Spain Drives On What Side Of The Road?

Spain Drives On What Side Of The Road
Driving in Spain FAQs –

Can I drive my car in Spain? Yes. You must have a valid UK licence and V5 document, along with sufficient insurance and breakdown cover for your trip. You should also familiarise yourself with the laws around driving in Spain before you set off to keep yourself and other road users safe.
How do I drive to Spain? Getting to Spain by car from the UK is probably easier than you think. Firstly, you’ll need to take your car across the Channel to Calais on either a ferry from Dover or the Eurotunnel from Folkestone. Once you’re in Calais, drive down through France and across the border into Spain, which should take around 10 hours. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Plymouth or Portsmouth to the northern Spanish cities of Bilbao and Santander.
What side of the road do they drive on in Spain? Unlike in the UK, motorists drive on the right-hand side of the road in Spain and overtake on the left – which can take some adjustment if you’re used to driving on the left.
Can you drive in Spain with a UK licence? Yes, you can legally drive in Spain with your UK-issued driving licence without the need to apply for an International Driving Permit.
Do I need extra insurance to drive in Spain? Spain and the UK are both part of the Green Card System, a Europe-wide scheme allowing all countries to recognise foreign vehicle insurance policies of visiting motorists, so it’s quite possible your existing insurance will cover you. However, before setting off on your trip, you should contact your insurance provider to make sure that no additional cover is required, as you won’t be able to buy short-term cover at the border entry points.
Is driving in Spain dangerous? Driving in Spain is generally very easy once you get used to driving on the right side of the road. All main roads are in good condition and well signposted, and the toll motorways are very quiet. Be careful if you go off the beaten track, however, as the quality of the roads and signage can vary considerably.
Do I need a GB/UK sticker to drive in Spain? You will need to display a UK sticker on the rear of your car. GB stickers have been discontinued.
Do I need headlamp converters in Spain? Yes. Depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the beam manually. This is so you don’t dazzle oncoming traffic when driving on the right side of the road at night.
What is the national speed limit in Spain? The national speed limit on Spanish motorways is 120km/h (75 mph). If you’re driving on a main road outside a built-up area, the limit is 90km/h, and for built-up areas it’s 50km/h.
Do I need snow chains in Spain? Although Spain is known for its sunny climate, it does snow in some areas. In certain circumstances, particularly on mountain passes, the use of snow chains or winter tyres may become compulsory.
How much are toll roads in Spain? The amount you pay per toll will depend on the length of the road and the area you’re driving in. Visit https://www. viamichelin. com to calculate the cost of your journey.
How do you pay for toll roads in Spain? There are two ways to pay for tolls – electronically or manually. On most toll roads, you take a ticket when you enter the motorway and pay when you exit at a booth with a green arrow. Simply insert your ticket into the machine and it will show you how much you need to pay. You can either pay by cash or credit card. If you regularly use toll roads, it’s worth signing up to the Telepeaje scheme which takes you through the fast lane without having to stop and pay.
Does Spain use mph or kph? Spain uses the metric system for all road signs, so speed limits and other signs including distance are shown in kilometres and metres.
Is it compulsory to carry a spare wheel in Spain? For Spanish residents, a spare tyre or puncture repair kit must be carried in the vehicle, but if your car is registered outside Spain this is not obligatory. You should, however, make sure you check all your tyres before setting off. The legal minimum depth of tyre tread is 1. 6mm for the full circumference of the tyre.

Are cars in Spain right-hand drive?

Sit left, drive right – Like most of continental Europe, in Spain, the driver sits on the left and people drive on the right. So if you’re from the UK, everything might feel a bit back to front, but you get used to it quickly.

What side of the car does Spain drive on?

