Maximum speeds outside built-up areas
| Vehicle | Motorway and dual carriageway | Single-carriageway road |
|---|---|---|
| Cars, motorcycles, motorhomes with maximum authorised mass ≤ 3,500 kg and pick-ups (RGC art. 48.1.a) | 120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Buses, car-derived vehicles and adaptable mixed-use vehicles (RGC art. 48.1.a) | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Lorries, tractor units, vans, motorhomes with maximum authorised mass > 3,500 kg, articulated vehicles, motor vehicles towing a trailer and all other vehicles (RGC art. 48.1.a) | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
- On single-carriageway roads with physical separation between directions, the road authority may set up to 100 km/h for cars, motorcycles and motorhomes with maximum authorised mass ≤ 3,500 kg. (RGC art. 48.1.a.1º)
- Three-wheel vehicles treated as motorcycles have the motorcycle limits. (RGC art. 48.1.a.2º)
- School and minors transport and dangerous goods: subtract 10 km/h from the table limit for that vehicle and road. Wording of RD 518/2026, in force since 1 October 2026. (RGC art. 48.1.b)
- Buses with authorised standing passengers or without seat belts: 80 km/h on any road outside built-up areas. (RGC art. 48.1.b)
- Special vehicles without brake lights, towing a trailer or classed as motor cultivators: 25 km/h. (RGC art. 48.1.c)
- Other special vehicles: 40 km/h; they may reach 70 km/h if they can exceed 60 km/h on the flat and meet their vehicle rules. (RGC art. 48.1.c)
- Cycles, two- and three-wheel mopeds and light quadricycles: 45 km/h. Cyclists may exceed this where the road allows. (RGC art. 48.1.e)
- Unpaved roads: 30 km/h. (RGC art. 48.1.f)
- Three-wheel vehicles and heavy quadricycles: 70 km/h on any road where they may circulate. (RGC art. 48.1.h)
Signed limits and specific limits for particular drivers, novice drivers and vehicles take precedence. This article gives no speed figure for novice drivers. (RGC art. 52.1)
Speed limits in towns and through-roads
| Road or situation | Maximum |
|---|---|
| Single-platform streets with carriageway and pavement at the same level (RGC art. 50) | 20 km/h |
| One lane per direction (RGC art. 50) | 30 km/h |
| Two or more lanes per direction (RGC art. 50) | 50 km/h |
| Dangerous goods on streets limited to 50 km/h and on through-roads (RGC art. 50) | 40 km/h |
| Through-roads (travesías): all vehicles, subject to the dangerous goods rule (RGC art. 50) | 50 km/h |
| Motorways and dual carriageways within built-up areas (RGC art. 50) | 80 km/h |
Reserved and public-transport lanes do not count. The municipality may lower these limits with signs and may exceptionally raise a one-lane-per-direction street to 50 km/h with signs. Wording of RD 970/2020, in force since 11 May 2021. (RGC art. 50)
Towing speed limits
Any motor vehicle towing a trailer is limited to 90 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways and 80 km/h on single-carriageway roads, regardless of the trailer's weight (RGC art. 48.1.a). Cycles, two- and three-wheel mopeds and light quadricycles: 45 km/h. Cyclists may exceed this where the road allows. (RGC art. 48.1.e) Three-wheel vehicles and heavy quadricycles: 70 km/h on any road where they may circulate. (RGC art. 48.1.h)
Minimum speeds
- On motorways and dual carriageways, driving below 60 km/h is prohibited without justified cause. (RGC art. 49.1)
- On other roads, driving below half the generic limit for that vehicle and road is prohibited without justified cause. (RGC art. 49.1)
No more +20 km/h to overtake
The +20 km/h allowance for overtaking was removed: article 51 was repealed by Law 18/2021 with effect from 21 March 2022. (RGC art. 51 (derogado))
Speeding fines and points
| Offence, fine and points | 20 km/h | 30 km/h | 40 km/h | 50 km/h | 60 km/h | 70 km/h | 80 km/h | 90 km/h | 100 km/h | 110 km/h | 120 km/h | 130 km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serious · 100 € · 0 points (Ley de Tráfico art. 76.a, anexo IV) | 21–40 | 31–50 | 41–60 | 51–70 | 61–90 | 71–100 | 81–110 | 91–120 | 101–130 | 111–140 | 121–150 | 131–150 |
| Serious · 300 € · 2 points (Ley de Tráfico art. 76.a, anexo IV) | 41–50 | 51–60 | 61–70 | 71–80 | 91–110 | 101–120 | 111–130 | 121–140 | 131–150 | 141–160 | 151–170 | 151–170 |
| Serious · 400 € · 4 points (Ley de Tráfico art. 76.a, anexo IV) | 51–60 | 61–70 | 71–80 | 81–90 | 111–120 | 121–130 | 131–140 | 141–150 | 151–160 | 161–170 | 171–180 | 171–180 |
| Serious · 500 € · 6 points (Ley de Tráfico art. 76.a, anexo IV) | 61–70 | 71–80 | 81–90 | 91–100 | 121–130 | 131–140 | 141–150 | 151–160 | 161–170 | 171–180 | 181–190 | 181–190 |
| Very serious · 600 € · 6 points (Ley de Tráfico art. 77.a, anexo IV) | ≥71 | ≥81 | ≥91 | ≥101 | ≥131 | ≥141 | ≥151 | ≥161 | ≥171 | ≥181 | ≥191 | ≥191 |
On interurban motorway or dual-carriageway access stretches to cities with limits below 100 km/h, the table fine applies; other administrative and criminal effects apply only when 100 km/h is exceeded. (Ley de Tráfico, anexo IV)
Exceeding the permitted speed by more than 60 km/h on an urban road or more than 80 km/h on an interurban road is a crime. The penalty is 3 to 6 months in prison or a fine of 6 to 12 months or 31 to 90 days of community work and, in every case, loss of the right to drive for more than 1 and up to 4 years. (Código Penal art. 379.1)
Frequently asked questions
- What is the speed limit on Spanish motorways?
- Outside built-up areas, cars and motorcycles are limited to 120 km/h (RGC art. 48.1.a). Signs and specific limits take precedence (RGC art. 52.1).
- How fast can a car towing a trailer go?
- Any motor vehicle towing a trailer is limited to 90 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways and 80 km/h on single-carriageway roads, regardless of the trailer's weight (RGC art. 48.1.a).
- What is the speed limit for lorries on single-carriageway roads?
- Outside built-up areas, 80 km/h (RGC art. 48.1.a).
- What is the speed limit on a through-road (travesía)?
- The generic limit is 50 km/h (RGC art. 50); the dangerous goods rule in the urban table applies. Signs take precedence.
- How fast can a heavy quadricycle go?
- Three-wheel vehicles and heavy quadricycles: 70 km/h on any road where they may circulate. (RGC art. 48.1.h)
- When is speeding a crime in Spain?
- Exceeding the permitted speed by more than 60 km/h on an urban road or more than 80 km/h on an interurban road is a crime. The penalty is 3 to 6 months in prison or a fine of 6 to 12 months or 31 to 90 days of community work and, in every case, loss of the right to drive for more than 1 and up to 4 years. (Código Penal art. 379.1)
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