Driving in Spain
If you have never driven on ‘the wrong side’ of the road, these tips may make it a bit easier for you
Always carry your driving license, car registration documents, ITV and insurance documentation and passport with you. These need to be the originals, photocopies are only accepted if they have been stamped as authentic copies. There are regular spot checks in Spain.
It is also a requirement to have two, yes two warning triangles that must be used in case your car breaks down. Two reflective jackets are also required and the jackets should be kept in the car, not in the boot.
The triangles, if you do break down one has to be placed in front and one behind the vehicle at least 20 metres from the vehicle.
Turning left on to a main road: sometimes a filter lane is provided in the middle of the road you are about to join, the first time you see one of these it can be slightly daunting as to how to proceed, if you are fortunate enough to be behind a queue of traffic you will have the luxury of watching the ‘locals’ do it. If not here are some guidelines.
The traffic on the road you are joining has priority.
Be aware that anyone that is approaching from your right and is turning left into the road you are leaving, as they will not generally give way to you.
Try to time your exit so that any traffic heading the same way as you wish to go is aware of you
Do not swing too wide as you enter the filter lane
When you are in the filter lane use your right indicator to confirm your intentions to other road users.
Do not rely on your mirrors to judge when to join the main flow of traffic, use the ‘life saver’ a look over your right shoulder makes sure you haven’t missed a vehicle.
Speeding: some of the roads are absolutely brilliant here and the temptation to enjoy those sweeping bends or even follow the car in front at the same speed is downright stupid. That next bend tightens up so quickly. In the last six months I have seen two fatalities, the cause….Speeding!
Get to know the roads and take notice of the warning signs and speed limits, the Spanish are not good at road signs for directions, but they know how dangerous the roads can be and those speed limit 40km, 60km signs are there for good reason.
Parking more & more you will see people waving you into parking spaces, and then demand money from you, unless they have identification (as at Burriana beach) then these are not licensed parking attendants and are a type of beggar.
It’s up to you whether you pay them, but it is quite intimidating to try to not pay.
Roundabouts seem to confuse the Spanish as it is a relatively new thing here, they seem to want to use the right hand lane even when taking the last exit, they will drive all the way round the roundabout in the right hand lane… aaaaah
Need an I.T.V?
I.T.V (the Spanish MOT) You can take your car to a garage and have them do it, or be a little adventurous and have a go yourself and save some cash too.
The nearest ITV station to Nerja is at Algarrobo and you can see the big ITV sign from the motorway. It is not possible to ITV a non Spanish registered car.
You ring a central number (902 575 757) give them your car registration number and tell them which station you would like to use. They them give you the appointment date and time. The operators are Spanish so if yours is not good enough ask someone else to ring them for you. You need to arrive at the testing station at least 15 mins early because there can be queues
As you drive in follow the road round to the front of the building and join the queue to start the whole process.
Simply handover your documents along with about 34euros (cash only) and you will be handed a receipt, and your documents back in a plastic folder. You then wait until they call your registration number out and the lane number you have to go to.
Drive round to the side of the building into the lane called out and an engineer will be waiting for you, hand him the plastic folder. he will then ask you to switch your engine off and put your headlights on (he then checks the alignment of each headlight, asking you to dip/full as necessary) you then are asked to put your washers and wipers on.
next is seat belts, with a hand through the window and a little tug on the driver and passenger seat belts to make sure they lock. Then he will then ask you to drive forward until your front wheels are on the rolling road. Switch off your engine, as he applies the test he will ask you to brake a little and then harder.
Same deal for rear wheels using the foot brake and then handbrake. Then you drive on to another set of steel plates and he will place a type of two way radio on your dash board, through which he talks to you while he is under the car.
The plates sort of shake the wheels from side to side when he asks you to brake, and then he asks to move the steering wheel from side to side. Then you are asked to drive forward until your rear wheels are in place and he asks you to brake.
You then drive forward to where a sensor is placed in your exhaust pipe to test emissions.
All being well you then wait five minutes while he prints you a new ITV sticker along with the necessary stamp on your documents.
