Speed limitSpain

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Spain. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


5. Speed limit

A speed limit is the maximum legal speed permitted on a road, lane or within a designated area. It may be established by general traffic law or indicated by fixed, variable or temporary traffic signs.

A speed limit is a maximum, not a target speed. Drivers must travel more slowly whenever traffic, visibility, weather, road conditions, vulnerable road users or the condition of the vehicle make the maximum permitted speed unsafe.

50 km/h speed-limit sign near Cales de Mallorca. (Manacor, Mallorca, Spain)
Wikimedia.org • Sukkoria • CC BY-SA
Which general speed limits should car drivers know in Spain?

For ordinary cars, urban defaults are 20 km/h where pavement and carriageway share one level, 30 km/h with one traffic lane in each direction, and 50 km/h with two or more in each direction. Rural defaults are 90 km/h on conventional roads and 120 km/h on motorways. Authorised signs and specific road-category exceptions can establish another limit.

🔗 boe.es • Spain: General Traffic Regulation articles 45-52, especially 48,50 and repealed article 51

🔗 boe.es • Spain: official sign catalogue, Royal Decree 465/2025

May I exceed the Spanish limit by 20 km/h when overtaking?

No. The former 20 km/h allowance for cars and motorcycles overtaking on conventional roads was removed. An overtaking manoeuvre must remain within the applicable limit; an older handbook describing that allowance is out of date.

🔗 boe.es • Spain: General Traffic Regulation articles 45-52, especially 48,50 and repealed article 51

🔗 boe.es • Spain: official sign catalogue, Royal Decree 465/2025

Are reserved lanes counted when deciding Spain’s general urban limit?

Lanes reserved for particular users or public transport are not counted when deciding whether the urban default is based on one or two traffic lanes in each direction. Read the actual layout and signs; a bus lane does not automatically turn a 30 km/h street into a 50 km/h street.

🔗 boe.es • Spain: General Traffic Regulation articles 45-52, especially 48,50 and repealed article 51

🔗 boe.es • Spain: official sign catalogue, Royal Decree 465/2025

1 Spain 2 Motorway 3 Residential area 4 Zone 5 Speed limit 6 Bike path 7 Pedestrian warning 8 Tunnel 9 Toll road 10 Quay 11 Slope 12 Dead end 13 Stop sign 14 Give way 15 Roundabout 16 Road narrowing 17 Pedestrian crossing 18 Railway crossing 19 School area 20 Overtaking 21 Crossing animals 22 Slippery road 23 Rockfall 24 Curve 25 Roadworks 26 Height limit 27 Selective barriers 28 Traffic lights 29 Traffic lights warning 30 Pedestrian lights 31 Driving licence 32 Location marker 33 Countdown markers 34 Traffic mirror 35 International border 36 Pedestrian underpass 37 Cycling route 38 Parking 39 No parking 40 Disabled parking 41 Reversing 42 Provisional licence 43 City limit 44 Licence plate 45 Charging station 46 Dangers 47 Pedestrian 48 Cyclist 49 Bus 50 Police 51 Ambulance 52 European emission standard 53 Pothole 54 Path 55 Particulates 56 Air pollution 57 Rush hour 58 Road code 59 Street gutter 60 Road debris 61 Cargo bike 62 Forestry vehicle 63 Construction vehicle 64 Semi-trailer truck 65 Trolleybus 66 Speed pedelec 67 Delivery vehicle 68 Idling 69 Tow truck 70 Four-wheel drive 71 No vehicles 72 Bicycle 73 Motorcycle equipment 74 Tram 75 Rail track 76 Caravan 77 Trailer 78 Tow hitch 79 Fire truck 80 Siren 81 Convoy 82 Emergency vehicle lighting 83 Agricultural machinery 84 Electric bicycle 85 Electric vehicle 86 Pedelec 87 Quadricycle 88 Microcar 89 All-terrain vehicle 90 Van 91 Recreational vehicle 92 Scooter 93 Trikke 94 Personal mobility device 95 Skateboard 96 Segway 97 Kick scooter 98 Roller skates 99 Mailman 100 Hitchhiker ...