Travellers to Spain reminded of overtaking rules: French drivers affected

Drivers travelling to Spain are being advised of the country’s overtaking regulations, as recent amendments impose new restrictions that may catch motorists unawares, potentially resulting in fines or even penalty points on their licence.

Previously, drivers were allowed to go up to 20 km/h above a road’s speed limit to overtake a driver ahead of them.

This meant that for example, on a road with a 90 km/h limit, a driver was allowed to reach speeds of 110 km/h when overtaking, before returning to 90 km/h once ahead of the vehicle.

However, changes to the rules in 2022 saw this margin removed, even in cases where overtaking is deemed ‘essential’. 

While overtaking is still permitted, drivers must now stay within the road’s maximum speed limits.

The rules apply on all roads, including those near the French border in Catalonia. 

Since the rule change, driving groups have protested the measure and asked for it to be overturned, but authorities in Spain recently confirmed there are no plans to do so. 

However, this is despite recent research indicating that the rate of road fatalities from head-on collisions – cited as a principal safety justification for the change – remained steady in the years after the transition.

Spain and France share information

Drivers caught speeding when overtaking will be penalised based on how much they are above the limit. 

Those driving between 1 km/h - 20 km/h above the limit (the margin prior to the change) risk a fine of €100 but no licence points deduction. 

Between 20 km/h - 50 km/h, fines of €300 to €500 are issued, in addition to losing 2-6 licence points. 

As France and Spain are both in the EU they exchange information on road offences, meaning holders of a French driving licence can expect to be penalised for serious infringements. This can include fines and a deduction of licence points.