Driving in Spain

Hi,

We're flying to Madrid the first week of July and will be driving a rented
car from Madrid to a town in Andalucia (between Granada and Galera).

Do any of you have any tips or things to watch out for when driving
in Spain?

I realize I'll need an international driving permit but any other
useful information/things to watch out for would be appreciated.

thanks,

barry

writes:

Do any of you have any tips or things to watch out for when driving
in Spain?

Parking in towns can be difficult and/or expensive but other than
that I found it fairly easy.

Roadmaps with the scenic routes well-marked were a particular favorite
of mine.

I realize I'll need an international driving permit

I never needed one but it has been a couple of years since I last
drove there.

Eric

"Eric Griswold" wrote in message
...
writes:

Do any of you have any tips or things to watch out for when driving
in Spain?

Parking in towns can be difficult and/or expensive but other than
that I found it fairly easy.

Roadmaps with the scenic routes well-marked were a particular favorite
of mine.

I realize I'll need an international driving permit

I never needed one but it has been a couple of years since I last
drove there.


Not found parking to be a problem and is usually free, I go to the coastal
holiday areas that UK people go to.
But if there is a time limit on the parking the police seem to appear
immediately to fine you and tow your car away.

They drive on the opposite side of the road to the Uk thus roundabouts seem
to be the main problem for UK people.

Uk people are OK with thier UK liecence if not of the older type. Some
people recommend the carrying of UK passport when driving in Europe.

--
Regards,
David

Please reply to News Group.

Following up to Eric Griswold

Roadmaps with the scenic routes well-marked were a particular favorite
of mine.

worht adding they are not always super accurate though.
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
Wasdale-Lake district-Thames path-London "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site
Eat-walk-Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap

Following up to

to a town in Andalucia (between Granada and Galera).

In Andalucia blokes (often with uniforms) show you to a parking
space for a small fee, they are entirely unofficial and there may
also be an official parking fee for the space!
One once stood at a junction ahead of me and waved the traffic
round the corner to a halt so I could come out. Of course when I
came out there wasnt a car in sight.

Speeding fines are on the spot, no pay, no car!

Spainish drivers are relaxed, courteous and tailgate like mad.

IIRC the drink drive limit is lower than UK.

The roads in the white towns can be very narrow, so dont hire an
American sized car!
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
Wasdale-Lake district-Thames path-London "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site
Eat-walk-Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap

On Thu, 13 May 2004 11:25:41 +0100, The Reids
wrote:

Following up to

to a town in Andalucia (between Granada and Galera).

In Andalucia blokes (often with uniforms) show you to a parking
space for a small fee, they are entirely unofficial and there may
also be an official parking fee for the space!
One once stood at a junction ahead of me and waved the traffic
round the corner to a halt so I could come out. Of course when I
came out there wasnt a car in sight.

Speeding fines are on the spot, no pay, no car!

Spainish drivers are relaxed, courteous and tailgate like mad.

IIRC the drink drive limit is lower than UK.

The roads in the white towns can be very narrow, so dont hire an
American sized car!

OK, OK, so I admit it, you know quite a lot about driving in
Spain...........but what about pizza in Kosovo??? :-)

"The Reids" ha scritto nel messaggio
...
Following up to

[cut]

Speeding fines are on the spot, no pay, no car!

[cut]
--
Mike Reid

I just received in the mail at home in Italy a speeding tickets that i took
while driving a rental car in Spain last december. At that time i did not
realize i was doing such a violation and was not stopped by the police. Also
no news from the car rental company. Does anyone have suggestions how to
handle it? What if i just ignore it?
Elio

"Elio" wrote in message
...

"The Reids" ha scritto nel messaggio
...
Following up to

[cut]

Speeding fines are on the spot, no pay, no car!

[cut]
--
Mike Reid

I just received in the mail at home in Italy a speeding tickets that i
took
while driving a rental car in Spain last december. At that time i did not
realize i was doing such a violation and was not stopped by the police.
Also
no news from the car rental company. Does anyone have suggestions how to
handle it?

Pay the fine

What if i just ignore it?

If you ever get stopped in Spain they may haul you off to jail

Keith

"Elio" escribió en el mensaje
...

I just received in the mail at home in Italy a speeding tickets that i
took
while driving a rental car in Spain last december. At that time i did not
realize i was doing such a violation and was not stopped by the police.
Also
no news from the car rental company. Does anyone have suggestions how to
handle it? What if i just ignore it?

I would ignore it. If I understand well, the ticket has been directly send
from the Direccion General de Trafico (kinda Secretary of Traffic), probably
because the car rental company gave your address, freeing themselves of any
responsibilities (in Spain, the car owner has to pay the fine unless he can
demonstrate that the driver was someone else). Had you been Spanish, the DGT
could have blocked one of your bank accounts until you pay the fine, but I
seriously doubt they can do that to an Italian citizen who has no bank
accounts in Spain (I suppose it is the case). The next time you come to
Spain, if a traffic policeman stops you, I seriously doubt you'd have a
problem because they don't have an online system to check if a foreigner has
pending fines or not.

Summarizing: when in Spain, if you are stopped by the traffic police and
fined, pay on the spot. If you receive a ticket after your trip, forget
about it.

"José M. Malo" ha scritto nel messaggio
...


Hi Jose'

I would ignore it. If I understand well, the ticket has been directly send
from the Direccion General de Trafico (kinda Secretary of Traffic),
probably
because the car rental company gave your address,

Yes that is wath i think even if the car rental did not inform me, which may
be their standard practice.
The ticket was sent to me by the Ministerio del Interior, Jefatura
Provincial de Trafico - Asturias - Penarol de Enol, 7
which i suppose is related to the Direction General de Trafico as You said.

[cut]

Had you been Spanish, the DGT
could have blocked one of your bank accounts until you pay the fine, but I
seriously doubt they can do that to an Italian citizen who has no bank
accounts in Spain (I suppose it is the case).


Yes thet is the case


Summarizing: when in Spain, if you are stopped by the traffic police and
fined, pay on the spot. If you receive a ticket after your trip, forget
about it.


Yes, I am now inclined to follow Your suggestions and ignore the ticket.
Thanks a lot Jose' for the information provided.
Elio