Breakdown Cover in Spain

Breaking down is stressful enough – imagine if you don’t speak the language? Don’t head to the continent without breakdown cover in Spain.

Help is at hand 24/7 with our English-speaking helpline. We’ll always try to fix you at the roadside first. If your car can’t be fixed, we’ll get you to a garage and arrange alternative transport. We’ll even get you and your car back to the UK if needed. Make sure your holiday’s in safe hands with the RAC.

24/7 English-speaking helpline

European Roadside Assistance in 48 countries

5 Star Defaqto rated cover

Levels of breakdown cover in Spain

We offer two types of breakdown cover in Spain for you to choose from. Both levels offer Roadside Assistance, 24/7 English-speaking helplines and free European legal help, so you know your holiday’s in safe hands with the RAC.

Read how else they compare against each other below.

Comprehensive

For £4.58 a day

Roadside Assistance in Europe

We’ll pay up to £150 towards garage labour costs. Provided repairs are completed on the same working day

Get up to £500 accommodation expenses or up to £1,500 to continue your journey

We’ll pay up to the market value of your vehicle to get it back to the UK, providing it’s not beyond economical repair

If your vehicle can’t be fixed before you’re due to return, we’ll help get you and any passenger's home up to £1,500

Get 2 days’ UK Roadside Assistance before you depart, for all breakdowns over a ¼ of a mile from home

24/7 English-speaking helpline

FREE European Legal Care

Replacement train/ferry ticket for up to 1 missed connection, if the delay is caused by a breakdown

Best cover you can get¹ – Comprehensive Plus

For £7.58 a day

Roadside Assistance in Europe

We'll pay up to £1,000 towards garage labour costs. Provided repairs are completed within 7 working hours

Up to £1,200 accommodation expenses and/or up to £3,000 to continue your journey

We’ll cover all costs to get your vehicle to get it back to the UK, providing it’s not beyond economical repair

If your vehicle can’t be fixed before you’re due to return, we’ll help get you and any passenger's home up to £3,000

Get 7 days’ UK Roadside Assistance before you depart, for all breakdowns over a ¼ of a mile from home

24/7 English-speaking helpline

FREE European Legal Care

Replacement train/ferry tickets for up to 3 missed connections, if the delay is caused by a breakdown

Above prices are based on European breakdown cover for a 14 day trip, in a vehicle up to 1 year old, travelling in zone 2.

What our members are saying

I took out European cover with RAC for a motorcycle trip and had the absolute best experience with them after an accident. Their European breakdown team were unbelievably helpful in what was quite a stressful situation in Spain.

George Z

We have RAC cover for our motorhome. RAC were excellent in communication and in returning our motorhome to England from Spain this year when my husband broke his hip and was therefore unable to drive. I could not fault them in any way.

Mrs Harris

Have been a member for over 50 years covering the UK and Europe and have never been let down despite needing the service in France, Germany, Spain and the UK.

Mr Holmes

What to do before your trip to Spain

In Spain, it’s important to have the right driving kit in your car. If you break down, you could receive a fine for not having the right items with you. Also, make sure you have the right kit if you’re driving through another country to get to your destination.

Before you set off, check what you need and follow the steps below to reduce the risk of a vehicle breakdown.

Follow these steps

Documents and paperwork

When driving in Spain, you're required to carry your driving licence, passport, a copy of your car insurance documents and your V5C (vehicle registration) document.

Check your tyres

It’s important to check your tyre tread before setting off on your trip. Looks for any signs of wear and tear, as well as the tyre depth. If any are in poor condition, get them replaced.

Check your oil and coolant levels

Check your vehicle’s levels of coolant, oil and screen wash. Carry extra to top up during your journey, especially if you’re driving long distances or over a longer period of time.

Get your vehicle serviced

Before you travel, book your vehicle in for a service. A professional can fix any issues ahead of your trip to Spain. Book a car service with one of our mobile mechanics today.

Buy a European driving kit

You could get a fine for not having the right driving kit in your car. Make sure you check what you need before heading off on your trip.

What do you have to carry in your vehicle?

When driving in Spain, it’s the law to carry certain items with you while you’re on the road. It’s worth knowing what you need to avoid a fine..

If you don’t have all the items below, take a look at our European Driving Kits, which include many of the items you’ll need when driving in Spain.

Read our guide to driving in Spain to find out more about the laws and requirements during your trip.

Documents

When driving in Spain, you’ll need to carry your full UK driving license, proof of ID (passport), motor insurance certificate and V5 registration document.

Reflective jackets

By law you’re required to carry a reflective jacket for each occupant in your vehicle. These need to be kept within reach.

Warning triangle

In Spain any vehicle with 4 wheels or more must carry a warning triangle. These are used to alert other drivers of upcoming hazards.

A UK sticker

If your vehicle doesn’t have a UK identifier on the registration plate, then you’ll have to display a UK sticker (previously known as GB sticker).

Headlamp beam deflectors

These will redirect your vehicle’s headlights so they don’t dazzle oncoming drivers. Depending on your vehicle, you will need deflector stickers or adjust the beam manually.

Crash helmets

Crash helmets are compulsory for motorbike, moped, trike or quad bike riders in Spain. This is unless your vehicle is equipped with seatbelts. Motorcycles must always ride with their lights on, even during the day.

What are the driving rules in Spain?

Spain has some different road rules and laws to the UK. Before you start driving there, or anywhere in Europe, read up on what those rules are to make sure you don’t get caught out. Here are some of the most important rules you need to be aware of:

Drive on the right and overtake on the left

You should drive on the right side of the road (so the opposite to the UK) and overtake on the left.

