Your trip to Spain will be unforgettable if you decide to rent a car. Today I will talk about my real experience, about the many nuances of driving on Spanish roads: where to park, what determines the cost of travel on the motorway, fines, basic traffic rules and speed limits.
Before traveling to Spain, I debated for a long time which option to choose: travel as standard, like many people do, on foot, or rent a car. I liked the latter more, since I am an avid motorist, and it was also interesting for me to see the country, and not just a few famous attractions. In addition, I already had experience traveling by car in Italy, which turned out to be very successful. It was really cool and cool. Although there was one problem. You can learn the nuances from the article Roads in Italy.
Traveling independently requires good communication; various situations may arise along the way. You can simply get lost or you may need to call somewhere. After my trip to Italy, I still had an Orange SIM card. In principle, I was happy with everything about it. I decided that I would take it. But then I remembered that the tariff in Spain is different. I went to the website to check how everything would work there. I saw that when purchasing a new SIM card, a bonus of 1 or 2 GB is provided, depending on the balance. I decided to take the second one. Moreover, the previous trip showed that sometimes voice communication is needed. I took a SIM card with a 2 GB bonus and distributed the Internet to 2 phones and a tablet without any problems. Everything is very convenient.
Car rental and toll roads
If this is your first time renting a car abroad, then know that most companies require a passport and an international driving license. Some also put forward a number of other requirements, for example, a driving experience of at least 2 years and an age of 21. The cost of renting a car in Spain starts from 30 euros and can reach up to 80 per day, it all depends on the class of the car. Don't be surprised if you are asked to leave a deposit equal to the rental price (I left 50 euros). After returning the vehicle, the deposit is returned in full, verified from personal experience.
Now I’ll tell you more about my trip to Spain. I flew to Barcelona and rented a middle class car for 50 euros + the same amount of deposit. It was possible to leave your credit card instead of a cash deposit, but I didn’t dare.
Roads in Spain can be tolled or free. By the way, if you travel on toll highways, it is both faster and more economical due to lower fuel consumption. In this case, you need to calculate everything and think twice about the route. Just like in Italy, moving through tunnels is also paid.
But the fare is calculated a little differently, the price depends on several factors:
- on how many kilometers traveled;
- what category of vehicle;
- season;
- traffic congestion, or rather, whether you are in rush hour or not.
For example, for the distance from Barcelona to Valencia, which I covered, I had to pay 40 euros (347 kilometers), highway AR-7. I got acquainted with the prices in advance so that the invoice would not be a shock to me. Before your trip, I advise you to do the same. You can find approximate tariffs on the website of the Spanish motorways (costs are updated once a year). But keep in mind that these are only approximate prices, because if you get there during rush hour, it will be more expensive. In addition, a lot depends on the chosen highway and the season of your trip.
Parking in Spain
Parking in Spain is not so simple; if you are not prepared, you can get into trouble. To prevent this from happening to you, I’ll tell you the main subtleties and nuances.
On weekdays and weekends, parking rules may differ; it is also important to consider the time of day. In some places you need to get a permit if you want to park during business hours.
Parking spaces are especially tight in the center of Barcelona; you have to try hard to find a free space. Before parking your car in the blue zone, you need to buy a ticket from a special machine. Please note that you can pay from 9 to 14.00 and from 16.00 to 21.00 on weekdays, on weekends - from 9 am to 2 pm.
If you can't find a surface parking space, don't despair, because many large Spanish cities have underground parking areas. By the way, before entering, I advise you to read the information on a special board that indicates the number of free parking spaces. This will save a lot of time. You need to pay at the ticket office or at special stations, not like with us before you park the car, but after, when you are leaving.
By the way, in small towns the Ora Zona system is relevant - you buy a parking ticket at any retail point of sale, for example, at a tobacco kiosk. You can park the car for 30, 60 or 90 minutes, very convenient. I did this in Valencia. I bought a ticket for an hour, parked the car and went to enjoy the local cuisine. If you are late, you will have to pay extra for the extra time. But be careful, if there is a tow truck sign in the parking lot, then if you are 10 minutes late, you may no longer see your car. I saw something similar, it was not a pleasant sight, I really felt sorry for the guy...
At the site of the car that was towed there should be a sticker indicating the address and telephone number. But I advise you to carefully monitor the time, otherwise you will spend a lot of nerves and money (towing will cost 100 euros), after all, it’s a foreign country and a rented car. Also, be careful and do not park in spaces for disabled people; the fine here is 200 euros.
