Spanish Speed Limit Signs Explained

Spanish speed limit signs are simple once you know the colours. A number inside a red circle is the maximum you may drive (sign R-301). A number inside a blue circle is a compulsory minimum (R-411). And when a limit ends, a sign with a diagonal band tells you so (R-501). This guide explains each speed sign you will meet on the Spanish DGT theory test, plus the default limits that apply when no sign is present at all.

What does the red-circle speed sign (R-301) mean?

Sign R-301 is the maximum speed limit. It is a white disc with a red border and a number in the centre, for example 50, 90 or 120. You may not exceed that figure in kilometres per hour. It is a prohibition sign, which is why it uses the red circle shared by the whole R series of Spanish signs.

The number applies from the sign onward, along that stretch of road, until something cancels it. Three things can end an R-301 limit: a new R-301 with a different number, an end-of-limit sign (R-501), or an end-of-all-prohibitions sign (R-500). A junction or a change of road type can also reset which default applies.

Watch for lower numbers near schools, roadworks and town entrances. A temporary R-301 at roadworks overrides the normal limit for that section, and the DGT can and does test you on exactly this point.

What is the R-501 end-of-speed-limit sign?

Sign R-501 means the end of a speed limit. It shows the same number as the limit it cancels, but the disc is grey or white with a diagonal line struck through it. After R-501, the specific limit you were following no longer applies, and you return to the default limit for that type of road.

People confuse two similar signs, so keep them apart. R-501 ends one speed limit only. R-500 ends every prohibition at once: no-overtaking, speed, horn ban and the rest all lift together. Both use the diagonal band, but R-500 has no number inside it because it clears all restrictions.

Here is the point most learners miss: ending a limit does not mean "go as fast as you like." You simply go back to the general limit for the road, 90 on a conventional road, 50 or 30 in town, 120 on a motorway.

What does the blue-circle minimum speed sign (R-411) mean?

Sign R-411 sets a compulsory minimum speed. It is a solid blue disc with a white number, and you must drive at least that fast. Blue circles in the Spanish catalogue are obligation signs, so R-411 tells you what you have to do, not what you may not do. If you cannot maintain the minimum, you should not be on that lane or road.

Do not mix up the colours. A number in a red circle is a maximum you must not exceed. The same number in a blue circle is a minimum you must reach. That single colour swap changes the whole meaning, and it is a classic DGT trick question. The end of a minimum-speed section is signed separately from R-501.

What do zone signs S-30 and S-28 mean?

Zone signs cover a whole area, not a single point. Sign S-30 marks a "Zone 30": a pedestrian-priority area where the limit is 30 km/h until you leave the zone. Sign S-28 marks a residential street where pedestrians have priority and the maximum is 20 km/h. Both are blue square indication panels, not red-circle prohibitions.

The difference from R-301 matters. An R-301 disc applies to the road you are on until it is cancelled. A zone sign applies to every street inside the marked area, and there is usually a matching "end of zone" panel with the same design struck through. Inside an S-28 residential zone, children may play and pedestrians walk in the road, so 20 km/h and full attention are the rule.

For how these fit the wider urban rules, see our guide to Spanish speed limits.

What happens when there is no speed sign?

When no sign is posted, the default limit for that type of road applies. This is where many foreign drivers slip up, because they assume "no sign" means the old 50 in town. Since May 2021, most single-lane urban streets default to 30, not 50. Know the defaults and you can answer these questions without ever seeing a sign.

A posted sign always beats the default. If an R-301 shows 100 on a conventional road, drive up to 100; if it shows 30 near a school, that wins too. On a motorway, a driver who cannot hold at least 60 km/h must leave at the next exit, which is the practical side of the minimum-speed idea.

Quick reference: the speed signs at a glance

For the full letter-code system behind these signs, read our Spanish road signs in English guide, and drill signs by topic on the practice topics page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a red circle and a blue circle on a speed sign?

A number in a red circle (R-301) is the maximum you must not exceed. The same number in a blue circle (R-411) is a minimum you must reach. The colour alone changes the meaning, and the DGT test uses this to catch people out.

Does the R-501 end-of-limit sign mean I can drive as fast as I want?

No. R-501 only cancels the specific limit you were following. After it you return to the default for that road: 90 on a conventional road, 50 or 30 in town, 120 on a motorway. You never get unlimited speed.

What speed applies if there is no sign at all?

The default for the road type applies: 120 on a motorway, 90 on a conventional road, 50 on a multi-lane urban street, and 30 on a single-lane urban street since May 2021. Shared-platform streets default to 20 km/h.

What is the difference between a Zone 30 (S-30) and a residential zone (S-28)?

S-30 marks a Zone 30 area with a 30 km/h limit and pedestrian priority. S-28 marks a residential street with a lower 20 km/h maximum where pedestrians, including children playing, may use the road. Both apply until an end-of-zone panel.

Can a temporary sign override the normal limit?

Yes. A posted R-301, including a temporary one at roadworks, overrides the default limit for that stretch. Signs from an officer or roadworks beaconing rank above fixed signs, so always follow the most restrictive instruction in force.

Sources

• DGT, catalogo oficial de senales.
• Reglamento General de Circulacion (Real Decreto 1428/2003).

Last updated: August 2026.