Legal definition
Limits depend on the vehicle and road. For cars and motorcycles, the default maximum is 120 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways and 90 km/h on conventional roads. Default urban limits are 20, 30 or 50 km/h by layout; town-crossing roads have a 50 km/h default. Signs and regulatory exceptions also apply.
RGC (RD 1428/2003), Article 48, 49 y 50 (translated summary)Definition
Speed limits are the maximum and minimum speeds permitted on a road, depending on the vehicle, signs and applicable legal conditions. For cars and motorcycles the default maximum is 120 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways and 90 km/h on conventional roads; urban limits are 50, 30 or 20 km/h depending on the street layout. On a conventional road with physically separated directions, the road authority may set 100 km/h for cars, motorcycles and motor caravans up to 3,500 kg by specific signage. The default minimum is half of the applicable maximum — 60 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways — and any posted sign replaces the default limit.
Default maximum speeds by vehicle and road type (km/h)
| Vehicle | Motorway / dual carriageway | Conventional road | Urban road | Town crossing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars and motorcycles | 120 | 90 | 20 / 30 / 50 by street layout | 50 |
| Vehicle towing a trailer up to 750 kg | 90 | 80 | 20 / 30 / 50 by street layout | 50 |
| Vehicle towing a trailer over 750 kg | 90 | 80 | 20 / 30 / 50 by street layout | 50 |
| Buses and coaches | 100 | 90 | 20 / 30 / 50 by street layout | 50 |
| Lorries, tractor units, vans, motor caravans over 3,500 kg and articulated vehicles | 90 | 80 | 20 / 30 / 50 by street layout | 50 |
| Mopeds | Not allowed | 45 | 45, never above the street limit | 45 |
Source and scope (reviewed 20 September 2026)
This table summarises the generic limits effective on 20 September 2026 under Articles 47 to 50 of Spain's Reglamento General de Circulación and Royal Decree 1514/2018: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2018-18002. The generic conventional-road limit for cars and motorcycles is 90 km/h; a specific sign on a road with physically separated directions may set 100 km/h. Specific signs and legally defined conditions prevail over this table.
Urban roads and town crossings
In urban roads the limit comes from the street: 20 km/h where pavement and carriageway share a single platform, 30 km/h on streets with one lane per direction, and 50 km/h with two or more lanes per direction. Town crossings (travesías) have a generic 50 km/h limit, which the municipality may reduce with the required signs. Where a motorway or dual carriageway runs through a built-up area, the limit is 80 km/h unless specific signage sets another lawful limit.
The minimum speed is half the maximum
Driving abnormally slowly without a justified reason and obstructing other traffic is an offence. On roads other than motorways and dual carriageways, use half the default maximum for your vehicle as the reference; on motorways and dual carriageways the minimum is 60 km/h regardless of the vehicle's own maximum. If an emergency forces you below it, leave at the first exit.
Key facts
- Cars and motorcycles: 120 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways, 90 km/h on conventional roads.
- Urban: 20 km/h on single-platform streets, 30 km/h with one lane per direction, 50 km/h with two or more.
- Minimum speed: half the default maximum for your vehicle, and 60 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways.
- Lorries, vans and combinations: 90 km/h on motorways/dual carriageways and 80 km/h on conventional roads. Buses: 100 and 90, with 80 km/h where standing passengers or missing seat belts trigger the special rule.
- Since March 2022 you may not exceed the limit to overtake — the old 20 km/h margin is gone.
Exam tip
Minimum-speed questions are answered from the road's default maximum for your vehicle, not from your own speed: 45 km/h for a car on a conventional road, 60 km/h for anyone on a motorway.
Frequently asked questions
- What default maximum speeds apply to common vehicles in Spain?
- On a motorway or dual carriageway: 120 km/h for cars and motorcycles, 100 km/h for buses, and 90 km/h for lorries and vehicles towing either trailer category. On a conventional road: 90 km/h for cars and motorcycles and buses, and 80 km/h for lorries and vehicles towing either trailer category. The minimum is 60 km/h for everyone on a motorway or dual carriageway.
- What is the speed limit in Spanish towns and cities?
- 20 km/h where the pavement and carriageway form a single platform, 30 km/h on streets with one lane per direction and 50 km/h on streets with two or more lanes per direction. A town crossing has a generic 50 km/h limit.
- Can you exceed the limit to overtake in Spain?
- No. The 20 km/h margin once allowed when overtaking on conventional roads was removed in March 2022, so the posted or default maximum applies during the whole manoeuvre.
Practice real questions on this topic
Free DGT 2026 test with exam-style questions and explanations. No signup. Or explore the free DGT test in English hub for everything in one place.
In the DGT exam
- A dual-purpose vehicle, without a trailer or special transport operation, travels on a motorway with no lower specific limit. What is its general maximum speed?
- As a general limit, with no lower restriction, what is the maximum speed for a passenger car towing a trailer on an unpaved road outside built-up areas?
- On a conventional road outside built-up areas, without physical separation of directions or another restriction, a passenger car has a general limit of 90 km/h. With no reason justifying a lower speed, what is its minimum speed?
Keep studying
Related terms
- Conventional road— Interurban road that is not a motorway, dual carriageway or …
- Default speed limit— Speed limit applied by default to each road type when no sig…
- Centrifugal force— Apparent force that pushes a vehicle outwards in a curve.
- Minimum speed— Speed below which you may not drive without obstructing othe…