Spain Guide
Getting around
By car
Spain has an extensive system of highways, both free and with tolls. The autopistas are the most comfortable and best-kept roads. The second-grade roads, autovias, often follow similar routes, but their speed limits are lower. Many autopistas and some autovias are toll roads, relatively expensive by local standards but worth paying for the lighter traffic encountered. You can usually pay with a credit card, although it would be wise to carry enough cash just in case. Toll roads are usually designated by an "AP" or "R" or the word "peaje".
The Spanish drive on the right. On most autopistas the speed limit is 120kph, on the autovia 90kph, and in towns and villages 50kph. Police have the power to fine drivers on the spot for speeding or any other transgressions.
An EU driver's licence is sufficient to drive in Spain. US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand licences should also be enough, though you may want to get an International Driver's Licence as well, just to be on the safe side. If you bring your own car, bring your vehicle registration and insurance papers – and check you are insured to drive the car abroad. It's also compulsory to carry two hazard triangles, reflective jackets in case of accident or breakdown, an official first-aid kit and a set of spare bulbs. Rear seat belts are also compulsory, as are child seats for infants.
Parking can be a big pain in the neck, especially in big cities and old-town areas. Metered parking zones usually have stays limited to a couple of hours, though parking between 8pm and 8am, on Saturday afternoons and all Sundays tends to be free. In cities it's probably best to pay extra for a hotel with parking or use a pay car park, for which you'll need to budget anything from €12 to €20 a day.
The cheapest way to rent a car in Spain is to arrange it before you leave home. You'll need to be 21 or over.