Spain is well known as a popular holiday destination for its sun, sea and sangria. Away from the crowded south of Spain there is magnificent scenery, a culture steeped in history, just perfect for the car hire holiday.

 

The car hire companies are well placed to offer a car suited to the amount of travelling and the intended terrain. A car hire holiday is about relaxed motoring and prior knowledge of the driving laws and conditions will ensure this.

Leave the crowded coastal strip behind and Spain is a wonderful country to explore by hire car. roads are generally well maintained and free of traffic, and Spain has a fine autopista (motorway) network, much of which is toll-free. A bail bond is no longer required when taking your car to Spain.
Travel Documents Required

A current valid passport. A full UK driving license together with the vehicle registration document and certificate of motor insurance should be carried at all times. If you don't have the new style photo-license then your passport should also be carried on all journeys. You also need written authorisation from the car hire company permitting you to drive the vehicle.

Turning Left in Spain

When turning left across oncoming traffic is is usually necessary first to pull off the right of the road and stop before crossing both carriageways once the road is clear. Do not turn left across an unbroken white line down the centre of the road; drive on until you reach a turning place. Give way to the right where no priority is signposted. It is compulsory to carry a spare pair of glasses if you need to wear them to drive.

Weather conditions

Inland Spain has a continental climate, fiercely hot in summer when air conditioning can be a boon. Winter can be surprisingly cold (don't forget Madrid is a half a mile above sea level) so watch out for ice on the roads and snow in hillier parts.
DRIVING CONDITIONS IN SPAIN

Although the main routes in Spain are good there are still poor road conditions in some local areas.

Some of the Motorways have toll charges, which can be expensive in the summer months, but they tend to be less crowded than other non-toll roads.

Traffic lights in Spain are called 'semaforas' and usually placed at the stop line.

Give way to traffic from the left, and if turning left don't pull in to the middle of the road where there is an unbroken line.

Petrol grades and supplies are much the same as in the UK. Although cards are accepted for payment, away from the major routes cash will be needed for automatic pumps if requiring petrol out-of-hours, which includes the Mid-Day to 3pm period.

Spain can be hot, so when choosing your hire car think about air conditioning.

Contacts

Police

There are police stations in most towns and cities where help can be readily obtained.

In an emergency the police contact number is 091

British Embassy in Spain

British Consulate-General
Paseo de Recoletos, 7/9
28004 Madrid
Tel.: 91 524 97 00

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