What happens if I’m caught speeding or other driving offences in Spain – will I get points or fines?

1. Speeding

What happens if I’m caught speeding in Spain – will I get points or a fine?

If you're a British tourist driving in Spain and get caught speeding, you won’t receive penalty points on your UK licence—but you will likely receive a fine, sometimes long after returning home.

This guide covers how speeding fines are enforced for UK drivers in Spain, how fines reach your UK address, and whether your licence could be affected in future.

Can I be fined for speeding in Spain if I live in the UK?

Yes. Spain can now send fines to UK drivers for speeding, thanks to an agreement between the DVLA and Spanish authorities. This allows them to request driver information for enforcement purposes. Expect the formal penalty notice to arrive by post weeks after the incident, with demand for payment—often with added international debt collection fees.

Will I get points on my UK licence for speeding in Spain?

No. The UK does not recognise points for foreign traffic offences, including speeding in Spain. Therefore, while a fine may follow you home, it won’t result in endorsement of your UK driving licence.

How much are speeding fines in Spain?

Fines are proportional to the level of excess speed. Here is a full list of the fines graded by speed. (If viewing on a mobile device, view following table in landscape to see full range of fines.)

Limit km/K	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	Fine
Speed	31-50	41-60	51-70	61-90	71-100	81-110	91-120	101-130	111-140	121-150	€100
Speed	51-60	61-70	71-80	91-110	101-120	111-130	121-140	131-150	141-160	151-170	€300
Speed	61-70	71-80	81-90	111-120	121-130	131-140	141-150	151-160	161-170	171-180	€400
Speed	71-80	81-90	91-100	121-130	131-140	141-150	151-160	161-170	171-180	181-190	€500
Speed	81+	91+	101+	131+	141+	151+	161+	170+	181+	191+	€600

Will Spain send a fine to my UK address?

Yes. Spanish authorities can obtain your details from the DVLA and issue a fine directly to your UK address, even after you’ve left Spain. If you were driving a rental car, the fine will often go to the rental agency first and then be forwarded to you, sometimes with an administrative charge.Pete Barden

Can I ignore a Spanish speeding fine?

Not advisable. While you won’t get UK licence points, ignoring Spanish fines can lead to serious consequences:

• Transfer of the fine to international debt collectors

• Additional late fees

• Difficulty hiring a car in the EU in future

• Potential issues on return visits to Spain

Paying promptly is the most effective way to avoid these risks.

Are speed cameras common in Spain?

Yes—Spain uses fixed, mobile and average-speed cameras ubiquitously on motorways, rural roads and urban areas. Mobile units may be hidden inside vehicles or mounted on gantries. Look out for radar warning signs, which Spanish law requires in advance of fixed cameras.

There are more than 360 fixed cameras in Spain, including stealth-like detector called the Velolaser. Which can be hidden and controlled by an operator miles away. Look out for new cameras, too, like the 360-degree Nano Parifex that recently launched in France.

2. Using a mobile phone while driving

Like the UK, Spain has introduced new laws around the use of mobile phones for drivers. Similarly to in the UK, you don’t have to be using the phone, but just having it in your hand while driving can result in a fine.

The fine is likely to cost you €200 in Spain – and like most fines, if you are not a Spanish resident, you will need to pay the fine on the spot. However, there is likely to be a discount of 50% for doing so.

If you cannot pay, the police could impound your vehicle until the payment is made.  

Locals will also receive penalty points, but these will not apply to your UK licence if you are fined.

3. Driving in sliders or flip flops

We already looked at driving in sliders in the UK, but what are the rules when heading out in Spain? And just like in the UK, there is no specific law that says wearing sliders as you drive to the beach is illegal, but if a policeman decides the footwear impedes your ability to drive safely, you could be given a penalty.

If the Spanish cop decides the sliders or flip flops are a problem, you could be given a €200 fine. Again, British holidaymakers would be expected to pay on the spot if not resident in Spain.

4. Eating and drinking while driving?

Again, it would not be unusual to find yourself eating an ice cream or downing some ice-cold water while enjoying the hot Spanish weather, but it could also get you fined by the police.

As with wearing flip flops or sliders, there is no specific law, but once again, if a cop believes it is a distraction to your driving, you could be issued with a €200 fine that would need to be paid on the spot for non-dom Brits.

Find out the rules covering drink and drug driving in Spain, here

5. Tossing litter out of the car window

Quite rightly, anyone seen throwing rubbish from a car will more than likely be hit with a fine for their actions.

The fine will also be higher after a new traffic law was introduced to increase the penalties for such actions. This includes the likes of tossing cigarettes out of the car window.

If you’re caught, expect to receive a fine of up to €500 – with points on your licence for locals. Again, the fine will need to be paid on the spot for foreign tourists.

6. Not wearing a seatbelt

Wearing a seatbelt makes sense, so failure to pull one on properly while driving on Spain is likely to result in a fine if caught by a policeman.

The fine could be up to €200, which will most likely need to be paid on the spot – with an early-pay discount of course, as with most roadside fines.

Stay safe when in Spain

Make sure you ask to see the officer's ID if asked to pay on the spot and call the emergency number for confirmation if not sure the police officer stopping you is genuine.