Spain has been building plenty of roads in recent years. Here is a guide to driving on the country's major highways.

Motorways
Other highways
Signposting
Speed limits

Spanish roads have improved considerably in recent years and Spain’s best roads are now among the finest in Europe.

However, in contrast to the excellent new motorways (autopistas) and trunk roads, many secondary roads in rural areas and small towns are full of potholes and in dreadful or even dangerous condition. Some main roads are also in poor condition with surprising undulations and dips, and they aren’t often up to the standards of roads in northern Europe.

In recent years, there has been a huge road-building scheme in Spain, particularly of motorways, which now cover over 8,000km.

Motorways

Spanish motorways are indicated by blue or green signs and often have a motorway symbol on them. Most are toll roads (autopistas de peajes) and are the most expensive in Europe (Spain has the third-largest network of toll motorways in Europe after France and Italy).

Tolls vary as each motorway has its own fee structure and are more expensive in the summer. Typical toll fees are around EUR 12 from Valencia to Alicante and around EUR 11 from Malaga to Guadiaro. Not surprisingly, toll roads are avoided by most motorists and are consequently very quiet. However, although you may need to take out a second mortgage to drive on them, motorways are Spain’s safest roads (you cannot get hit by a Spaniard overtaking on a blind bend).

A ticket is issued automatically at the motorway entrance (or shortly afterwards) and when you reach another toll-booth or exit from the motorway you hand your ticket to the attendant (the toll due is usually shown on a display). Tolls may also be levied at intermediate points.

On some stretches, e.g. around cities, tickets aren’t issued and a fixed toll is charged. On these roads there may be unmanned toll-booths for those with the correct change, shown by the sign Automático - importe exacto. Throw the correct amount into the ‘basket’ and wait for the red light to change to green and the barrier to rise.

Regular commuters can buy a season card (tarjeta de la autopista) offering savings of 10 to 25 percent. Cards allow you to go through an automatic gate where you insert your card in a machine or on some toll roads you simply drive through and a machine reads your number plate, which has been previously registered. You can also pay tolls with a credit card and in major foreign currencies.

All motorways have service areas with a petrol station, cafeteria or coffee shop, toilets, telephones, and possibly a restaurant and shops. Some have repair workshops, exchange facilities, information offices and motels. As always in Spain, be careful not to leave anything of value visible inside your car when you park.
Most motorway operators provide free maps.

Motorway exits (salidas or sortidas in Catalan) are marked on maps, as are service and rest stops (apartaderos). Motorway maps and toll information is available from ASETA, C/Estébanez Calderón, 3, 28020 Madrid (915-716 258,  www.aseta.es).

Other highways

For many Spaniards, driving on motorways is too expensive and the traffic density is usually low. However, the same cannot be said of main trunk roads (carreteras) running parallel to motorways, which are jammed by drivers who are reluctant or cannot afford to pay the high motorway tolls. Toll motorways in Spain (and other countries) are a luxury for the wealthy and the high tolls discourage most Spaniards (particularly truckers) from using them and add to the congestion on other roads. Even an offer of half price for trucks attracts few takers. If you need to get from A to B in the shortest possible time, then there’s no alternative to the motorway, apart from taking a plane or train.

However, if you aren’t in too much of a hurry, want to save money and wish to see something of Spain, you should avoid them. The money saved on tolls can pay for a good meal or an (inexpensive) hotel room.

Many dual carriageways (autovías), such as the E5/N-IV south of Madrid, have the appearance of motorways and the same maximum speed limit (120kph). However they also have left and right turns and crossing roads in some places, so take care.

The sign cambio de sentido (change direction) on a dual carriageway is an opportunity to reverse your direction by way of an under or over-pass, e.g. when you’ve missed your turn off.

On national highways there are special ‘crawler’ lanes on gradients for heavy goods vehicles and other slow-moving vehicles. On single lane highways you shouldn’t expect to cover more than around 70 to 80kph.

Bear in mind that travelling on secondary roads (particularly mountain roads) invariably takes a lot longer than travelling on national routes and usually takes twice or three times as long to reach your destination (even if the distance is less than half). Mountain passes in Spain are usually open all year, although some are closed intermittently. Most are narrow with hairpin bends, no road markings and unprotected roadsides with sheer drops, and aren’t recommended for timid or nervous drivers, particularly in winter.

Emergency SOS telephones, mounted on orange posts, are sited around every 5km on motorways and other main roads. Each telephone is individually numbered and directly connected to the local police station, which will send out a breakdown van or tow truck (grúa) with first-aid equipment.

There are fixed (reasonable) charges for emergency repairs and towing. If you’ve broken down and call from an ordinary telephone, you should ask the operator for the ‘rescue service’ (auxilio en carretera). The Guardia Civil also provides roadside assistance on main roads throughout Spain, as do motoring organisations.

If you break down on a motorway, you must park your car on the hard shoulder and place emergency triangles 30 metres behind and in front of your vehicle, visible at a distance of 100 metres. Never remain in your car when it’s parked on the hard shoulder as it’s extremely dangerous. Note that you’re only permitted to stop on the hard shoulder in an emergency (e.g. not for a ‘call of nature’).

The main national (nacional) highways, with the prefix ‘N’ and the number in white lettering on a red background, radiate out from Madrid to the coast or the Spanish border. The principal roads are indicated by Roman numerals, i.e. the N-I to San Sebastian, the N-II to Barcelona, the N-III to Valencia, the N-IV to Cadiz, the N-V to Badajoz and the N-VI to La Coruña. Other major roads are identified by Arabic numbers, e.g. N-401.

All main roads have kilometre stones located on the right hand side. Distances on the national roads listed above are calculated from the Puerta del Sol in Madrid and shown on red and white kilometre stones at the side of the road. The starting point of national roads without Roman numerals isn’t so easy to determine, but is indicated on kilometre stones at the edge of the road. Some national highways are also designated as European highways and have the prefix ‘E’, e.g. the E5 running from the French border at Hendaye to Algeciras. Local main roads have the prefix ‘C’ (comarcales) and other minor roads are unnumbered or prefixed with the first two letters of the province, followed by a number.

Signposting

In general, signposting in Spain is insufficient, especially in most rural areas, although main routes are generally well signposted. Most road signs are international, although Spain still has many Spanish and local idiosyncracies. In some areas you will find that direction signs disappear, or everywhere is signposted except where you want to go. Signs out of towns are often non-existent. It’s advisable to have a good map, particularly when you aren’t travelling on main roads or to ask someone to give you detailed instructions.

In major cities it’s advisable to park your car (if you can find a parking space) and use public transport.

You should be wary of entering small towns and villages, where streets are narrow and often come to a dead end (when you will need to reverse out). It’s better to park on the edge of town.

Driving in Madrid is the motoring equivalent of hell and should be avoided at all costs. In and around Madrid and other main cities signs can be extremely confusing, due to the sheer number of roads and destinations signposted. Look out for the road number as well as the name of your destination. Often only road numbers or towns are listed, and not both. 

Road information can be obtained by phone (900-123 505 for general information) or the internet (www.dgt.es). Note that at holiday times and weekends both the phone lines and website are overloaded and it can be impossible to get through.

Speed limits

The following speed limits (límites de velocidades) apply to cars and motorcycles when driving in Spain:

• Motorways (autopistas)  120kph (75mph)
• Dual Carriageways (autovías) 100kph (62mph)
• Other Main Roads (carreteras) 90kph (56mph)
• Built-Up Areas/Towns   50kph (31mph) or as signposted

This article is an extract from Living and Working in Spain, by David Hampshire. Published by Survival Books.