Speed limits in Spain

Spain has different speed limits for every kind of road and vehicle. Until 1973, there were no speed limits on Spanish motorways, a generic limit of 130 km/h was instated then in order to save fuel during the 1973 energy crisis. It was lowered to 100 km/h to prevent accidents, but it was raised again in 1992, this time to 120 km/h. There have been proposals to raise the speed limit to 130 km/h, but have been rejected so far.

Border sign displaying the general speed limits for cars and motorcycles

As of the 7 March 2011 and until 30 June 2011, the maximum speed limit in Spain was reduced from 120 km/h to 110 km/h, in order to save fuel due to the ongoing Arab Spring.[1]

On 29 January 2019, the speed limit was reduced from 100 km/h to 90 km/h on single-lane rural roads.[2]

Standard motorway speed limit

Bicycles and mopeds are not allowed to access a motorway – exceptionally bicycles may ride on the shoulders of autovías, but mopeds are banned.

Standard interurban rural roads speed limit
    • 90 km/h for cars, buses and motorbikes
    • 80 km/h for vans, trucks and vehicles with a trailer, or campers weighing more than 3,500 kg
    • 45 km/h for bicycles and mopeds[2]

Specific speed limits

On all non-urban roads and motorways, school buses and vehicles containing contaminant, explosive or flammable materials must decrease their speed limit by 10 km/h.

On motorways, a minimum speed of 60 km/h is mandatory for all kinds of vehicles. Minimum speeds in the rest of roads are one half of the generic speed limit for every vehicle. If a posted speed limit sign is below this value, the minimum speed is the posted limit minus 10 km/h.

No legal sanction is established for driving at a measured speed within 3 to 10 percent over the speed limit, depending on the specific error margin of the radar.[3]

Built-up areas speed limit
  • Built-up areas:
    • 50 km/h on urban roads with two lanes per direction
    • 30 km/h on urban roads with one lane per direction
    • 20 km/h on urban roads shared with pedestrians

[4]

References
  1. Article regarding the temporary speed limit reduction - El País
  2. "New speed limits are in force in Spain from today". Trans.INFO. Retrieved 2019-10-12.
  3. La nueva Ley de Tráfico, punto por punto - ABC.es (Spanish)
  4. "New year, new norms". 29 March 2021.
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