Driving Differences: Croatia vs. Spain Explained
When exploring the roads of Croatia and Spain, understanding their unique driving regulations is essential for safe travel. Notable contrasts include speed limits, lane usage, and documentation requirements. While Croatia maintains stricter rules on overtaking, Spain permits variable speed limits, emphasizing the need for awareness and adaptability behind the wheel.
Lanes
| Croatia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Bus Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
croatia:
No
spain:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
croatia:
N/A
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
croatia:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
croatia:
30 km/h
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
croatia:
80 km/h
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
80 km/h
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
130 km/h
spain:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
croatia:
90 km/h
spain:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
croatia:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
croatia:
Yes
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Croatia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Spain |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Croatian; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
croatia:
Not used
spain:
Not used in Spain
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
spain:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Croatia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
croatia:
Not allowed
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Croatia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | Accepted; must carry license. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory. |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Mandatory. |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
croatia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Alcohol
| Croatia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
spain:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
croatia:
Common
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
croatia:
Can be substantial
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
croatia:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Croatia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
Contact: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines possible | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
croatia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay