Car on a mountain road

If you’re travelling to Spain by car or motorbike, you should know…

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If you are taking your car, you must find out if your driving licence is valid to drive in Spain, whether you must exchange it or if you need an international permit.Permits issued in countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) are fully valid to drive in Spain as long as they are in force.If you are coming from any other country, it is a good idea to get an international driving permit in your country before you travel. This permit is valid for one year and is complementary. So, whenever you are going to use it, you must also present your passport and your foreign driving license. More information on other valid permits for driving in Spain.

Main roads into SpainYou can enter Spain by road from France, Portugal and Andorra. The main roads from France are the AP-8 toll motorway (towards Donostia - San Sebastián, a good option if you are going to Madrid or other inland destinations) and the A-9 motorway (for Barcelona or the Mediterranean coast).From Portugal, the four main access motorways are the A-5 (running directly to Madrid), the A-22 (going south to cities such as Seville), the A-62 (to the north and destinations like Bilbao) and the A-55 (mainly for Galicia).The main road from the small Pyrenean country of Andorra is the CG-1, which heads south and connects directly to Spain's N-145. This is the first step (after several more connections) to major Catalan cities such as Barcelona and Lleida. 

Man in car with camera

Practical advice for driving in SpainWe recommend that you consult the following practical information if you are travelling to Spain by car or if you want to hire a vehicle during your stay. Here you will be able to find answers to the following queries:The main regulations for driving in SpainWhat driving licences are valid in Spain?Which roads have tolls?What to do if you get fined?How to hire a car in Spain

Spanish motorway
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