What driving licences can you use in Spain? If you are taking your car, you must find out if your driving licence is valid to drive in Spain, whether you must exchange it or if you need to obtain the International Permit. Permits issued in countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) are fully valid to drive in Spain as long as they are in force. If you come from any other country, it is advisable that you get the international permit in your country before you travel.
- This permit is valid for one year and is complementary;
- So, whenever you are going to use it, you must also present your passport and your foreign driving license;
- More information on other valid permits to drive in Spain;
Also, keep in mind that the minimum driving age in Spain is 18 years old. Also, remember that it is absolutely necessary to have valid international insurance. If you are a citizen of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia or Montenegro you’ll need to have the insurance policy with you together with the receipt justifying its validity.
1. If you are from Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Iran, Israel, Macedonia, Morocco, Moldavia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine or Russia, you must obtain a Green Card or International Civil Liability Insurance Certificate;
For all other cases, it will be necessary to take out Border Insurance. Since conditions may vary, we suggest that you contact the Spanish Embassy or Consulate to verify these requirements before you start your trip.
How do you rent a car? To rent a vehicle in Spain, you must be at least 21 years old and have a valid driving licence. Many companies also require you to have had your driving licence for a minimum of one or two years. To complete the car hire process, you will need a credit card. Remember that if more than one person is going to drive, the others must appear as additional drivers on the contract.
What are the most important rules? In Spain, we drive on the right, safety belts are mandatory for all the occupants of the vehicle and there are speed limits on all roads. These are 120 km/h on dual carriageways and motorways, 90 km/h on all other roads and 30 km/h in built-up areas. Other important rules are: It is forbidden to talk on a mobile phone without a hands-free device or to handle one while driving. Overtaking can only be done on the left side of the car which you wish to pass.
Also, the rate tends to be higher for those under the age of 25. In Spain, it is usual for rental cars to have manual transmission and the rate for those with automatic transmission tend to be higher. Children under 135 centimetres in height cannot sit in the front seat and they must always use an approved restraint system.

It is recommended to use a restraint system with a back until the child is over 150 centimetres tall. These instructions also apply to taxis, so if you want to travel with a baby in a taxi, you must carry an approved restraint system. If you drink, don’t drive: blood alcohol levels must not exceed 0.

5 g/l (0. 25 mg/l in exhaled air). Helmets must be worn on motorbikes, mopeds and bicycles. Parking in public thoroughfares is not always permitted or free. In many cities the parking areas are regulated and subject to payment.

Normally these can be identified by the presence of parking meters in the vicinity.
Which roads have tolls and which do not? In Spain, the vast majority of roads in the national network are free to use. These include motorways (independent roads in each direction and with no intersections at the same level). Nevertheless, there is a series of roads that may require the payment of a toll. These are the motorways. The cost varies in each case, but there are generally alternative routes that are free to use. Tolls may be paid in cash, by credit card or using electronic toll services (requires the installation of a device in the car)
What should you do if you get a fine? Traffic violations sanctioned in the Road Safety Act must always be paid. There are two possibilities when you receive a traffic fine: If you are informed of the fine when the violation is committed, it can be paid on the spot. If it is not possible to pay it, the Civil Guard may impound the vehicle until it is paid. If you are informed of the fine by post, you will have various options to pay: 1.
You can check the highways that require toll payment on this website. Using the telephone number 060 (from Spain): the service is in Spanish only. Payment is made by credit card. From abroad the contact telephone number is: +34 902887060.

Online: from the General Directorate of Traffic of Spain 3. In person: At branches of Caixabank. In Spanish post offices (Correos de España), paying an additional fee of 1. 50% of the amount of the fine. At Provincial Traffic Offices using a credit or debit card.

Why do the Brits drive on the left?

Have you ever wondered why the British drive on the left? There is an historical reason for this; it’s all to do with keeping your sword hand free! In the Middle Ages you never knew who you were going to meet when travelling on horseback. Most people are right-handed, so if a stranger passed by on the right of you, your right hand would be free to use your sword if required. (Similarly, medieval castle staircases spiral in a clockwise direction going upwards, so the defending soldiers would be able to stab down around the twist but those attacking (going up the stairs) would not.

