Vehicle Documents, Controls and Adjustments
1. Mandatory Vehicle Documentation
To legally operate a vehicle on public roads, you must carry specific documents at all times and be prepared to present them to authorities upon request. The vehicle must also be properly insured and have passed its technical inspections.
Required Documents to Carry
You must always have the following three documents in your vehicle:
- Driving Licence (Permiso de Conducción): Certifies that you are authorised to drive specific categories of vehicles.
- Vehicle Registration Document (Permiso de Circulación): Links the vehicle to its legal owner and provides its essential details, such as make, model, and registration number.
- Technical Inspection Card (Tarjeta de ITV): Certifies that the vehicle has passed the required technical inspections and is roadworthy. All trailers and semi-trailers must also have this card.
The registered owner of the vehicle is legally responsible for ensuring its technical inspections (ITV) are up to date.
Compulsory Insurance
All motor vehicles, including mopeds, motorcycles, and trailers/semi-trailers, must be covered by compulsory third-party liability insurance. This insurance is essential and covers:
- Personal injuries caused to other people.
- Material damage caused to other people's property.
It is crucial to understand that this compulsory insurance does not cover personal injuries sustained by the driver of the insured vehicle.
Technical Vehicle Inspection (ITV)
The ITV is a periodic inspection to ensure vehicles meet safety and environmental standards. The frequency depends on the vehicle type and age, which is calculated from its date of first registration.
- Passenger Cars: The first ITV is due 4 years after the first registration. Afterwards, it must be passed every 2 years until the vehicle is 10 years old.
- Motorcycles: The first ITV is at 4 years from registration, and subsequently every 2 years.
If a vehicle fails its ITV (an 'unfavourable' result), it is only permitted to be driven to a workshop for repairs and back to the ITV centre for re-inspection. Furthermore, any significant technical modifications to a vehicle require an extraordinary ITV before it can be legally driven on public roads again.
2. The Driving Licence
Your driving licence is more than just a permit; it is a record of your fitness and responsibility as a driver.
Licence Validity and the Points System
A driving licence is only valid as long as the holder retains at least one point. A new driver starts with 8 points. After two years without committing any infractions that lead to point loss, this total increases to 12. You can lose a maximum of 8 points in a single day, except for very serious offences. An expired licence does not authorise you to drive under any circumstances.
Novice Drivers
For the first year after obtaining your first driving licence, you are considered a novice driver. During this period, you must display a green and white 'L' plate (placa V-13) visibly on the rear left side of the vehicle. This rule applies for one year, regardless of the vehicle you are driving.
Class B Licence Entitlements
A standard Class B licence authorises you to drive:
- Vehicles with a Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of up to 3,500 kg and up to 9 seats, including the driver.
- Two, three, and four-wheeled mopeds.
- Special agricultural vehicles that can exceed 45 km/h.
After holding a Class B licence for three years, you are also permitted to ride motorcycles up to 125 cc (as authorised by an A1 licence), but only within Spanish national territory. A Class B licence does not authorise riding motorcycles over 125 cc.
Administrative Responsibilities
As a licence holder, you must inform the Provincial Traffic Authority of any change of address within 15 days. You must also report any changes to your physical condition that may affect your ability to drive safely. If you lose your licence, you must request a duplicate.
3. Vehicle Controls and Adjustments
Proper adjustment of your vehicle's controls is a critical step before every journey. It ensures comfort, control, and safety.
Pre-Driving Adjustments
- Seating Position: Adjust your seat so your back is straight and fully supported by the backrest. Your legs should be slightly bent when you fully depress the pedals, and your arms should be slightly bent when holding the steering wheel.
- Mirror Adjustment: Adjust all mirrors before you start moving, while the vehicle is stationary on flat, straight ground. This ensures you have the best possible view of the traffic situation around you.
Mirrors and Vision
Mirrors are your primary tool for observing the traffic environment behind and to the sides of your vehicle. They must be checked regularly while driving, not just before a maneuver.
- Passenger Cars: The left exterior mirror is always mandatory. If the interior mirror provides a clear view, the right exterior mirror is optional. However, if visibility through the interior mirror is blocked (e.g., by luggage), then both the left and right exterior mirrors become mandatory.
- Motorcycles: A motorcycle must have a left mirror if its maximum speed is up to 100 km/h. If it can exceed 100 km/h, it must have both a left and a right mirror.
- Mopeds: Two-wheeled mopeds are only required to have a left exterior mirror.
The blind spot is the area around your vehicle that cannot be seen in the mirrors. To check it, you must perform a quick head turn and glance over your shoulder through the side windows before changing lanes or turning.
Primary Vehicle Controls
- Turn Signals: These must be used to indicate your intention to perform any maneuver, such as turning or changing lanes, both during the day and at night.
- Acoustic Warnings (Horn): The horn should be used exceptionally and only to prevent a possible accident. It is strictly forbidden to use it to hurry another driver. In built-up areas, it is only permitted to avoid an accident. On narrow, winding roads, it may be used to warn other road users of your presence to prevent a collision.
- Motorcycle-Specific Controls: On a standard motorcycle, the right hand operates the throttle and the front brake lever. The left foot operates the gear change pedal.