Legal definition
Automobile specially arranged to carry goods and people, simultaneously or separately, with up to nine people including the driver, in which seats can be added to replace some or all of the load with passengers.
RDL 6/2015, Annex I, point 19 (translation)Definition
An adaptable dual-purpose vehicle is an automobile designed to carry goods and up to nine people including the driver, whose load can be partly or wholly replaced with passengers by adding seats. It can carry goods and people together or separately.
Speed limits and the HOV lane
The generic speed limit for a dual-purpose vehicle is always lower than for a car: 100 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways, against 120 km/h for a car, and 90 km/h on a road reserved for motor vehicles. It may use a high-occupancy (VAO) lane provided its maximum authorised mass is under 3,500 kg, it is not towing a trailer and it carries the minimum number of occupants set for that stretch; a driver displaying the V-15 reduced-mobility plate may use it alone.
Key facts
- Carries people and/or goods, up to 9 seats including the driver.
- Not a bus, even when carrying passengers.
- 100 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways; 90 km/h on roads for motor vehicles.
- May use the VAO lane under 3,500 kg and without a trailer.
- Must carry a reflective vest, and must pass the ITV inspection.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a vehículo mixto adaptable?
- A vehicle that can carry people, goods or both, by adding or removing seats, up to a maximum of nine seats including the driver.
- Is a dual-purpose vehicle the same as a bus?
- No. A bus has more than nine seats including the driver and is designed solely for collective passenger transport.
- What is its top speed in Spain?
- 100 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways, and 90 km/h on roads reserved for motor vehicles — lower than the 120 km/h allowed for a car.
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
- When joining traffic from a parked position, how may a driver check, if necessary, that it is safe to do so?
- To continue straight ahead, where must you stop?
- A car with MAM no greater than 3,500 kg has a breakdown. It can continue safely but travels at an abnormally low speed on a motorway, seriously disrupting traffic. The right shoulder is usable and wide enough. What must it do?
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