) Indeed the ‘keep to the left’ rule goes back even further in time; archaeologists have discovered evidence suggesting that the Romans drove carts and wagons on the left, and it is known that Roman soldiers always marched on the left;

This ‘rule of the road’ was officially sanctioned in 1300 AD when Pope Boniface VIII declared that all pilgrims travelling to Rome should keep to the left. Spain Drives On What Side Of The Road This continued until the late 1700s when large wagons became popular for transporting goods. These wagons were drawn by several pairs of horses and had no driver’s seat. Instead, in order to control the horses, the driver sat on the horse at the back left, thus keeping his whip hand free. Sitting on the left however made it difficult to judge the traffic coming the other way, as anyone who has driven a left-hand drive car along the winding lanes of Britain will agree! These huge wagons were best suited to the wide open spaces and large distances of Canada and the US, and the first keep-to-the-right law was passed in Pennsylvania in 1792, with many Canadian and US states following suit later.

In France a decree of 1792 ordered traffic to keep to the “common” right and Napoleon later enforced the rule in all French territories. In Britain there wasn’t much call for these massive wagons and the smaller British vehicles had seats for the driver to sit on behind the horses.

As most people are right-handed, the driver would sit to the right of the seat so his whip hand was free. Traffic congestion in 18th century London led to a law being passed to make all traffic on London Bridge keep to the left in order to reduce collisions. Spain Drives On What Side Of The Road There was a movement in the 20th century towards the harmonisation of road laws in Europe and a gradual shift began from driving on the left to the right. The last Europeans to change from left to right were the Swedes who bravely made the change overnight on Dagen H (H Day), September 3rd 1967. At 4. 50am all traffic in Sweden stopped for ten minutes before restarting, this time driving on the right. Today, only 35% of countries drive on the left.

This rule was incorporated into the Highway Act of 1835 and was adopted throughout the British Empire. These include India, Indonesia, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and most recently, Samoa in 2009.

Most of these countries are islands but where land borders require a change from left to right, this is usually accomplished using traffic lights, cross-over bridges, one-way systems or similar.

Is it difficult driving in Spain?

Driving in Spain FAQs –

Can I drive my car in Spain? Yes. You must have a valid UK licence and V5 document, along with sufficient insurance and breakdown cover for your trip. You should also familiarise yourself with the laws around driving in Spain before you set off to keep yourself and other road users safe.
How do I drive to Spain? Getting to Spain by car from the UK is probably easier than you think. Firstly, you’ll need to take your car across the Channel to Calais on either a ferry from Dover or the Eurotunnel from Folkestone. Once you’re in Calais, drive down through France and across the border into Spain, which should take around 10 hours. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Plymouth or Portsmouth to the northern Spanish cities of Bilbao and Santander.
What side of the road do they drive on in Spain? Unlike in the UK, motorists drive on the right-hand side of the road in Spain and overtake on the left – which can take some adjustment if you’re used to driving on the left.
Can you drive in Spain with a UK licence? Yes, you can legally drive in Spain with your UK-issued driving licence without the need to apply for an International Driving Permit.
Do I need extra insurance to drive in Spain? Spain and the UK are both part of the Green Card System, a Europe-wide scheme allowing all countries to recognise foreign vehicle insurance policies of visiting motorists, so it’s quite possible your existing insurance will cover you. However, before setting off on your trip, you should contact your insurance provider to make sure that no additional cover is required, as you won’t be able to buy short-term cover at the border entry points.
Is driving in Spain dangerous? Driving in Spain is generally very easy once you get used to driving on the right side of the road. All main roads are in good condition and well signposted, and the toll motorways are very quiet. Be careful if you go off the beaten track, however, as the quality of the roads and signage can vary considerably.
Do I need a GB/UK sticker to drive in Spain? You will need to display a UK sticker on the rear of your car. GB stickers have been discontinued.
Do I need headlamp converters in Spain? Yes. Depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the beam manually. This is so you don’t dazzle oncoming traffic when driving on the right side of the road at night.
What is the national speed limit in Spain? The national speed limit on Spanish motorways is 120km/h (75 mph). If you’re driving on a main road outside a built-up area, the limit is 90km/h, and for built-up areas it’s 50km/h.
Do I need snow chains in Spain? Although Spain is known for its sunny climate, it does snow in some areas. In certain circumstances, particularly on mountain passes, the use of snow chains or winter tyres may become compulsory.
How much are toll roads in Spain? The amount you pay per toll will depend on the length of the road and the area you’re driving in. Visit https://www. viamichelin. com to calculate the cost of your journey.
How do you pay for toll roads in Spain? There are two ways to pay for tolls – electronically or manually. On most toll roads, you take a ticket when you enter the motorway and pay when you exit at a booth with a green arrow. Simply insert your ticket into the machine and it will show you how much you need to pay. You can either pay by cash or credit card. If you regularly use toll roads, it’s worth signing up to the Telepeaje scheme which takes you through the fast lane without having to stop and pay.
Does Spain use mph or kph? Spain uses the metric system for all road signs, so speed limits and other signs including distance are shown in kilometres and metres.
Is it compulsory to carry a spare wheel in Spain? For Spanish residents, a spare tyre or puncture repair kit must be carried in the vehicle, but if your car is registered outside Spain this is not obligatory. You should, however, make sure you check all your tyres before setting off. The legal minimum depth of tyre tread is 1. 6mm for the full circumference of the tyre.

