The Most Common Traffic Fines in Spain: How Much They Cost and How Many Points Drivers Can Lose.

CITY – HIGRH NEWS: The Most Common Traffic Fines in Spain: How Much They Cost and How Many Points Drivers Can Lose. Traffic fines in Spain can have a significant impact on both a driver’s finances and their driving licence. Speeding, using a mobile phone behind the wheel, failing to wear a seat belt and running a red light are among the offences that can result in financial penalties and, in some cases, the loss of licence points. So how much can a driver have to pay, and how many points can be deducted for each offence?

Spain’s traffic regulations establish different penalties depending on the seriousness of the offence. A financial fine does not automatically mean that points will be deducted, while some serious offences can remove several points from a driver’s licence.

The Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) identifies speeding, alcohol and drug-related offences, failure to wear a seat belt and mobile-phone use among the main offences that result in points being deducted. Other common violations involve traffic signs, safe following distances and vehicle or licence requirements.

The Most Common Traffic Fines in Spain for Speeding

Speeding remains one of the main traffic offences in Spain. The amount of the fine depends on the speed limit on the road and how far the driver exceeds it.

According to the DGT’s penalty table, speeding fines range from €100 to €600. Depending on the offence, drivers can also lose between 2 and 6 points from their licence.

The lowest level of speeding infringement carries a €100 fine without points being deducted. Higher levels can result in fines of €300, €400 or €500, with 2, 4 or 6 points deducted respectively.

At the highest level listed by the DGT, the fine rises to €600 and the driver loses 6 points.

The consequences therefore depend directly on the speed recorded and the applicable limit. A driver who slightly exceeds the limit does not face the same penalty as someone travelling substantially faster than permitted.

Spanish law also provides for criminal consequences in particularly serious speeding cases. According to the DGT, driving more than 60 km/h above the permitted limit on urban roads or more than 80 km/h above it on interurban roads can constitute a criminal offence.

Alcohol and drugs can lead to heavy penalties

Driving after consuming alcohol is another offence that can have serious consequences. The penalty depends on the alcohol level recorded and the driver’s circumstances.

For the general driving population, the permitted limit is 0.25 milligrams of alcohol per litre of exhaled air. Lower limits apply to professional drivers and drivers who have held their licence for less than two years.

A reading between 0.25 and 0.50 mg/l can result in a €500 fine and the loss of 4 points. Higher readings can lead to a €1,000 fine and the loss of 6 points.

Driving with drugs present in the body carries a €1,000 fine and a deduction of 6 points. Refusing to undergo an alcohol or drug test can also result in a €1,000 fine and the loss of 6 points.

The DGT also warns that some of these offences can have criminal consequences when the circumstances meet the conditions established by law.

The Most Common Traffic Fines in Spain Linked to Mobile Phones

Using a mobile phone while driving is one of the offences most closely associated with driver distraction. Holding a mobile phone in the hand while driving carries a €200 fine and results in the loss of 6 points.

The DGT has repeatedly identified this behaviour as one of the most frequent offences detected during enforcement campaigns.

During a DGT campaign held in October, officers checked 364,165 vehicles and issued 6,719 complaints. Of these, 2,223 concerned drivers who were using a mobile phone manually while driving.

Other forms of distracted driving can also result in penalties. The DGT includes the use of headphones, manual operation of navigation devices and certain other electronic devices among prohibited behaviours.

The distinction is particularly important for mobile phones. Holding the device in the hand while driving carries the higher deduction of 6 points, while some other forms of prohibited device use can result in a 3-point deduction.

The financial penalty for holding a mobile phone while driving remains €200, but the loss of 6 points makes it one of the offences capable of reducing a driver’s points balance most quickly.

Failing to Wear a Seat Belt Can Also Cost €200

Seat belts must be used in the seats where they are required, and they must be correctly fastened. Failing to use a seat belt or using it incorrectly can result in a €200 fine and the loss of 4 points.

The same points penalty applies to certain failures involving child restraint systems and other mandatory protective equipment.

The DGT states that seat belts must be used in all required seats and must be properly fastened. Devices that alter or interfere with their operation are not permitted.

The rules also cover motorcycles and mopeds. Failure to use the required helmet correctly can result in a €200 fine and the loss of 4 points.

The financial penalty is similar to that applied to several other serious traffic offences, but the loss of points adds a direct consequence for the driver’s licence.

Running a Red Light or Ignoring a STOP Sign

Failing to stop at a STOP sign or running a red light can result in a €200 fine and the loss of 4 points.

The same points deduction applies to certain violations involving right of way. The DGT lists failing to respect priority rules, STOP signs and red traffic lights among the offences that reduce a driver’s points balance.

Drivers must also follow the instructions and signals given by traffic officers. Failing to respect those instructions can result in a €200 fine and the loss of 4 points.