Basic traffic rules in Spain
If you decide to see the country by car, you will have to familiarize yourself with the basic traffic rules. The following speed limits apply in Spain:
- in populated areas you can drive no more than 50 kilometers per hour;
- outside the populated area up to 90 km per hour;
- on a highway up to 100 km;
- On the motorway the speed limit is 120 km per hour.
There are also restrictions on the minimum speed - at least 60 km on the autobahn.
I’ll say right away that in Spain it’s better not to break traffic rules. If you think that no one sees you and you can press the gas a little harder, then this is not so. Since 2010, speed cameras have been installed everywhere. If the rules are violated, the policeman is given a photo of the car and, near the nearest control point, the motorist will be fined a significant, large amount. I don’t recommend experimenting; it’s a very expensive pleasure, as my friends told me. By the way, if a tourist does not have the opportunity to pay the fine on the spot, he may be detained.
They are no less strict about alcohol here, although Spain is famous for its wines, you should not drink before your trip. The maximum level of alcohol in the blood is 0.5 ‰, if the driving experience is less than two years, then no more than 0.3 ppm is allowed. If the indicators are exceeded, you will have to pay 500 euros for violation. If the blood alcohol level is twice the permissible limit, then such a rash act will cost 1,000 euros. The same amount will have to be paid if this is a repeated violation.
If you refuse a test for the presence of alcohol or drugs in your blood, you will be fined 500 euros.
I note that talking while driving a car is prohibited unless there is a special talking device that allows you to communicate without using your hands. And when I stopped at a gas station, I noticed a crossed out phone number. After talking with the employees, I learned that I needed to turn off my phone while refueling, which I quickly did. Otherwise, you will be fined 200 euros.
Payment of fines
Police officers have the right to demand payment of a fine on the spot. At the same time, the person is given a receipt for payment. If the tourist cannot pay in cash, the vehicle is detained until payment is received. By the way, in Spain there are special conditions for tourists: in case of violation and payment of the fine on the spot, a 50 percent discount is given. True, the tourist loses the right to appeal the decision. It is also possible to receive a receipt by mail, but it must be paid within 20 days using the Internet or any banking institution (in this case there is also a 50 percent discount). By the way, local authorities can track the violator by his license plate number and send him a fine receipt to his home. Therefore, I do not advise you to break the rules. What makes me happy this time is that, having the experience of traveling in Italy, I did not receive a single fine, which is what I wish for you.
Spain captivated me with its beauty; the local people are very friendly and welcoming. In a short time, I was able to see many interesting places that are simply not accessible to most tourists without a car. Enjoy freedom, because having a car, you can go anywhere in the country and see unique places. Let me tell you for sure, it was worth it, I would do it again. Despite many nuances, I strongly advise traveling this way. After all, this is a real buzz and pleasure.
Highways in Spain
It is useful to study the roads of Spain for those who plan to rent a car. There are several types of roads in this country, but the main division is toll and free. If you want to save money, you can go around any toll road in Spain using a free one! It does not happen that the path can only be paved along a toll road. Of course, the budget option may take more time, but it exists. To make sure, you can go to the road map of Spain or the official website: all this is posted at the end of the article.
The following classification of roads in Spain is not particularly important when traveling, but is quite interesting.
Autopista is a road in Spain whose lanes are divided according to directions. On the signs they are designated AP; there are no single-level autopista intersections; there can only be multi-level interchanges.
Autovía is a similar type of road, lanes in different directions are also separated, you can exit in limited places. Both autovía and autopista are Spanish expressways. They are located outside populated areas.
Vía para automóviles is a Spanish highway where all lanes are located on one common platform, but exits are limited. You cannot pull over to the side of the road unless there is an emergency.
Carreteras convencionales – roads with different characteristics. In Spain, these highways are divided into subtypes.
Vía de servicio are service roads in Spain. They are located close to the main ones, for example, in places with large industrial zones.
It is also worth paying attention to toll roads in Spain. We will discuss them below, but here we will clarify that only autopista is paid.
Toll roads in Spain
In Spain, toll roads are marked with the PEAJE sign. On some of them you need to pay upon entry, on others upon departure. In the second case, at the entrance you will receive a ticket card, which describes the exits and also indicates the place of entry. Thus, the cost of a toll road in Spain depends on the distance.
You can pay for most roads at vending machines. There are separate lanes for trucks, as well as for paying with TeleTAC cards, which are clearly visible. The system helps speed up payment: the driver does not have to stop, since his car has a special device that allows him to pay for the road in Spain remotely. In addition, there are separate lanes for paying with bank cards and paying in cash to people, not to machines.
If you need a receipt from a toll road in Spain, then just press a special button.
Cost of toll roads in Spain
The cost of toll roads in Spain increases in sections with tunnels. In other parts, travel will be cheaper, but will significantly save travelers time. Specific prices on different sections of toll roads in Spain are described below.
