Drink Driving Limits in Spain

The general drink driving limit in Spain is 0.25 mg/l of alcohol in breath, which is equal to 0.50 g/l in blood. Novice drivers (in their first two years) and professional drivers have a much lower limit of 0.15 mg/l in breath, or 0.30 g/l in blood. These are the numbers you need for the DGT theory test, and the ones the police enforce at the roadside. Below is exactly how the limits work, how testing is done, and what it costs you if you are over.

What are the drink driving limits in Spain?

Spain uses two limits depending on who is driving. The general limit is 0.25 mg/l in breath (0.50 g/l in blood). Novice drivers in their first two years, and all professional drivers, must stay under 0.15 mg/l in breath (0.30 g/l in blood). The lower figure is roughly half the general one, so it leaves almost no margin.

"Novice" means anyone who has held their licence for less than two years, so most new expats sit in this stricter group. Professional drivers include those driving lorries, buses, taxis, and other vehicles for hire or reward. If you are in either group, the safe number to remember is the lower one.

Breath versus blood: what is the difference?

The two figures measure the same thing in different ways. Breath alcohol is measured in milligrams per litre of exhaled air (mg/l), using a roadside breathalyser. Blood alcohol is measured in grams per litre of blood (g/l), from a blood sample. The breath test is the one you will almost always meet at a checkpoint, because it is fast and needs no needle.

For the exam and for real life, learn both pairs of numbers. The general limit is 0.25 mg/l breath and 0.50 g/l blood. The stricter limit is 0.15 mg/l breath and 0.30 g/l blood. The DGT theory test often quotes the breath figure, so make sure 0.25 and 0.15 are fixed in your memory.

How does alcohol testing work?

Police can stop you at a checkpoint or after an incident and ask you to blow into a breathalyser. The first reading is a screening test. If it is positive, or over the limit, they carry out a second, evidential test after a short wait, and that second reading is the one that counts. You can also ask for a blood test as a counter-analysis if you dispute the result.

Testing is not optional. If the police ask you to take a breath test and you say no, that refusal is treated as a very serious offence on its own. It carries a loss of 6 points and can be prosecuted as a crime, even if you had not been drinking. In practice, refusing is treated as seriously as, or more seriously than, testing over the limit.

What are the penalties for drink driving?

Being over the limit costs you licence points and a fine, and can become a criminal matter at higher readings. Alcohol offences carry a loss of 4 or 6 points depending on how far over you are and whether you are a repeat or professional driver. The higher your reading, the heavier the sanction, and very high levels move the case from an administrative fine into the criminal courts.

Here is the shape of the penalties in general terms:

• Points: alcohol offences remove 4 or 6 points from your licence.
• Fines: administrative fines apply, and rise steeply with higher readings and repeat offences.
• Refusing a test: 6 points and possible criminal prosecution.
• High readings: can lead to a criminal record, a large fine, community service, or even a driving ban.

Losing 6 points is a large chunk of a standard 12-point licence, and new drivers only start with 8 points. To see how the points system works and how you get them back, read our guide to the Spanish penalty points system. The same rules on detection apply to drug driving in Spain, which is treated just as strictly.

The safe approach: do not drink and drive

The only reliable way to stay under the limit is to not drink at all before driving. Alcohol affects people differently based on weight, food, tiredness, and the time since your last drink, so there is no safe amount you can count on. A single drink can put a novice driver over the 0.15 mg/l limit, and coffee or fresh air will not bring your reading down.

If you are going to drink, plan another way home: a taxi, public transport, or a driver who is staying sober. The morning after matters too. Alcohol from a heavy night can still be in your system when you drive to work, so leave a real margin. For the theory test, expect questions on the limits and on how alcohol reduces reaction time and judgement.

Frequently asked questions

What is the drink driving limit in Spain?

The general limit is 0.25 mg/l of alcohol in breath, or 0.50 g/l in blood. Novice drivers in their first two years and professional drivers have a stricter limit of 0.15 mg/l in breath, or 0.30 g/l in blood.

What is the limit for new drivers?

For your first two years with a licence, the limit is 0.15 mg/l in breath, or 0.30 g/l in blood. This is the same lower limit that applies to professional drivers, and it leaves almost no room for even one drink.

What happens if I refuse a breathalyser test?

Refusing is a very serious offence in its own right. It costs you 6 points and can be prosecuted as a crime, regardless of whether you had been drinking. In practice it is treated as seriously as testing over the limit, so there is no benefit to refusing.

How many points do you lose for drink driving?

Alcohol offences remove 4 or 6 points from your licence, depending on your reading and your driver category. That is a large share of a standard 12-point balance, and new drivers start with only 8 points, so a single offence has a heavy impact.

Can I have one drink and drive?

It is risky, and for novice or professional drivers a single drink can already put you over the 0.15 mg/l limit. Alcohol affects everyone differently, so there is no reliable safe amount. The safe approach is to not drink at all if you plan to drive.

Sources

• Reglamento General de Circulacion (Real Decreto 1428/2003).
• DGT, permiso por puntos.

Last updated: August 2026.