Going to Spain? About driving and motorcycle regulations and about bail bonds
Bail Bonds
Originally required because driving offences attracted automatic detention. Now no longer a legal requirement for Spain and many insurance companies stopped issuing them around 2000.
What documentation to carry
Always carry your driving licence, vehicle registration document (V5), and certificate of motor insurance. If the vehicle is not registered in your name, it's a good idea to carry a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to drive.
Always carry Form E111. See this site 'Insurance' for details.
Driving licences: minimum age at which UK licence holder may drive temporarily imported car and/or motorcycle (over 75cc) is 18 years. All valid UK driving licences should be accepted in Spain. This includes the older all-green style UK licences, although the Spanish authorities may find these more difficult to understand so drivers may wish to voluntarily update them to the new plastic style before travelling abroad. Application form D750 is available from most post offices to obtain a new style (cleaner?) license.
Tips
If level of alcohol in bloodstream (0.25 mg/litre) 0.05 per cent or more severe penalties include fines and withdrawal of visitor's driving licence.
Lights: the use of full headlights in built-up areas is prohibited; use sidelights or dipped headlights depending on how well lit the roads are. This is for cars basically. See biker comment on same sucject below.
Driving of the right: most foreigners can get caught out when pulling out of a car park or petrol station. Think twice whenever you start off. Once on the road it comes quite naturally, but pull onto an empty road from a layby and you are likely to forget.
'on-the-spot' fines are levied. Carry lots of cash and a cash card.
Children in cars: child under 12 cannot travel as front-seat passenger unless using suitable restraint system.
Seat belts: compulsory for front. Rear-seat occupants to wear seat belts, if fitted.
Fuel: unleaded petrol (95 and 98 octane) is available. You may find 95 octane is not up to scratch and 98 is better for your engine. No leaded petrol (replacement petrol available). Carrying petrol in cans permitted. Diesel is available. LPG not available (only supplied to public service vehicles. Payment cards (credit/charge/debit) accepted at most filling stations but no automatic pumps.
Special features: compulsory for visitors to equip their vehicles with a set of replacement bulbs and a warning triangle (only Spanish registered vehicles must be equipped with two warning triangles). This is for cars basically, but a spare headlight and brake light bulb are always helpful in any country.
Motorway tolls: credit cards are accepted..
Motorcyclists
Motorcycles: use of dipped headlights during the day compulsory. Wearing of crash helmets compulsory
Insurance
Motor insurance: third-party compulsory. Green card no longer required, but advise your motor insurer of your trip. Most insurance companies provide "European" cover free of charge up to a max of 90 days in a year. However this level of cover is the absolute legal minimum as required by EU regulations. The small print in your policy normally states this. If you wish to have full extension of comprehensive cover then you will normally be asked to pay a charge.
Speed Limits
Speed limits: standard legal limits, which may be varied by signs, for private vehicles without trailers. In built-up areas 31mph (50kph), outside built-up areas 55mph (90kph) on second-category roads, 62mph (100kph) on first-category roads and 74mph (120kph) on motorways. Minimum speed on motorways 37mph (60kph). On the spot fines are imposed.
Common sense
Beware leaving luggage or other valuables when paying for fuel. There have been several instances of north african immigrants stealing from non spanish tourist in the south. A friend organised a 20 car rally in 2002 and three cars got mugged. One was even held up at a traffic light and luggage and valuables taken, two at gasolene stations. They are after anything that will convert into cash easily / quickly.
Get back on ya bikes