Parking in Spain
Parking in Spain often requires a fee, especially in the city center. During working hours, in some places you can’t even park without a special permit - the cities are so busy.
If the parking zone in Spain is marked in blue, then you need to purchase a ticket from the machine. Payments are due at specific times, so please inquire in advance.
Underground parking in Spain is common. They often indicate in front of them whether there are empty seats. You can pay for underground parking at the ticket office.
Illegally parked cars in Spain can be towed from many parking lots. This is usually indicated by a special sign, be careful. You will subsequently have to pay about 100 euros for towing!
Tunnels in Spain
The cost of toll roads in Spain depends on the specific section. Below are the most popular tunnels in Spain and the prices for passenger cars with up to nine seats with two axles. If the car is towing a vehicle with two axles, then the cost of toll roads in Spain is usually higher.
The Cadi tunnel in Spain is about 5 kilometers long. The fare is a little more than 12 euros. Located near Barcelona.
The Vallvidrera tunnel, also located near Barcelona, but only 2.5 kilometers long. The cost of this toll road in Spain is about 4 euros.
Many tourists who come on holiday to Spain prefer to rent a car immediately upon arrival at the airport to make their holiday more complete and convenient. There are also those who come to this country, which is quite remote from Eastern Europe, in their cars. It is important for everyone to know the nuances spanish highways, which you may encounter when traveling around this country by car.
This article, dedicated to types of highways, toll roads in Spain and how to use them, I am starting a series of articles with the help of which, I hope, the use of Spanish roads will become simple and convenient for road travelers. So:
Highways in Spain
There are two types of motorways in Spain − autovia and On both of them, if there are no limit signs, the maximum permitted speed is 120 km/h. By the way, the speed limit sign 120 occurs with enviable regularity, so it will be difficult to forget about the speed limit even with a strong desire.
There are several differences between these two types of Spanish highways, but one thing is important for us - the autovia type road is free to travel, the autopista type is toll. Both are indicated by signs on a blue background, but the toll road will always have a “Peaje” icon next to its designation, a white circle with a red rim and a black horizontal stripe inside (pictured on the right).
And here's what it looks like on large pointers:
As you can see, to get to Madrid you can choose either the AP34 toll motorway or the free A31. And here the exit to the right from the toll highway also leads to the toll road. In both cases, there is a paid icon on the side of the designation.
By the way, the quality of coverage on all roads in Spain, both toll and free, is beyond praise. What was especially striking was how slower the tires wear out - I’ve already driven more than 80 thousand on my Renault Megane, and the tread reserve is even more than sufficient. In Russia, mileage figures on one set of tires were much more modest.
How to pay for toll roads in Spain
The toll system for toll roads in Spain is quite simple and understandable. Usually, you just need to drive through the toll section once, and no problems will arise in the future. But there are still a couple of pitfalls here. I'll try to write about them in more detail.
So, having decided to take the toll road, you must drive through the entry terminal. Everything is very simple here, you drive up to any of the terminals above which there is a green traffic light or a green arrow, and stop in front of the lowered barrier. To your left is a terminal in the form of a metal yellow locker. There is no need to click anywhere - literally after a couple of seconds a ticket pops out of the terminal, which you need to take (pictured on the right). The barrier opens, and you can go ahead (see the photo - the appearance of the entrance terminal to the toll highway).
You need to keep your ticket - it shows the place of entry to the toll road. Based on this, the payment amount will be calculated. If you lose your ticket, they will assume that you are driving from the very beginning of the road. So far everything is very simple, the only difficulty may arise when exiting the toll Spanish motorway. Let's look at this point in more detail.
So, having left the toll road following the sign in the desired direction (or on the advice of the navigator), after a few hundred meters you will see a large terminal for paying tolls:
First of all, pay attention to the color of the traffic light or arrow at the top above the terminal - if it is red, like the one above the photo above the leftmost one, then this terminal is temporarily closed, there is no need to go there.
The next point is that many cars in Spain are equipped with a system for remote payment; special terminals are equipped for them, through which they drive without stopping (the barrier rises automatically, having received a signal from the device installed on the front window). Terminals for these cars can be of two types - exclusively for them (in this case, the white letter “T” is located in a blue circle), you cannot drive through it without a device, and general ones (indicated by the same letter “T”, but in a blue square ), in this case you can use this terminal to check out.
