Seat belts: who and where
Drivers and occupants must use approved seat belts, properly fastened, on urban and interurban roads. Belts are not required in vehicles without them fitted. Minors 135 cm tall or less must use a child restraint system. (Art. 117.1)
In vehicles with more than 9 seats including the driver, passengers must be informed by the driver, guide or group leader, audiovisual means or pictograms at each seat. Occupants 135 cm tall or less aged 3 or over use an approved child restraint adapted to their height and weight; if none is available, they may use a seat belt if it suits their height and weight. (Art. 117.2)
Child seats: the 135 cm rule
In vehicles with up to 9 seats, minors 135 cm tall or less use an approved child restraint system adapted to their height and weight and, as a general rule, sit in the rear seats. (Art. 117.3)
They may travel in the front seat only in these exceptions:
- The vehicle has no rear seats. (Art. 117.3)
- All rear seats are already occupied by minors covered by this rule. (Art. 117.3)
- Not all the child restraint systems can be fitted in the rear seats. (Art. 117.3)
- In each of these exceptions, the child must still use a restraint adapted to their height and weight in the front seat. (Art. 117.3)
- A rear-facing child restraint may only be used in a front seat with a frontal airbag if that airbag is deactivated. (Art. 117.3)
- Install the child restraint following the manufacturer's instructions. (Art. 117.4)
Motorbikes and mopeds: helmet, gloves and footwear
These requirements apply to drivers and passengers of motorbikes with or without sidecars, three-wheelers and quadricycles, mopeds and quad special vehicles. (Art. 118.1)
| Item | Where | Since | Article |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helmet approved under UNECE R22, properly fastened | All roads | Current requirement | Art. 118.1 |
| Protective gloves | Interurban roads | 01/10/2026 | Art. 118.1 |
| Closed footwear covering the whole foot | All roads | 01/10/2026 | Art. 118.1 |
If the vehicle has a self-protection structure and seat belts and this is recorded on its ITV card or moped certificate, occupants are exempt from helmets, gloves and closed footwear and must wear the belt on all roads. Seat belts alone do not meet this exception. (Art. 118.1)
Bicycles and e-scooters
Cyclists must wear an approved or certified helmet, properly fastened, on interurban roads; under-16s must wear one on all roads. Professional cyclists also wear one on urban roads and travesías (roads through built-up areas). At night or in reduced visibility on interurban roads, cyclists must wear at least one luminous or reflective element visible from 150 m. (Art. 118.2)
Drivers of personal mobility vehicles (VMP), such as e-scooters, must wear an approved or certified helmet, properly fastened, and at night or in reduced visibility a luminous or reflective element visible from 150 m. (Art. 118.3)
High-visibility vest
Drivers of motorbikes, cars, buses, goods vehicles, mixed vehicles and non-agricultural combinations, and pilot or escort vehicle staff, must wear a high-visibility vest when they get out and occupy the carriageway or hard shoulder of an interurban road. The vest is part of the vehicle's compulsory equipment. (Art. 118.4)
Those who ride the vehicles covered by articles 118.1 to 118.3 professionally must wear it on all roads. (Art. 118.4)
Exemptions
- Drivers may go without a seat belt while reversing or parking. (Art. 119.1.a)
- People with an exemption certificate for serious medical reasons or disability may go without a seat belt or child restraint system. They must show it to officers on request. A certificate from another EU member state is valid with its official translation. (Art. 119.1.b)
- The exemption covers drivers and passengers of emergency vehicles on duty inside built-up areas, never on autopistas, autovías or conventional roads. (Art. 119.2)
- Passengers in medical ambulances attending a patient en route are exempt on all roads. (Art. 119.2)
- Taxis in urban traffic or urban areas of large cities may carry people under 135 cm without a child restraint if they sit in a rear seat. (Art. 119.2)
What changed on 01/10/2026
RD 518/2026, in force since 01/10/2026, requires protective gloves on interurban roads and closed footwear covering the whole foot on all roads for occupants of motorbikes, mopeds and the other vehicles in art. 118.1, including quads. The helmet approval standard is UNECE R22 (art. 118.1), and the wording of seat belt and child restraint exemptions changes (arts. 119.1.a and 119.1.b, and 119.2).
Frequently asked questions
- Is it ever legal to drive without a seat belt in Spain?
- Drivers may go without a seat belt while reversing or parking. (Art. 119.1.a) People with an exemption certificate for serious medical reasons or disability may go without a seat belt or child restraint system. They must show it to officers on request. A certificate from another EU member state is valid with its official translation. (Art. 119.1.b) The exemption covers drivers and passengers of emergency vehicles on duty inside built-up areas, never on autopistas, autovías or conventional roads. (Art. 119.2) Passengers in medical ambulances attending a patient en route are exempt on all roads. (Art. 119.2) Taxis in urban traffic or urban areas of large cities may carry people under 135 cm without a child restraint if they sit in a rear seat. (Art. 119.2)
- Does a medical certificate exempt you from wearing a helmet?
- Art. 119.1.b covers seat belts and child restraint systems. Art. 118 lists no medical exemption for helmets.
- At what height can a child stop using a child seat?
- The child must be taller than 135 cm: at 135 cm or less a child restraint is required. In vehicles with up to 9 seats, minors 135 cm tall or less use an approved child restraint system adapted to their height and weight and, as a general rule, sit in the rear seats. (Art. 117.3)
- Can a child travel in the front seat?
- In each of these exceptions, the child must still use a restraint adapted to their height and weight in the front seat. (Art. 117.3) The vehicle has no rear seats. (Art. 117.3) All rear seats are already occupied by minors covered by this rule. (Art. 117.3) Not all the child restraint systems can be fitted in the rear seats. (Art. 117.3) A rear-facing child restraint may only be used in a front seat with a frontal airbag if that airbag is deactivated. (Art. 117.3)
- Are gloves compulsory on a motorbike in Spain?
- Yes, protective gloves on interurban roads since 01/10/2026 (Art. 118.1). If the vehicle has a self-protection structure and seat belts and this is recorded on its ITV card or moped certificate, occupants are exempt from helmets, gloves and closed footwear and must wear the belt on all roads. Seat belts alone do not meet this exception. (Art. 118.1)
- Do you need a helmet in a quadricycle with seat belts?
- If the vehicle has a self-protection structure and seat belts and this is recorded on its ITV card or moped certificate, occupants are exempt from helmets, gloves and closed footwear and must wear the belt on all roads. Seat belts alone do not meet this exception. (Art. 118.1)
Practise what you just read
Ten DGT exam questions, free and with no sign-up: you will see where you slip and what to review.