Can I drive in Spain with a US license?

Requirements For Americans Driving In Spain Expat Tips Published: 24 June 2019 14:13 CET Updated: 28 July 2022 14:13 CET If you are from the United States and are moving to Spain to work, study or even for a vacation, there’s a good chance that you will want to drive a motor vehicle during your time here. When it comes to driving laws and documentation requirements, Spain is no different from the United States and most other countries. American Driving Licenses and Spain The Spanish as in the U. can be quite strict when it comes to having the correct documentation.

If you are an American driving in Spain, you will need to carry both your valid U. driving license, plus an International Driving Permit (IDP). The International Driving Permit is a separate document that translates your driving license into 10 different languages.

It is recognized in over 150 different countries worldwide and allows any foreign authorities to be able to easily interpret your driver’s license in their native tongue. The IDP makes life a lot easier when driving in a foreign country, especially in non-English speaking countries, so is well worth the relatively small investment.

Many car hire companies in Spain may also insist on the presentation of an IDP along with your driver’s license. How to Get Your IDP (International Driving Permit) An IDP can be easily obtained for $20. 00 from your nearest American Automobile Association (AAA) office or online via their website here.

Once you have downloaded the IDP , you will need to complete it and either take it to your local AAA branch , or send it to the branch via post. Application for the IDP has to be made via post to the following address:- There are certain requirements and things you will need when applying for your IDP which you should be aware of. These include:-

The fee of $20. 00
The applicant must be over 18 years of age.
Signed copies of the front and back of your current driving license.
Two passport-sized photos (See application form for requirements)
A completed IDP application form

Your current driving license will need to have at least 6 months of validity remaining beyond the issue of your IDP. Please note that the IDP is only valid for 12 months, at which time it must be renewed. The IDP can be renewed from overseas, but your driver’s license must be valid for at least six months from issue. You will also need to allow up to 15 business days for delivery of your new IDP.

Traffic Citations and Your American Driver’s License If you do get a traffic citation while in Spain, it’s important to note that this is placed against your driver’s license and not the IDP document. Any citations incurred in a foreign country only apply to that country, as the various states’ Departments of Motor Vehicles are only able to access a national database.

There is no international traffic citations database at this time. Staying Long-Term in Spain Unfortunately, Spain and the United States do not have a reciprocal agreement on the validation of U. driver’s licenses. If you plan on staying in Spain long-term and becoming a resident here, you will need to take a Spanish driving test and obtain a Spanish driving license.

You can read more about this on our Spanish Driving Licences page. Private Health Insurance in Spain If you will be living, working or studying here in Spain, we can provide you with a wide range of expat health insurance policies to cover your everyday health protection needs.