And the last important point is the payment method. There are separate passages for payment exclusively with bank cards (see photo above); you cannot pay in cash there. There are universal machines (in the same photo), you can pay either in cash or by credit card. Using his example, we will analyze the payment process. We drive up and stop near the machine. The slot where you insert the ticket is highlighted in red. Insert the green arrow up, as in the photo:
The amount to be paid immediately appears on the monitor:
Now you can reach into your wallet for cash or a credit card:
We collect the change from below, if you paid in cash, the barrier opens, and “Have a nice trip” from the terminal:
And in conclusion, a few words about the simplest payment method - manual with the help of an operator. If you see a large sign at the top with the word MANUAL, and under it there is a booth, this means that at this payment point there is also an operator, to whom you can simply give the ticket and pay in cash or by card. In recent years, this payment method has not been available at every motorway exit, so it is better to be prepared for the fact that you will have to deal exclusively with technology.
Let's go on a trip to Spain. And in order not to go broke from transportation costs, we have compiled a detailed guide to traveling around the country on a budget. Local low-cost airlines, buses, trains, car rental or searching for travel companions - we look at all possible options. Bookmark it!
BY PLANE
An airplane is the easiest way to travel over long distances: almost any flight within Spain will not take more than an hour. Often this is not only the fastest, but also, thanks to local low-cost airlines, quite inexpensive transport. In addition, this is practically the only way to get to the islands, for example, Ibiza or.
Main low-cost airlines in Spain
Vueling
One of the main Spanish low-cost airlines with an extensive network of domestic flights, which is based in Barcelona. It’s convenient to select destinations and prices: for example, getting from Barcelona to Malaga is offered for € 40, and from Valencia to Bilbao – for € 42. By the way, there is a chance to grab these vouchers and much cheaper: the company quite often organizes pleasant sales - keep an eye out information on the low-cost airline website.
Ryanair
From Barcelona to Seville or from Valencia to Santander - your favorite low-cost airline offers many flights throughout Spain, including to the islands (all routes - ). At the time of preparation of the material, a ticket from Madrid to Mallorca, for example, could be grabbed for a fabulous € 2.43, and from Barcelona to Ibiza for € 10. Keep your finger on the pulse - check the prices here.
Volotea
This budget airline does not boast such an impressive number of domestic flights within Spain as its competitors, but it often runs sales. The easiest way to find cheap tickets is to look for them. For example, they offer a flight from Malaga to Bilbao for €15 (in July), and from Santander to Seville for €26 (in October).
Iberia Express
The democratic subsidiary of the national carrier Iberia is based in Madrid and flies to short- and medium-haul destinations. Prices for domestic flights start from €30-40, although not for all dates.
Lifehack.
If you can’t find the perfect flight from your city, check the nearest airports. For example:
Instead of the main airport Barcelona – El-Prat: Barcelona Girona and Barcelona Reus;
Instead of Seville - Jerez Airport;
Airports are relatively closeMalaga and Granada, and, Alicante and Murcia.
BY TRAIN
Spain has an excellent rail transport network. Most flights are operated by a national company Renfe.
Finding travel companions
The topic of finding travel companions in Spain is well developed - you can easily find a car to almost any city or town. But in this case, it is unlikely that you can plan the trip in advance: many drivers publish advertisements at the last minute. The option of traveling in someone else's car reduces the load not only on your wallet, but also on yours. Here is a list of the main services used by locals:
BlaBlaCar is the most famous service for finding travel companions, which works well in Spain.
Amovens– another popular service where you can also rent a car.
Amicoche– an absolutely free system for finding rides: you will not be charged any commission. Please note that you will have to pay the driver in cash.
Сompartir– a local service with a large base of loyal users.
Lifehack.
The cost of a trip to the same destination can vary significantly among different drivers, and often it’s not a matter of greed at all. Some drivers ask for less because they are not in a hurry and decide to bypass toll roads, while others value speed, but also charge a higher price. Check your route in advance.
Hitch-hiking
Spain is not the best country for hitchhiking. Experienced travelers warn that the average travel speed here will be significantly lower than in other European countries. Drivers are reluctant to stop; those who catch their car at gas stations have a better chance of luck. You can read more about hitchhiking in Spain.
ON YOUR OWN TWO
The cheapest way to get around any country is on foot. Passes through Spain
The holiday season is starting, some of the readers of this site will probably go for a drive around Europe and, perhaps, directly in Spain, so at the request of some of these readers I wrote a short article about the features of toll roads in Spain, but this is also, with minor modifications, suitable for toll roads in France, Italy and some other European countries.
The roads in Spain are divided into free (Autovia) and toll (Autopista). When approaching a toll road, road signs always indicate the sign Peaje, enclosed in a red circle. The toll road is always several rows long, there are no traffic lights or crossings, the speed limit is 120 km/h. At the same time, there are very few places where radars are installed; signs warn about them, so in reality many drivers drive on highways at a speed of 140-150 km/h.