Drivers approaching on the right have right of way

In Spain, vehicles coming to an intersection from the right have right of way unless stated otherwise. This means you should give way to vehicles approaching from the right.

Unnecessary Horn Use

Using horns unnecessarily is forbidden – in urban areas it’s not allowed at any time, other than emergencies.

Seatbelts are compulsory

Seat belts must be worn by everyone in the car, or you face an on the spot fine.

Speed limit differences

In Spain there are strict speed limits in place that are different than the UK. This will depend on the type of road and size of vehicle you’re driving.

For more information on road rules in Spain, read our extensive guide here.

Important contact numbersKeep important phone numbers stored in your contacts, including:

You can find other useful contact telephone numbers here.

It's also helpful to have any other useful contact numbers close to hand, such as your accommodation and onward destinations. If you need to, you can let them know of any delays in your journey that might affect your arrival time.

What to do if you break down in Spain

If you break down in Spain, having European breakdown cover makes it much easier to get the help you need. Here’s what to do if you break down, depending on whether or not you have breakdown cover in Spain.

If you have RAC European cover

• Call the RAC’s English-speaking helpline on 0033 472 4352 44 – lines are open 24/7

• Our team will arrange Roadside Assistance for you

• When help arrives, they’ll try to fix your vehicle at the roadside

• If we can’t fix you there and then, we’ll tow you to the nearest garage for further repairs

• Depending on the level of cover you have, we’ll also pay towards garage labour costs, onward travel expenses and accommodation fees while your car’s being fixed

If you don’t have cover

• You’ll need to find a recovery company to come out to you

• That company will need to be able to tow you to a garage if needed

• If you need repairs at a garage, you’ll need to find a garage you can trust

• You’ll also have to pay all recovery and labour costs yourself

• If you did not buy European breakdown cover before leaving the UK, we will be unable to help you

Can you help if I break down on the motorway in Spain?

Motorways in many European countries are privately managed. If you’re on a private motorway and your vehicle breaks down, or you’re in a road traffic collision, you must use the roadside emergency telephones before contacting us.

They can tell you whether the RAC can attend, or if they need to send their own recovery vehicle. If your vehicle is recovered in Spain by the police or authorised motorway services, you may have to pay a charge on the spot.

We will reimburse these charges if the vehicle is towed to the recovery company’s depot. If they refuse to send a recovery vehicle, you should contact us.

Can you help if I break down on the motorway in Spain?

We will reimburse these charges if the vehicle is towed to the recovery company’s depot. If they refuse to send a recovery vehicle, you should contact us.

Speed limits in Spain

Planning your trip to Spain? Take a look at the different speed limits you should be aware of ahead of your journey.

European Driving Kit

No matter what country in Europe you are driving, we have a European Driving Kit to suit your needs.

Driving in Spain checklist

This essential checklist will tell you everything you need to know for driving in Spain, from what to take with you to things to remember when you get there.

Motorways and tolls

Read about the rules of Spanish motorways and what you can expect to see when you pass through one of the country’s toll roads.

Best road trips in Spain

Summer road trip? Discover the best road trips in Spain to see the best landscapes and vibrant cities.

Going away? Don’t forget travel insurance

Driving in Spain FAQs

What do you need for driving in Spain?

If you’re driving in Spain, make sure you’re carrying your:

Passport or ID card
Driving license
Motor insurance certificate
V5 registration document
UK sticker
Reflective jackets
Warning triangle
Headlamp beam deflectors

Can I drive in Spain after Brexit?

Yes, you can. You don’t need any additional documents to travel in Spain after Brexit that you didn’t before Brexit. As long as you’re not bringing a car into the country for more than 6 months in a 12-month period. And remember to bring essential driving equipment in a European driving kit.

Can I drive in Spain with a UK licence?

You can drive in Spain on a UK license for up to 6 months in any period of 12 months. You’ll just need another poof of ID, like your passport, your motor insurance certificate and V5 registration document.

Do I need a GB or UK sticker to drive in Spain?

If you’re driving in Spain, you need a UK sticker – no matter what your license plate says. You can get one in an RAC European Driving Kit.

Am I covered if I cross the border out of Spain?

If you’ve got RAC European Breakdown Cover in Spain, you’ll have cover for zones 1 and 2, which means you’re covered in neighbouring areas like France, Portugal, Gibraltar and Andorra. But if you want to travel further away, you may need to get a higher level of cover.

How long can you keep a UK car in Spain?

You can keep a UK car in Spain for up to 6 months in a 12-month period. So if you’ve had a UK car in Spain for 6 months, you’ll have to take it out of the country and wait another 6 months before bringing it back.

Do you need an international driver's license in Spain to rent a car?

You don’t need an international driver’s license (IDP) to rent a car in Spain if you have a full, valid driving license that was issued in the mainland UK. But if your license was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, you might need an IDP.

Find out what other documents you’ll need to drive in Spain.

Do I need a green card to drive in Spain?

No, a UK driving license is fine for driving in Spain if you’re a tourist. Just remember to bring another form of ID (like your passport), your insurance certificate and V5 registration document.

What are the speed limits in Spain?

Here are the general speed limits in Spain for different road areas:

20km/h in residential areas
50km/h in built-up areas
90-100km/h outside built-up areas
120 km/h on motorways

For more information, please refer to our speed limits in Spain article.

Can RAC provide me with a replacement vehicle?

Yes. If we take your car to a garage for repairs, we’ll get you a replacement hire car, or money towards public transport or overnight accommodation.

Page reviewed by: Andy Baker

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