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ES Are you wondering how high the fines are in Spain if you, as a driver, motorcyclist, cyclist, or e-scooter rider, break traffic laws – and what helmets, gloves & more have to do with it?
Since the reform of the Ley de Tráfico (Traffic Law) – especially with the 2022 updates and additional regulations up to 2025 – Spain has introduced stricter traffic rules and clearer fines for different types of vehicles.
It’s particularly important for car drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists, and riders of electric scooters (VMP – Vehículos de Movilidad Personal) to know which rules currently apply – and what happens if you ignore them. Here’s a comprehensive overview – including helmet requirements, mandatory equipment, penalties, and how fines are handled for tourists.
Holiday Homes in the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands
New developments at the national and local levels
First, a few general points:
The DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) is the central authority; many rules apply nationwide, but in some cases, municipalities can issue their own regulations (for example, for e-scooters or bike lanes).
Starting January 2, 2026, it will be mandatory to have liability insurance for most e-scooters / VMPs. Failure to have insurance can result in fines of up to €1.000.
There are numerous new controls, such as checks on speed, lighting, helmets, and safety equipment, and fines have in some cases increased significantly compared to previous years.
Fines and offenses – by vehicle type
Car drivers
Speed limits
As a driver in Spain, you can face a wide range of penalties. Speeding violations are particularly strictly enforced. Fines vary depending on the type of road and the amount by which you exceed the limit. Even minor infractions can cost between €100 and €300. For more serious violations, fines increase substantially, and you may also lose points from your driver’s license.
To avoid these situations altogether, it’s important to know the current speed limits in Spain. On autopistas and autovías – multi-lane highways with separated directions of travel – the speed limit for cars and motorcycles is 120 km/h.
On rural roads (carreteras convencionales), which run outside towns and cities, the general limit is 90 km/h.
Within urban areas, the rules are much stricter: 50 km/h on streets with more than one lane per direction, 30 km/h on streets with one lane per direction, and 20 km/h in traffic-calmed zones or areas without a clear separation between sidewalks and roads (known as “plataforma única” zones).
It’s also important to note that vehicles with trailers, motorhomes, buses, or trucks often have lower speed limits. Some highways are currently testing dynamic speed limits, where the permitted speed changes depending on weather or traffic conditions – but these are still rare and tightly regulated.
Drivers who exceed the limit by a large margin can even face criminal charges. If you exceed the limit by more than 60 km/h in urban areas or 80 km/h outside urban areas, it is classified as a “delito contra la seguridad vial” – a criminal offense against road safety. In such cases, you risk high fines, driving bans, and in extreme situations, even imprisonment.
Basically: In Spain, it’s well worth respecting the speed limit – not only to avoid fines and penalty points, but also to ensure a safe and stress-free journey.
Seat belts & child seats (SRI)
Seat belts are mandatory for all vehicle occupants in Spain – both in the front and rear seats, without exception. Anyone caught driving without a seat belt faces a fine of around €200 and the loss of four points from their driver’s license. The same penalty applies if children are not properly secured, i.e. without an appropriate child seat or if the seat is used incorrectly.
The Spanish traffic authority DGT specifies exactly when and how child restraint systems (SRI – Sistemas de Retención Infantil) must be used. Children must always be secured in an approved child seat suitable for their height and weight until they reach a height of 1,35 meters (in practice, this is usually up to about 12 years of age). However, many experts – and the DGT itself – recommend using a child seat until the child is 1,50 meters tall, since the seat belt only fits safely across the shoulder and pelvis from that height onward.
The seats must comply with European standards ECE R44/04 or i-Size (R129). Depending on the child’s age and size, a distinction is made between rear-facing infant carriers, child seats with a harness, and booster seats with a backrest.
Another important rule concerns seating position: In Spain, children under 1,35 meters must sit in the rear seats. Only in exceptional cases – for example, if the vehicle has no rear seats, if all rear seats are already occupied by other child seats, or if fitting a seat there is technically impossible – may a child seat be placed in the front passenger seat. In that case, the airbag must be deactivated if the child is in a rear-facing infant carrier.
If a child is transported in the front seat when this is not allowed, or if the airbag is not deactivated with a rear-facing seat, a fine of €200 will also apply.
The police regularly check compliance with these rules, especially in tourist areas, at airports, and car rental stations. Foreign drivers are also required to use child seats in accordance with Spanish regulations – the excuse “it’s different in my home country” does not protect you from fines.
Alcohol & drugs behind the wheel
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is punished very strictly in Spain. Even minor exceedances of the legal alcohol limit can lead to fines between €500 and €1.000, and in most cases, points are deducted from your license or it may be temporarily suspended.
