3 g/L for drivers with under 2 years' licence. Fines from €500 plus 4–6 points; over 0.6 g/L is a criminal offence.
Source: DGT: alcohol and driving →
Required equipment
Spare prescription glasses
RequiredIf your licence has the glasses code, you must carry a spare pair in the car. Spanish police take this seriously.
Emissions / low-emission zones
DGT environmental label
RequiredMadrid, Barcelona, and other large cities operate ZBE (low-emission zones). Cars need a DGT label: order from Correos or check entitlement online.
Tolls
Autopista tolls
Good to knowMix of free A-roads (autovías) and tolled AP-roads (autopistas). Coast routes from Bilbao to Cádiz are mostly free now (state took over). Look for the green AP-9 / AP-7 / AP-2 signs if you want to pay.
Driving rules
Mobile phone laws
Good to knowHands-free is fine, anything else (including hand-held GPS adjustments) is €200 + 3 points off your home licence via mutual recognition.
Strict alcohol limits: zero for new drivers
Required0.5 g/L for experienced drivers (0.25 mg/L breath), 0.3 g/L for drivers with under 2 years' licence. Fines from €500 plus 4–6 points; over 0.6 g/L is a criminal offence.
DGT: alcohol and drivingLower speed limits for visiting vehicles
Good to knowStandard limits: 120 km/h motorway, 90 km/h main road, 50 km/h urban (20–30 km/h on most residential streets since 2021). Limits drop in fog or rain. Watch the variable signs.
DGT: highway codeMoney
Customs allowance back to the UK
Good to knowPer person on return: 18 L still wine + 4 L spirits + 200 cigarettes or 250g tobacco + £390 of other goods. Spanish ham, cheese and Rioja count toward the £390 cap.
gov.uk: customs allowanceDocuments
Pet travel: Animal Health Certificate
RequiredGB pets need an AHC from a UK vet within 10 days of entering Spain. Valid for 4 months of onward EU travel and one re-entry to GB.
gov.uk: AHC for EU travelPlan your Spain road trip
We'll build the itinerary, estimate fuel + tolls, and show EV chargers along the route, and this checklist appears automatically on every trip that crosses into Spain.
Start planning →Popular destinations in Spain
Places to add to your Spain road trip.
Indicative budget
Rough cost for 1,000 km in Spain
A back-of-the-envelope estimate for a typical petrol car at 40 UK mpg, with 800 km of motorway driving. Real fuel prices move monthly: treat this as a ballpark.
Fuel
€109
~70.6 L · 1,000 km @ 40 mpg
Tolls
€32
800 km of motorways
Vignette
—
Not required
Total estimate
€141
1,000 km road trip
Don't get caught out
Watch out for these
DGT environmental label
RequiredMadrid, Barcelona, and other large cities operate ZBE (low-emission zones). Cars need a DGT label: order from Correos or check entitlement online.
Strict alcohol limits: zero for new drivers
Required0.5 g/L for experienced drivers (0.25 mg/L breath), 0.3 g/L for drivers with under 2 years' licence. Fines from €500 plus 4–6 points; over 0.6 g/L is a criminal offence.
DGT: alcohol and driving →On the way home
Returning to the UK
Customs allowance back to the UK
Per person on return: 18 L still wine + 4 L spirits + 200 cigarettes or 250g tobacco + £390 of other goods. Spanish ham, cheese and Rioja count toward the £390 cap.
gov.uk: customs allowance →