Spanish Speed Limits Explained (2026)

Spanish speed limits depend on the type of road you are on. For a car (Permiso B), the top limit is 120 km/h on motorways, 90 km/h on conventional roads outside towns, and 50, 30 or 20 km/h inside towns. The number one mistake English-speaking drivers make is assuming towns are 50. Most ordinary town streets are actually 30 km/h. This guide explains every limit, the town rules that catch people out, minimum speeds, and how a sign can override the default.

The short answer: limits by road type

Here are the default car limits you are tested on and expected to know. Keep in mind these are the generic maximums; a sign can always set a lower (or sometimes higher) number for a specific stretch.

• Motorway (autopista or autovia): 120 km/h.
• Conventional road (interurban, outside towns): 90 km/h. The road owner may raise some stretches to 100.
• Town, two or more lanes each way: 50 km/h.
• Town, a single lane each way: 30 km/h. This is the default for most streets.
• Town, single shared platform (road level with the pavement): 20 km/h.

If you only remember one thing, remember that a normal residential street with one lane in each direction is 30, not 50. We explain why below.

What is the speed limit on Spanish motorways?

The maximum speed for a car on a Spanish motorway, whether an autopista or an autovia, is 120 km/h. This is the highest general limit in the country. A local sign can lower it, for example through roadworks or a sharp bend, and where a sign shows a lower number, that number wins.

The 120 limit applies to cars and motorcycles. Heavier vehicles, vans and vehicles towing trailers have lower limits, so do not assume the lorry beside you is allowed to match your speed.

Motorways also have a minimum speed, which surprises a lot of drivers. We cover that in its own section below. For the wider set of rules on fast roads, from lane discipline to exits, see motorway rules in Spain.

What is the limit on conventional roads?

On a conventional road, meaning an ordinary interurban road that is not a motorway, the generic maximum for a car is 90 km/h. These are the single-carriageway roads that link towns, often with one lane in each direction and no central barrier.

The road owner can raise the limit on some conventional stretches to 100 km/h, so you will occasionally see 100 posted. Treat the sign as the authority. Where there is no sign, assume 90.

Conventional roads are where many serious accidents happen, because oncoming traffic is close and overtaking is riskier. The posted limit is a maximum, not a target. In rain, fog or poor light you are expected to slow down well below it.

Why are most town streets 30, not 50?

Since the urban speed reform took effect, the default limit inside towns depends on how many lanes the street has. A single lane in each direction is 30 km/h, and that describes the majority of residential and city-centre streets. Two or more lanes in the same direction stay at 50 km/h.

This is the rule expats most often get wrong. People arrive assuming "town equals 50" and drive 50 on a narrow one-lane street that is actually a 30 zone. It is an easy way to pick up a fine.

Here is the full town breakdown:

• 20 km/h: streets with a single shared platform, where the road is at the same level as the pavement with no kerb separating them.
• 30 km/h: streets with one lane in each direction. This is the default for most streets.
• 50 km/h: streets with two or more lanes in the same direction.

So the question to ask on any town street is not "is this a town?" but "how many lanes are there?" One lane each way means 30. Two or more in your direction means 50. A flush, kerb-free shared street means 20.

Is there a minimum speed in Spain?

Yes, and it matters most on motorways. Driving too slowly can be as dangerous as driving too fast, because you force faster traffic to brake and swerve around you. The clearest rule to remember: on a motorway, a driver who cannot maintain 60 km/h must leave at the next exit.

If your vehicle, or your load, means you genuinely cannot hold 60 on a motorway, you should not be on that road; take the next way off. As a broader principle, you are expected not to drive so slowly that you obstruct other traffic without a valid reason. The exact minimum can vary with the road and conditions, so treat 60 on the motorway as the firm figure to know.

How do signs change the default limit?

The limits above are defaults. A speed-limit sign always overrides the default for the stretch it covers, whether it raises or lowers the number. A red-bordered circle with a number sets a maximum; you must not exceed it until the limit ends or another sign changes it.

Signs are the single biggest source of confusion for new drivers here, because Spain uses specific sign shapes and end-of-limit signs that are easy to misread. A limit stays in force until you pass an end sign, a new limit, or a junction that resets it. Do not assume a lower limit has ended just because the road looks open again.

Because reading these signs correctly is half the battle, we have a dedicated guide: Spanish speed limit signs explained. It shows the maximum-speed signs, the minimum-speed signs, and the end-of-restriction signs side by side so you can tell them apart in the exam and on the road.

What are the penalties for speeding?

Speeding in Spain is punished with a fine and, above certain thresholds, a loss of penalty points from your licence. The faster you go over the limit, the larger the fine and the more points you lose. Serious excesses can also lead to a court case, not just an administrative fine.

The exact bands, which pair a range of km/h over the limit with a set fine and a set number of points, are laid out in official DGT tables. We are not going to print specific point numbers here, because those figures need to be quoted exactly from the current DGT schedule and they are easy to get wrong. Check the DGT sanctions table for the precise band that applies.

The practical takeaway is simpler. Stay at or below the posted limit, slow down further in rain, fog and poor light, and treat the 30 default in towns as real. That keeps you clear of both the fine and the points.

Frequently asked questions

What is the speed limit on Spanish motorways for a car?

120 km/h for a car or motorcycle, unless a sign shows a lower figure for that stretch. Vans, lorries and vehicles towing trailers have lower limits, so do not match their speed to yours.

Are Spanish towns 50 or 30?

It depends on the street. A single lane in each direction is 30 km/h, which covers most streets. Two or more lanes in the same direction is 50. A kerb-free shared street is 20. Always check the number of lanes.

Can a conventional road be 100 instead of 90?

Yes. The generic limit on a conventional road is 90 km/h, but the road owner may raise some stretches to 100. Where you see 100 posted, that sign applies. Where there is no sign, assume 90.

Is there really a minimum speed?

Yes, especially on motorways. A driver who cannot maintain 60 km/h must leave at the next exit. More generally, you must not drive so slowly that you obstruct other traffic without a valid reason.

Does a speed-limit sign override the default?

Always. A speed-limit sign sets the limit for its stretch, higher or lower than the default. It stays in force until an end sign, a new limit, or a junction resets it. See our speed limit signs guide.

Sources

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

Last updated: August 2026.