Spain operates a points-based driving licence. Certain serious offences carry both a financial fine and an automatic deduction of penalty points. Accumulate too many and your licence is revoked. This guide lists every dangerous driving offence, the fine range and the points you risk losing.
Under Spanish traffic law (Ley sobre Tráfico, Circulación de Vehículos a Motor y Seguridad Vial), dangerous driving, known as conducción temeraria, covers a specific set of behaviours deemed to present a significant risk to other road users. The offences listed below are not mere administrative fines; many carry criminal liability under the Spanish Penal Code as well as civil consequences.
Spain uses a points-based ("carnet por puntos") system introduced in 2006. Every driver starts with 12 points (8 for newly qualified drivers in their first two years). Points are deducted when you commit certain offences and can only be recovered by completing approved road safety courses. Reaching zero means your licence is revoked and you must pass the theory and practical tests again to regain it.
Administrative fine vs criminal offence
Most offences below result in an administrative fine paid to the DGT. However, speeding by more than 60 km/h in urban areas or 80 km/h on interurban roads, and driving with more than 0.60 mg/l of alcohol in exhaled air, are criminal offences prosecuted under Article 379 of the Spanish Penal Code and may result in imprisonment.
Exceeding the posted speed limit attracts fines scaled to the degree of excess. Exceeding the limit by 60 km/h on urban roads or by 80 km/h on interurban roads is a criminal offence under Article 379 of the Spanish Penal Code. Speeding is the single most common contributing factor in fatal accidents in Spain.
Alcohol limits differ by driver category: newly qualified drivers and professional drivers may not exceed 0.15 mg/l in exhaled air; minors must be at 0 mg/l; all other drivers must remain below 0.25 mg/l. A reading above 0.60 mg/l triggers criminal prosecution. Any detectable presence of illegal drugs is a very serious offence regardless of impairment.
Using a hand-held mobile phone, reading or sending messages, wearing headphones, or manually operating a GPS device while driving are all punishable offences. Simply holding a mobile phone at the wheel, even if not in a call, incurs 6 penalty points. Hands-free use is permitted but looking at the screen is not.
All motorcyclists and their passengers must wear an approved helmet at all times. The rider is responsible if a pillion passenger rides without a helmet or if the passenger has not reached the minimum age required to travel as a pillion. There is no exemption for short journeys.
Seat belts must be worn correctly in every seat, including the rear. No device that alters or bypasses the seat belt mechanism may be used. The driver is legally liable if a child travels without the correct child restraint system for their weight and height. Booster cushions or other improvised solutions that are not EU-approved are prohibited.
Running a red light or failing to stop at a STOP sign is always an offence. For STOP signs, the obligation applies even when only road markings are visible on the carriageway and no vertical sign is in place. "Rolling stops" are not acceptable: the vehicle must come to a complete standstill before proceeding.
Driving against the direction of traffic or using a lane that is prohibited for your vehicle type is among the most dangerous acts on the road. Head-on collisions resulting from wrong-way driving are one of the leading causes of road traffic fatalities in Spain according to official DGT statistics. The fine increases to €500 depending on the specific circumstance.
Drivers must maintain a safe gap from the vehicle ahead that allows them to brake and stop without collision. Spanish law requires a minimum separation that accounts for reaction time and braking distance; this distance increases with speed and in adverse weather. Tailgating is frequently monitored by DGT cameras equipped to measure inter-vehicle distance.
Motor vehicles must give way to cyclists travelling on a cycle lane, a cycle crossing or a signposted road shoulder, and to pedestrians at crossings. When overtaking a cyclist, drivers must leave a minimum lateral gap of 1.50 metres. Failing to do so, or cutting across a cycle lane without priority, risks both the fine and significant penalty points.
Summary table: all 9 offences, fines and penalty points as set by the DGT (2026).
| # | Type of offence | Fine | Points lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Speeding | €100-€600 | 2 / 4 / 6 pts |
| 2 | Positive alcohol test or drugs | €500 / €1,000 | 4 / 6 pts |
| 3 | Mobile phone / electronic devices | €200 | 3 / 6 pts |
| 4 | No crash helmet | €200 | 4 pts |
| 5 | No seat belt or child restraint (CRS) | €200 | 4 pts |
| 6 | Running red light or STOP sign | €200 | 4 pts |
| 7 | Wrong-way or forbidden lane | €200 / €500 | up to 6 pts |
| 8 | Insufficient following distance | €200 | 4 pts |
| 9 | Failing to give way to cyclists | €200 | up to 6 pts |
Source: DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico), Spain's Road Safety Authority. Fines and points correct as of 2026. Always verify with official DGT publications for the most current figures.
Experienced drivers start with 12 points. Drivers in their first two years start with 8. Those 8 points rise to 12 if no offences are committed during the probationary period.
Points can only be recovered by completing DGT-approved road safety awareness courses. Drivers who keep a clean record for 2 years automatically recover 2 points (up to their original maximum).
Reaching zero means an automatic revocation. You must wait 6 months before taking the theory and practical exams again. A second revocation within 3 years extends the wait to 12 months.
Yes. Fines issued by the DGT can be paid via the DGT website (sede.dgt.gob.es) or at designated post offices. Paying within 20 days of notification gives a 50% discount on most administrative fines.
Spain can only deduct points from a Spanish licence. However, serious offences can result in a driving ban in Spain regardless of where your licence was issued. Inform your home country DVLA/DMV; some have reciprocal arrangements.
The general breath limit is 0.25 mg/l (blood equivalent 0.5 g/l). For newly qualified drivers (first 2 years) and professional drivers it is 0.15 mg/l. For minors (under 18) it is 0 mg/l. Exceeding 0.60 mg/l is a criminal offence.
A single offence can cost you up to 6 points. If you commit multiple simultaneous offences the DGT deducts points for each; however, the total deduction from a single incident is capped at 8 points.
Yes. Holding or using a mobile phone while stationary at a traffic light is still an offence under Spanish law. The vehicle must be parked with the engine off, not merely stopped, for mobile phone use to be permitted without a hands-free kit.
When overtaking a cyclist, drivers must leave a minimum lateral gap of 1.50 metres between the side of the vehicle and the cyclist. If there is insufficient room within the lane, the driver may cross a continuous white line to provide that gap, provided it is safe to do so.
Understanding fines and penalty points is part of every DGT test. Practise with real DGT exam questions, bilingual in Spanish and English.
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