Three useful tips on driving safe in Spain

Driving in Spain is straight forward, once you get used to driving on the other side of the road

You do need to have a driving licence, and the type of one will depend on whether live here or not, or just come out for a limited time of the year.

Even though driving rules are standard across the European Union, Spain does have its own driving laws.

So, whether you are a Spanish resident or just visiting the country, Sun Lawyers want to pass on some useful tips on driving in Spain and to do it legally.

Hopefully, the advice will help stop you from getting a fine as well as avoid any accidents!

Use a valid driving licence

The basic law is that EU driving licences do not require an international permit, whilst non-EU licence holders need one.

In other words, if you come on holiday from an EU country, you can drive in Spain using your home country´s driving licence (if it has not expired).

For non-EU countries, you get an international permit back home, and then in Spain, you must have your home country´s licence along with the international driving licence.

If you become a Spanish resident, then you will have to swap your home EU country licence for a Spanish licence if you: –

• Drive using a European Union driving licence.
• If you got your Spanish residency on or before January 19th, 2013
• If you obtained Spanish residency any time after January 19TH, 2013 (in this case you have up to two years from the day you became a resident).
• Also, if you have any or even all four of the following: –
• Have a driving licence which never expires.
• Have a driving licence with a validity of 15 years or more on date of issue for Group 1 (AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE).
• Have a driving licence with a validity of 5 years or more on date of issue for Group 2 (BTP, C1, C1E, C, CE D1, D1E, D, DE).
• Have a driving licence which has already expired or is close to its expiry date.

Driving while speaking on the phone

Forget what you see other careless drivers do in Spain, the rules are that you ‘can’t drive and speak on the phone, whilst you are behind the wheel, and that includes trying to send a quick text!

The law is strict, with even headphones being banned including the small blue tooth system earplug.

Official figures prove that distracted motorists stand a greater chance of getting into an accident.

If you´re spotted using a phone, then a 200 euro fine will be heading your way, and you will have to pay on the spot if you don’t have a Spanish driving licence.

If you have a Spanish driving licence, besides having to cough up, you get a three-point deduction into the bargain!

Not driving on the right side

If you are from the UK you hopefully know you have to drive on the right side of the road and overtake getting into the left lane.

But a big cause of accidents is how drivers approach a roundabout and which lane there are in.

If you just go to a busy roundabout, you will spot the rules broken continuously, but when turning left or coming back, approach the roundabout in the left lane and move to the right lane immediately after passing the penultimate exit and before you reach your exit’.

You can go around the roundabout as many times as need until you can get into the outer lane.

If you are driving on the left lane and try to cut the right lane to exit and get hit by a car, it will be your fault.

The outer lane is the one to exit, not the inner one, but many motorists just can´t seem or don´t want to grasp this simple concept.

There are no nationalities on the road

Remember, it really does not matter where you are from, as you just have to take care when you are driving in Spain.

A car accident is a car accident, and nationality is irrelevant.

Sun Lawyers will bring you some more tips in the future about safe driving over here, but in the meantime, if you have any questions, then send an email to admin@nb.sun-lawyers.com
or call on 965 321 189.

The team will deal with your inquiry as soon as possible!