Cars and Driving in Spain
Many people feel very nervous driving in Spain for the first time as the Spanish drive on the “wrong side” making people wary and lose confidence. However, it’s easy to get used to and by familiarising yourself with local road and traffic laws you will feel comfortable behind the wheel sooner than you think.
Driving Licence
UK driving licences are recognised and accepted in Spain, both the old paper version and the new photo card and you are not obliged to exchange it if your normal residence is in a EC member state other than the one which issued your licence.

The old style paper licences are being phased out by the issuing country but if you have one, they are still valid it just means that when you apply for a new one or a replacement for whatever reason, it will be the plastic credit card format with your photograph.

It is not a legal requirement to have a Spanish licence however, it is something recommended by the British Consulate if you are a permanent resident in Spain. In England the DVLA will not put a non-British address on a replacement licence, nor send one out of the country. Therefore, if a British licence is only registered with Spanish authorities and is lost or stolen, a replacement cannot be obtained from the UK, and Spanish authorities will not be able to replace one they did not issue. A Spanish licence is valid in the UK for times when you may go back for a visit, but if Spain is your new home, it is worth considering changing your licence.
Applying For A Spanish Licence
If you do decide that you want to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one, you will have to go to your local Provincial Traffic Headquarters (Trafico).

For Costa Blanca South residents this is in Alicante, the address is:

Calle Ferré Vidiella,4 Esquina Calle San Juan Bosco,12
03071 Alicante

And for those on the Costa Cálida, you will need to head in to Murcia or Cartagena:
Calle Ricardo Zamora, 3

30071, Murcia
Calle Gisbert, 15
30071, Cartagena

When you get there, tell them that you are there to change your licence from a UK issue to Spanish. They will tell you that, like the Spaniards, you will have to undergo a medical examination and give you details of how to proceed.

Make sure that you have the following documents with you:

1. Your valid UK or EU driving licence and a photocopy (both sides)
2. A copy of your NIE form
3. Your passport and one photocopy
4. Two (2) passport photographs

Whilst the process may differ slightly in different provinces, the above documents should cover any requirement. The process is very simple and quick. Take care not to leave any of your original documents. If you aren’t a Spanish
speaker, it would also be advisable to take a translator along with you.

Remember, your new Spanish licence is also valid during visits to the UK.
Driving And The Law
Laws differ from country to country and it is up to you to familiarise yourself with the Spanish road law. If you are found to be breaking the law, “its not like that in the UK” isn’t going to work. You’re in Spain now so you follow their rules.
Penalty Points
Spain has its own penalty points system for driving offences but where it differs from the UK is that you are deducted points instead of awarded them. All licences have a total of 12 points except in the case of drivers who have been driving for 3 years or less who have eight.

Points are deducted from drivers caught committing all kinds of driving offences and offending drivers will have from 2 to 6 points deducted from their licence according to how serious the offence is. Here’s a round up of how you can lose points:

Speeding - Between 2 and 6 points depending on how far above the speed limit you were travelling.

Using the mobile phone or any other apparatus considered a distraction – 3 points.

Not using your seat belt or helmet for bike riders – 3 points.

Drink driving – 4 or 6 points.

Points can also be lost in the following circumstances:

2 points will be taken for:

  • Dangerous parking
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  • Using radar speed trap detectors
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  • Forgetting to turn on your headlights
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  • Taking a child under 12 as a passenger on a motorbike
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    3 points will be taken for:

  • Making an illegal turn
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  • Driving too close to the vehicle in front
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    4 points will be taken for:

  • Driving without the correct license
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  • Taking a vehicle onto a motorway that is not authorized
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  • Reversing on a motorway
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  • Dangerous driving or overtaking
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  • Blocking another driver from overtaking
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  • Jumping a red light
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  • Disobeying police instructions
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  • Throwing any dangerous objects from the car – this includes cigarette butts
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  • Driving with too many people in the vehicle
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    And finally 6 points will be taken for:

  • For extreme dangerous driving, which could be, for example, taking part in racing, driving against the traffic and so on
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  • Professional drivers risk losing six points if they do not respect official rest periods
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    Points can be recuperated for good driving (2 points for drivers who manage not to lose any points for two years), and for attending special refresher theory and road safety courses. Drivers who lose all their points due to repeated offences will have their license taken away for 6 months if it is the first time, or 12 months if it is the second. They will have to attend special course and retake a driving exam before getting their licence back. When their licence is returned it will have just 8 points.