The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.5‰ (0,5 grams per liter of blood) or 0,25 mg of alcohol per liter of breath. For new drivers (within the first two years) and professional drivers, a stricter limit of 0,3‰ (0,15 mg/L breath alcohol) applies. Exceeding this limit already constitutes an offense.
Driving with a blood alcohol level over 1,2‰ or refusing to take a breath test is considered a criminal offense in Spain – punishable by fines or imprisonment and license revocation.
When it comes to drugs, Spain applies a zero-tolerance policy: If drugs are detected in your blood, it automatically triggers legal proceedings, a fine of €1.000, and the loss of six points from your driving license.
Motorcyclists
As a motorcyclist in Spain, you are especially required to pay close attention to your protective gear. Wearing a helmet is mandatory — it must be approved (e.g., ECE-22.06), properly fastened, and in good condition. Anyone riding without a helmet or with a non-approved one faces a fine of around €200 and a loss of four license points.
Regarding gloves: an official nationwide glove requirement does not yet exist. According to the DGT and several sources, there is currently no general legal obligation to wear gloves when riding a motorcycle. However, it is expected that in certain situations – for example, on interurban roads (“carreteras interurbanas”) – new regulations could come into force that will set homologation standards for motorcycle gloves.
Other equipment-related violations are also relevant: a loud or non-approved exhaust, defective lights, missing or outdated mirrors, or damage to brakes or suspension parts are regularly fined at around €200.
Daylight does not mean exemption either: motorcycles must have lights on under certain conditions – such as poor visibility, rain, tunnels, or during the day on specific roads. Failing to comply also results in fines of around €200.
Having your documents, insurance, and valid driver’s license is of course mandatory. If any of these are missing or invalid, you can also face fines – typically around €200, sometimes with point deductions.
Cyclists
For cyclists, several rules apply, especially since 2025:
Helmet requirement: Mandatory for all cyclists on interurban roads (country roads, etc.), regardless of age. In urban areas, helmets are mandatory for children under 16, and recommended but not required for adults.
Lighting and visibility: Riding without lights or reflective clothing in the dark or in low-visibility conditions can result in a fine of about €200.
Mobile phones, headphones, etc.: Use is prohibited or heavily restricted. Cyclists caught using a phone or wearing headphones usually face a fine of about €200.
Sidewalks, stops, signaling: Crossing pedestrian crossings without dismounting, failing to signal with your arm when changing lanes or going straight, or riding on the sidewalk can lead to fines of about €100–200.
E-Scooters / VMP (Vehículos de movilidad personal)
E-scooters (VMPs) in Spain are increasingly subject to clear regulations. There is no national helmet law yet, but many cities have already introduced one. Riding without a helmet can lead to fines of about €200, sometimes up to €500, and in some cases, the scooter may be impounded.
Lights and reflectors are mandatory at night or during poor visibility. Failure to comply can result in a fine of about €200. Alcohol and drug rules are the same as for car drivers: 0.5‰, and 0.3‰ for beginners; violations are fined €500–1,000.
E-scooters are not allowed on sidewalks or to be used by more than one person at a time; violations are typically fined €100–200.
Fines for Tourists / foreign road users
What happens if you break traffic rules in Spain as a tourist?
If you commit a traffic offense in Spain as a tourist, you will usually receive a fine (“multa”) either on the spot or by post. If you use a rental vehicle, the rental company will forward the fine to you and often charge an administrative fee. Importantly, foreign drivers are also required to pay fines, since Spain can enforce penalties across borders through EU agreements.
If you do not pay the fine, you may face reminders, collection procedures, and additional costs. In rare cases, legal proceedings can follow, depending on the severity of the offense. It is therefore advisable to pay promptly, as many authorities offer a reduced rate for early payment – often 50% or more off if paid online within 20 days.
Safe travel on the Canary & Balearic islands: Holiday homes and car rentals
To make sure your holiday in the Canary or Balearic Islands is relaxed, it’s worth not only knowing the traffic rules and fines but also planning your accommodation and rental car in advance.
Whether you prefer a cozy finca, a comfortable holiday home, or a modern apartment, you’ll find a wide selection of options on Spain’s most popular islands.
Holiday Accommodation Canary and Balearic Islands
With a rental car, you can explore the Canary and Balearic Islands freely – flexibly, independently, and without stress. Just make sure to book early, choose the right insurance, and don’t forget the child seat requirement if you’re traveling with family.
We’re happy to advise you personally, help with your booking for both accommodation and vehicles, and provide tips for your holiday.
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