These offences are not linked to the speed of the vehicle. The penalty is based on the specific traffic violation and the circumstances in which it occurred.

Failing to Keep a Safe Distance

Drivers are required to maintain enough distance from the vehicle ahead to allow them to stop safely and avoid a collision.

Failing to maintain the required safety distance can result in a €200 fine and the loss of 4 points.

The appropriate distance can vary according to road and traffic conditions. Drivers should allow additional space when circumstances make stopping more difficult.

Other Penalties Linked to the Vehicle and Driving Licence

Not every common traffic penalty involves a manoeuvre or behaviour directly on the road. Drivers can also face sanctions connected to the legal or technical status of a vehicle and their driving authorisation.

The consequences can vary depending on the specific breach and the circumstances surrounding it.

Driving with a suspended licence or while prohibited from using the vehicle can result in a €200 fine and the loss of 4 points.

Other offences involve the vehicle’s inspection status, mandatory insurance and documentation. The applicable penalty depends on the particular legal requirement that has been breached.

For drivers, this means that checking the condition of the vehicle and keeping the necessary documentation up to date can be just as important as respecting speed limits and traffic signals.

How Many Points Can a Driver Lose?

Spain’s points-based driving licence links certain serious traffic offences to the deduction of points.

The main offences that have historically generated point deductions include speeding, failure to wear a seat belt, mobile-phone use and alcohol or drug-related driving offences.

The number of points deducted depends on the offence. Some violations result in 2 or 3 points being removed, while the most serious offences can cost 6 points.

The DGT states that, as a general rule, drivers cannot lose more than 8 points in a single day. However, there are exceptions for certain very serious offences.

Those exceptions include driving with an unlawful alcohol level or drugs in the body, refusing alcohol or drug testing, exceeding the permitted speed by more than 50 percent in the circumstances established by law, dangerous driving, driving against the direction of traffic, taking part in unauthorised races and using vehicles equipped with radar inhibitors.

The points system therefore adds another consequence to the financial penalty. A fine can affect a driver’s finances immediately, while the deduction can have a longer-term impact on their ability to continue driving.

Main Traffic Fines and Licence Points

The figures above reflect the offences and penalties listed by the DGT. The precise sanction can depend on the specific circumstances and legal classification of the offence.

Why a Traffic Fine Does Not Always Mean Losing Points

One common misunderstanding is that every traffic fine automatically results in points being removed from a driving licence. That is not the case.

The Spanish traffic system distinguishes between different categories of offences and establishes different penalties for each. Points are deducted only when the specific offence is included among those carrying a points penalty.

This means that drivers should look at both parts of a sanction: the financial amount and the possible effect on their points balance.

Speeding provides a clear example. Depending on how far the driver exceeds the applicable limit, the penalty can range from €100 to €600, while the number of points deducted can range from none to 6.

The same principle applies to other offences. Holding a mobile phone while driving costs €200 and 6 points, while failing to wear a seat belt costs €200 and 4 points.

The Most Common Traffic Fines in Spain Can Affect Both Money and Mobility

Spain’s traffic penalty system combines financial sanctions with the points-based driving licence. The impact of an offence therefore depends not only on how much the driver has to pay but also on whether points are deducted.

Mobile-phone use, speeding, alcohol, drugs, failure to wear a seat belt and violations involving traffic lights or STOP signs are among the offences that can have a direct effect on a driver’s points balance.

For some offences, the financial penalty is relatively straightforward. Holding a mobile phone while driving, for example, carries a €200 fine and costs 6 points. Failure to use a seat belt carries a €200 fine and costs 4 points.

Speeding involves a wider range of penalties. Depending on the speed recorded and the applicable limit, the fine can reach €600 and the points deduction can reach 6.

Alcohol-related offences also vary according to the level recorded and the driver’s circumstances. The most serious administrative cases can result in a €1,000 fine and the loss of 6 points.

Understanding these differences is important for anyone driving in Spain. The consequences of a traffic offence are not determined solely by the amount written on the fine notice. The type of offence and the points attached to it can also determine how seriously it affects the driver’s licence.

Official Source

For the official information on traffic offences, fines and licence points, consult the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT).

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the fine for using a mobile phone while driving?

Holding a mobile phone in the hand while driving carries a €200 fine and the loss of 6 points.

How much does failing to wear a seat belt cost?

Failing to use a seat belt correctly can result in a €200 fine and the loss of 4 points.

How many points can be lost for speeding?

Depending on the speed and the applicable limit, speeding can result in the loss of between 2 and 6 points, with fines ranging from €100 to €600 in the cases listed by the DGT.

Does running a red light cost points?

Yes. Running a red light can result in a €200 fine and the loss of 4 points…….MORE