All of our policies are in English (or Spanish, depending on your requirements. ) and are underwritten by BUPA. You can get an instant quote here https://www. healthplanspain. com/sanitas/sanitas-health-plans. html.

Is it hard for Americans to drive in Spain?

To Drive or Not to Drive? – A few of my comments above may have raised a few eyebrows amongst drivers who are feeling a little tentative about driving in Spain for the first time. I hope that’s not the case as there’s little to worry about provided you plan your journey carefully.

Motorists can look forward to driving thousands of trouble free kilometres on some of Europe’s finest highways often surrounded by stunning scenery. Many visitors are quite surprised at the great quality of Spain’s motorways and ongoing construction of these new roads is making getting around even easier albeit at the expense of some beautiful routes that are being bypassed by these new roads.

Most foreign visitors only experience problems when approaching major cities where many cars often drive too fast and show no mercy to other road users. In addition you’ll often find the cities tricky to negotiate and parking difficult to find and very expensive. Cows on the road are about as bad as it gets in Asturias So if you’re planning a driving holiday try to stay away from the main cities where possible, try not to be on the road when it’s a national holiday and respect the speed limits.

What do you need for driving in Spain?

Why do Japan drive on the left?

Britain’s Influence on Japanese Railroads – The rule of staying left in Japan was an unspoken and unofficial one. However, in 1872 the idea of the left being the correct side for “traffic” became official once Japan finished building its very first railway system.

However, they didn’t do it all on their own as three different nations, i. , France, Britain, and the United States, all reached out to Japan and offered their technical assistance to build their first railway.

The Tokugawa shogunate issued a grant which would have allowed American diplomat Anton L. Portman the right to construct a railway line from Yokohama to Edo (later renamed Tokyo). However, the shogunate fell shortly after in 1867 and the grant was not permitted to continue.

In 1868, the first steam locomotive was brought to Japan by a Scottish merchant named Thomas Blake Glover;
He demonstrated its ability on an 8-mile track in Nagasaki;
While impressed, Japan had just spent about 250 years as an almost completely isolated nation;

This meant they weren’t particularly trusting of foreigners and the idea of letting Japan’s first true railway be built by foreigners was unacceptable. Instead, they decided to let Britain finance their first railway, while also contracting British and other European railway specialists as advisors. First steam locomotive built in Japan in 1893 This compromise successfully led to the first railway built between Shimbashi and Yokohama on September 12, 1872. Overtime, Japan has built up a very large and very successful railway system, which is and has always been on the left-hand side. This precedent naturally led to building roads for cars that also drive on the left side. However, the law for left-hand traffic wasn’t officially written until 1924.

These advisors were to teach Japanese engineers how to build the railroad and then were instructed to promptly leave. So the answer to “Why does Japan drive on the left?” can be summarized down to, like many other countries, Britain’s influence.

However, rather than at one point being under the British Empire’s control, it was all because Britain helped advise the Japanese on how to structure their rail system. Many people believe that if the United States or France had helped build Japan’s railways, then Japan would instead be driving of the right-hand side.

The only time Japan has ever had any right-hand side driving was after World War II in Okinawa. The United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands was the governing body from 1950 to 1972. During this time Okinawa was switched to right-hand traffic laws.

They switch back to left-hand traffic after Okinawa was returned in 1972, which makes Okinawa one of the very few places in the world to switch from right to left-handed traffic after the 20 th century. Interestingly, many countries that formerly drove on the left for one reason or another have switched to the right.

How many countries drive left?

The steering wheel is also on the left. In all countries with left-hand traffic, these conditions are exactly the opposite. Out of 241 countries around the globe, there are still 68 countries where you drive on the left side. Most of them are or were once dependent on the British Crown.

Is the UK right hand drive?

Can I drive a left hand drive car in the UK? – Even though the vast majority of cars in the UK are right hand drive, It’s entirely legal to drive a left hand drive car in the UK. However, you do need to arrange insurance and ensure you’ve got all the necessary paperwork, such as your V5C. If you’ve imported the car you need to:

Register it with the DVLA
Register it with HMRC
Get vehicle approval to drive it in the UK

Why Japan drives on the left?

