It’s rather quiet driving around Spain, but beware of scooters in the cities. Expect difficult parking and a slightly different refuelling system. Motorway use, on the other hand, is similar to that in Poland. What else will surprise you on Spanish roads?
Motorway to the Sunshine Coast
Spain’s motorways are not the cheapest. Even in neighbouring France, generally more expensive, you will pay less. In Spain you don’t have to buy a vignette, you pay at the toll booths on the motorways. Another thing is that much of the route on the Costa del Sol can be driven on free roads.
Two motorways on site are tolled: AP-46: Alto de las Pedrizas – Malaga and AP-7 between Malaga and Guadiaro (Sotogrande). Interestingly, the Spanish motorway network includes Autovías, or state motorways, and Autopistas, or private motorways. The former are marked with an ‘A’ and travel on them is free. Tolls are charged on the latter, marked with an ‘AP’.
Surprising refuelling
Now that you’ve entered Spain, it’s time to refuel. Spanish service stations may surprise you a little. In the countries you pass on your way from Poland, such as Germany and France, motorway stations often have a pre-payment system. In Spain, you will not find any payment machine at the pump. When you lift the “gun”, the fuel does not flow at all. Before refuelling, you have to go to the cashier and ask for the specific distributor to be unlocked. You only pay when the tank is full.
There are also stations where everything works as in Poland, in other words you simply drive up and fill up and then pay. However, you can be sure that when driving in Spain you will mainly encounter the system described above. By contrast, fuel in Spain is inexpensive by Western European standards. For a litre of ninety-five petrol you will pay around €1.50-1.60, which is only slightly more than in Poland.
Advanced parking
If you are coming to Spain by car, you will probably be looking for a parking space in a garage. These can sometimes be a challenge for even the most experienced drivers, especially in the centres of large cities. Gates are tight, driveways are steep and there is little space to park.
Parking regulations along the streets vary from city to city and region to region. However, the following rule usually applies: you have to pay in the blue zones and you have to park for free in the white zones. On the other hand, only authorised vehicles may park in the zones marked with a yellow zigzag painted on the carriageway. Payment for on-street parking is made at a parking meter or via one of several downloadable apps.
The wild south? No exaggeration
There is an opinion circulating among Polish drivers about Spain as the road wild south. Indeed, traffic in the big cities is somewhat more chaotic than in our country, mainly due to the tight streets and the large number of intersections.
However, Spaniards drive surprisingly carefully (dispelling another road myth – that of southern traffic pirates), and they probably obey traffic lights more than Italians or French. Compared to these nations, and especially to the Italians, they rarely use the horn. Only those scooters… You have to keep your eyes around your head and constantly check your mirrors.
If you want to rent a car in Spain, you must be over 21 and have a valid driving licence. For those under 25, the rental rate is often higher – due to the higher cost of insurance.
Spain has speed limits – standard across the European Union: 120 km/h on expressways and motorways, 100 km/h on two-way roads, 90 km/h on other roads and 50 km/h in built-up areas. Radars are marked, but police are increasingly using mobile radars – these are unmarked. It is advisable to pay fines immediately. If you pay the fine within 20 days of receiving it, the amount will be reduced by up to 50 per cent.