    In theory the maximum points an offender can lose in one day is 8 points, although the new system does give traffic authorities to immediately withdraw the licence if the offence is considered to be extremely serious, i.e. driving under the effects of alcohol or drugs, refusing to do a breathaliser test or driving at over 50 percent the speed limit.
    Documentation
    You must have your driving licence, car purchase documents and car insurance policy in the car at all times times. You are also required to have with you the bank receipt as proof that the policy is paid and up to date. If you are stopped by the police, they will always ask to see these papers. Whereas in the UK you have seven days to produce the relevant documents in your local police station, in Spain, failing to produce them there and then can lead to a fine up to 300€, payable on the spot. If you can’t pay at the time, your car might well be towed away for your retrieval later once the fine is paid, and of course the towing charge. You have been warned......
    Items To Be Kept In The Car
    There are certain items that must be kept in the car at all times. If you are checked by the police and some or all of these items are missing, you may be liable for an on the spot fine. You must carry:

    Luminous vest - to be worn as soon as you step outside your vehicle, day or night.

    Two Warning Triangles - officially approved by the Ministerio del Interior bearing a round E9 symbol and the code 27R03

    Spare Tyre and the tools to replace it

    Set of bulbs and necessary tools to replace them

    Spare pair of prescription glasses (if applicable)
    Seatbelts
    It is compulsory for everyone in the car to wear a seatbelt and the driver is responsible for any fines where passengers are not wearing an approved belt. Children under 12 years of age are not allowed to sit in the front (unless they are over 150 cm / 4 ft. 9 ins). Also, if seated in the back, the belt must fit correctly, or a special “raising seat” must be fitted. Animals must be restrained when in the passenger section and not allowed to jump around.
    Stop Signs
    Here, you have to do what it says and stop. Regardless of whether you can see that it is safe to continue without having to stop completely, failure to do so could cost you a 65€ on the spot fine. To avoid this, the law states that you must be seen to physically stop and then pull away again.
    Parking, fines and the Grua
    Chances are, one of the first words that you learn in Spanish is going to be “grua” - the tow truck which will take your car away for parking illegally.

    To avoid being towed, as a general rule don’t park where the pavement curb is painted yellow or where a no parking sign is displayed. If you see parking spaces marked in blue, these are pay and display spaces or metered parking, usually with a maximum two hour limit. Penalties for parking infringements vary from town to town and can be heavy.

    If you park illegally, especially in a foreign car, you will almost certainly become a victim of the ‘grua’. You will find that there is a sticker on the ground where your car was left telling you the location of where it is being held. Getting it back will be a hassle and will cost you dearly in fines and fees. Where possible, look for underground parking with security attendance, most towns have them and they are normally the most central and convenient anyway, if a little more expensive.

    You will soon see that the Spanish will park wherever their car happens to come to a halt, even on crossings, pavements and roundabouts, but tougher new road laws introduced in 2005 mean that you now only now faced being fined, you will also have points knocked off your licence.
    Importing a UK Vehicle
    When making the move to Spain, a lot of people decide that driving is the best option for them so it is important to know what to do with your car when you get to Spain to make sure that you are not driving illegally.

    You can legally drive a UK car in Spain for no more than six months in any calendar year. You cannot get your car MOT-ed in Spain, or Gibraltar, so if the certificate runs out, not only will you be illegal in Europe, but also as soon as you arrive back in the UK. If you didn’t want to change the plates on the car and re register it, then selling it to another Brit heading back to the UK is probably your best option. Scour the local papers or place your own advert.

    If you do want to keep your car and transfer it to Spanish plates, here’s what you have to have:

  • Obtain a (free) certificate of permanent export from UK DVLA
     
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  • An NIE number. The authorities may question why you are registering a foreign vehicle with an NIE number and not a residencia so use your residencia if you have one, just in case.
     
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  • A certificate Nota de Empadronamiento from the town hall where you live. This costs a few cents and is something that you should have anyway.
     
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  • A Certificado De Baja from the British Consulate. This cost is over 100 Euros, and is not always asked for, but it can save the payment of Spanish import tax if dates correspond with other paper work. If the vehicle is a moped or scooter with an engine up to 49 cc, you do not need this as it is deemed to be personal belongings and free of any import duties.
     
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  • Your Passport.
     
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  • If you have owned the vehicle for less than six months, or did not register it in your home country and pay all relevant taxes, a registration tax (impuesto municipal sobre circulacion de vehiculos) of 12% of the current value is payable on vehicles imported into Spain.
     
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  • A Spanish ITV (MOT); this is to ensure that the vehicle is technically OK. You will need to change your lights before you try to ITV it otherwise you are going to fail immediately.
     
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    You will find that you have a lot of running around to do and you might struggle if you don’t speak Spanish. However, use the services of a “Gestor” and they will do the running around for you at a very reasonable cost.