There are two types of tolls for these roads: either they immediately charge you money to pay for the next section, or they give you a special check that you will need to insert into the machine when you exit the toll road, and there they will write to you how much you need to pay. Keep in mind that you can ride for quite a long time with this check if the track is long and you don’t leave it. But don’t hope that they forgot about you: at the congress they will definitely count for everything and the amount there may turn out to be quite substantial. In Spain I didn’t encounter this, but in France I had to: I was traveling from Spain to Burgundy, at the entrance to France I took a ticket and then drove with it for seven hours. When I left the highway, they counted 64 euros.
When approaching a payment point, carefully monitor where and what types of payment are accepted. If there is only the letter T or the inscription Telepeaje (aka Via-T) hanging above the payment point, you cannot go there, this is payment with a transponder that hangs on the car window. In Spain, such a transponder is ordered from a bank and in your personal account it looks like a credit card.
The inscription Automático and an image of a plastic card - here payment is only by card. And keep in mind that there are various tricks with these cards. For example, in Spain, in addition to Spanish ones, Russian cards also worked without problems, and in France, the Spanish debit card did not work, but the Russian credit card did.
Well, the Manual inscription and the image of coins show that here you can pay in cash or by card. Attention - even when only Manual, you can always pay there with a card: you give it to the point employee to pay.
It often happens that all the icons - T, map and coins - can hang over some corridor. This means that any type of payment is acceptable. However, if you are going to pay by card, then it is better to look for corridors with a picture of a card without coins - there will simply be less queues there, because the longest queues are where they accept cash.
For example, in the photo below from left to right: payment by card, two points only for the transponder (automatic payment), one point also for cards (the inscription targetes in Catalan, also known as tarjetes in Spanish; why is there an inscription here and not a picture - and therefore that this item can be switched either way - only for the transponder or only for cards), the last two are cards.
Also in some places there is an option called Pago Exacto - this is payment without change: payment with coins is thrown into a special basket as you drive by.
In some places, there may be a “3+” icon above some driveways - this means that if there are at least three people in a passing car, there will be a discount on payment. You can go there with any number of people in the car, just if there are less than three people, there will be no discount.
Where are the most toll roads in Spain? The answer is simple - in Catalonia. I have traveled almost all of Spain; there are no such number of toll roads as in Catalonia anywhere else. According to statistics, there are 633 kilometers of toll highways in Catalonia. For comparison, in Valencia there are 367 kilometers of them, and in Asturias there are only 22 kilometers of tolls.
Here is a map of all toll roads in Spain.
Detailed tariffs for each site can be viewed (in Spanish).
Well, here’s another sign from which you can get an impression of the price level.
There are also several toll tunnels in Spain. One of them is the Tunnel del Cadi in the Catalan Pyrenees. Its length is more than five kilometers. For regular passenger cars, the fare is €12. If you are traveling, for example, from Barcelona or Girona to Andorra, then this tunnel will be on your way. Of course, you can drive around, but it will take you a lot of time and through the mountains.
Another toll tunnel is also in Catalonia: the Valvidrera tunnel. There the cost is about 4 euros.
Now let’s answer the question of how much toll roads can speed up your movements and whether you can try to bypass them.
It all depends on distances. For example, you can get from Barcelona to Blanes via a toll highway (there are three points, all together about €5), or you can take the N-II national highway, which runs along the coast. On the N-II there are towns and traffic lights everywhere along the road, but on the toll road you drive like a bullet. However, the time difference will be about 15-20 minutes. Whether it makes sense to go around the high-speed toll highway for 15-20 minutes, everyone decides for themselves.
As for long-distance destinations, the use of toll highways can significantly save time. For example, a trip from Barcelona to Valencia on toll roads is 3 hours 43 minutes. And for free - 4 hours 51 minutes. The savings here are very significant.
How much time you will lose if you go around toll roads can be easily checked in the navigation program. First, plan a route using toll roads, and then select the “Avoid toll roads” option and see how much longer the journey takes.
Of the inappropriately high prices for toll roads, I know of only one section - this is the C-16 highway, which begins just after the Valvidrera toll tunnel. This route leads north towards , and so on, navigators often point it out. So, it’s better not to go there, because first you will pay for travel through the tunnel, and then on C-16 there will be toll points quite often and for some reason the amounts there are very high - 5-7 euros each (usually 1.5-2 .5 euros). In the end, I somehow paid about 23 euros for a trip towards Montserrat - and didn’t go there anymore, especially since there are at least three detours and you literally lose 15-20 minutes of time.