Speed LimitsSpain's Autovías 2026: 120 km/h, EUR 100 Up to 150 km/h
120 km/h for cars on Spanish autopistas and autovías, 90 for vans and cars with a trailer. Up to 150 km/h the fine is EUR 100 with no points; above 200 km/h it is a crime.
Cars may do 120 km/h on Spanish autopistas and autovías; vans and cars with a trailer may do only 90. On a 120 road the fine is EUR 100 with no points all the way to 150 km/h; the points start at 151.
Who gets 120, and who gets 90
Article 48 of the Reglamento General de Circulación sets the limits outside built-up areas by vehicle, and the split surprises people who hire a van:
| Vehicle | Autopista and autovía | Conventional road |
|---|---|---|
| Cars, motorcycles, pick-ups, motorhomes up to 3,500 kg | 120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Buses | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Vans (furgonetas), lorries, motorhomes over 3,500 kg, articulated vehicles, any car towing a trailer | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
On a conventional road with a physical barrier between the two directions, the road owner may sign 100 km/h for cars and motorcycles. Autopistas and autovías running inside a built-up area default to 80 km/h, and the minimum speed on any autopista or autovía is 60 km/h.
In towns, the limits have depended on street width since 11 May 2021: 20 km/h where road and pavement are on one level, 30 km/h on streets with a single lane in each direction, 50 km/h where there are two or more lanes per direction, and 50 km/h on travesías.
Fines on a 120 km/h road
Annex IV of the Traffic Act fixes speeding fines by the limit and the measured speed. For a 120 km/h autovía:
| Measured speed | Fine | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 121-150 km/h | EUR 100 | 0 |
| 151-170 km/h | EUR 300 | 2 |
| 171-180 km/h | EUR 400 | 4 |
| 181-190 km/h | EUR 500 | 6 |
| Above 190 km/h | EUR 600 | 6 |
| Above 200 km/h | Criminal offence | Driving ban of 1-4 years |
Pay within 20 days of notification, or on the spot, and the fine is halved, in exchange for giving up the right to contest it. A driver who cannot show legal residence in Spain is asked to pay a deposit there and then; if it is not paid, the car is immobilised, and the 50% reduction still applies to that payment (article 87).
Above 200 km/h on a 120 road, article 379 of the Criminal Code applies: 3 to 6 months in prison, or a fine, or community service, and always a driving ban of 1 to 4 years.
Check exact speed limits for your route
Open Speed Limit MapThe kit a traffic stop will check
A Spanish-registered car, hire cars included, must carry a connected V-16 beacon: warning triangles stopped counting for these cars on 1 January 2026, and not having the beacon is an EUR 80 fine. A car registered in another country may still carry triangles. Every car also needs a high-visibility vest.
Sources
- Reglamento General de Circulación (RD 1428/2003), articles 48, 49 and 50 — BOE
- Texto refundido de la Ley sobre Tráfico (RDL 6/2015), articles 87 and 94 and Annex IV — BOE
- Código Penal, article 379 — BOE
- DGT — V-16 beacon compulsory, EUR 80 fine (press release, 25 November 2025)
- Real Decreto 159/2021, transitional provision 1 — BOE
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Related Questions
120 km/h on autopistas and autovías for cars, motorcycles, pick-ups and motorhomes up to 3,500 kg. Buses are limited to 100 km/h, and vans, lorries, heavier motorhomes and any car towing a trailer to 90 km/h. The minimum speed on these roads is 60 km/h.
On a 120 km/h road: EUR 100 with no points up to 150 km/h, EUR 300 and 2 points at 151-170, EUR 400 and 4 points at 171-180, EUR 500 and 6 points at 181-190, and EUR 600 and 6 points above 190. Paying within 20 days halves the fine.
When you exceed the limit by more than 80 km/h on an interurban road or 60 km/h on an urban one. On a 120 km/h autovía that means above 200 km/h. The Criminal Code allows 3 to 6 months in prison or a fine or community service, and in every case a driving ban of 1 to 4 years.
Since May 2021: 20 km/h on streets where road and pavement share one level, 30 km/h on streets with one lane in each direction, and 50 km/h on streets with two or more lanes per direction. Urban sections of main roads (travesías) are 50 km/h.