However, they didn’t do it all on their own as three different nations, i;
, France, Britain, and the United States, all reached out to Japan and offered their technical assistance to build their first railway;

In 1868, the first steam locomotive was brought to Japan by a Scottish merchant named Thomas Blake Glover. He demonstrated its ability on an 8-mile track in Nagasaki. While impressed, Japan had just spent about 250 years as an almost completely isolated nation.

The only time Japan has ever had any right-hand side driving was after World War II in Okinawa;
The United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands was the governing body from 1950 to 1972;
During this time Okinawa was switched to right-hand traffic laws;

Does China drive on the left?

The Hong Kong-mainland China cross-border driving scheme allows the smooth movement of vehicles from one side to the other. However, mainland China drives on the right-hand side of the road while Hong Kong is a left-hand drive city.

Is Dubai left or right-hand drive?

Which side of the road do you drive on in Dubai? – You drive on the right-hand side of the road in Dubai and the UAE. Vehicles in Dubai have the steering wheel on the left and they drive on the right-hand side of the road.

Does Japan drive on left?

Asia [ edit ] – Vehicles entering and leaving Macau cross over each other at the Lotus Bridge LHT was introduced by the British in British India (now India, Pakistan , Myanmar , and Bangladesh ), British Malaya and British Borneo (now Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore), and British Hong Kong. All are still LHT except Myanmar, which switched to RHT in 1970, although much of its infrastructure is still geared to LHT. Most cars are used RHD vehicles imported from Japan. Afghanistan was LHT until the 1950s, in line with neighbouring British India and later Pakistan.

LHT was introduced by the Portuguese Empire in Portuguese Macau (now Macau ) and Portuguese Timor (now East Timor ). Both places are still LHT, despite Macau now being part of RHT China , requiring a right-to-left switching interchange at the Lotus Bridge that connects the two.

East Timor shares the island of Timor with Indonesia, which is also LHT, although the former (then Portuguese Timor) switched to RHT along with Portugal in 1928 before changing back to LHT in 1976 during the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. Mainland China is RHT except the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

LHT was uniform in the 1930s, then the northern provinces were RHT;
Nationalist China adopted RHT in 1946;
This convention was preserved when the CCP took the mainland and the KMT refuged to Taiwan;
Taiwan uses RHT;

When it was governed by Japan , LHT was used, but the KMT government switched the island to RHT in 1946, and it remains in place today. Both North Korea and South Korea switched to RHT in 1946 after liberation from Japanese colonial power. The Philippines was mostly LHT during its Spanish and American colonial periods, as well as during the Commonwealth era.

During the Japanese occupation , the Philippines remained LHT, also because LHT had been required by the Japanese; but during the Battle of Manila , the liberating American forces drove their tanks to the right for easier facilitation of movement.

RHT was formalised in 1945 through a decree by then-president Sergio Osmeña. Japan was never part of the British Empire, but its traffic also drives on the left. Although the origin of this habit goes back to the Edo period (1603–1868), it was not until 1872 that this unwritten rule became more or less official: the year when Japan’s first railway was introduced, built with technical aid from the British.

Gradually, a massive network of railways and tram tracks was built, with all trains and trams being driven on the left-hand side. However, it took another half century, until 1924, that left-hand traffic was clearly written in law.

Post- World War II Okinawa was ruled by the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands and was RHT. It was returned to Japan in 1972 but did not convert back to LHT until 1978. The conversion operation was known as 730 ( Nana-San-Maru , which refers to the date of the changeover, 30 July).

Okinawa is one of few places to have changed from RHT to LHT in the late 20th century;
Vietnam became RHT as part of French Indochina , as did Laos and Cambodia;
In Cambodia, RHD cars, many of which were smuggled from Thailand, were banned from 2001, even though they accounted for 80% of vehicles in the country;