Iceland vs Spain: Navigating Driving Differences

Iceland and Spain present unique driving landscapes, each with distinct regulations and practices that can impact travelers' safety. From overtaking rules to speed limits, understanding these variations is crucial for a secure journey. Explore how these two countries differ in lane usage, traffic signals, and penalties to ensure a smooth driving experience abroad.

icelandspain

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in iceland is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in iceland is 93

2.229 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for iceland is 2.229 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Iceland	Spain
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.	Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas	List length: 4	List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.	Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; 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

iceland:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

spain:

Prohibited unless on a one-way street.

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

iceland:

List length: 4

spain:

List length: 5

Bus Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.

spain:

Reserved for buses and taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

spain:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence

iceland:

spain:

Yes

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

iceland:

N/A

spain:

Minimum two or three occupants

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

iceland:

spain:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

spain:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

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	Iceland	Spain
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30 km/h	20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h on gravel roads	90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	90 km/h on paved roads	80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h on paved roads	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	90 km/h	120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	90 km/h	100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	90 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

iceland:

30 km/h

spain:

20-30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

80 km/h on gravel roads

spain:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h on paved roads

spain:

80-90 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h on paved roads

spain:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

90 km/h

spain:

120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h

spain:

100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h

spain:

90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

iceland:

spain:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

spain:

Electronic signs display current limits

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

iceland:

Yes

spain:

Yes, commonly used

Signals

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	Iceland	Spain
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	N/A	Not used in Spain
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties	N/A	Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage	N/A	Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language	Icelandic; symbols are standard	Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red borders	Triangular with white background and red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

iceland:

N/A

spain:

Not used in Spain

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

spain:

Signal when exiting

Horn Usage: Penalties

iceland:

N/A

spain:

Fines may apply for misuse

Hand Signals: Common Usage

iceland:

N/A

spain:

Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected

Traffic Signs: Language

iceland:

Icelandic; symbols are standard

spain:

Spanish; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

iceland:

Triangular with red borders

spain:

Triangular with white background and red border

Turns

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	Iceland		Spain
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed		Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed	Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs		Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.

Right Turn On Red

iceland:

Not allowed

spain:

Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise

U- Turns Allowed

iceland:

Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs

spain:

Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.

Documentation

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	Iceland	Spain
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual inspection required	Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the windshield	Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Mandatory.

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

spain:

Accepted; must carry license.

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

spain:

International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

iceland:

Annual inspection required

spain:

Yes, periodic inspections required.

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

iceland:

Displayed on the windshield

spain:

Displayed on windshield in some areas.

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

iceland:

Mandatory

spain:

Mandatory.

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

spain:

Mandatory.

Road Etiquette

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	Iceland		Spain
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Less frequent use compared to some countries		Used more frequently in urgent situations

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

iceland:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

spain:

Used more frequently in urgent situations

Alcohol

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	Iceland	Spain
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% - zero tolerance	0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial penalties can apply	Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and fine	Can result in heavy fines and license suspension

Limits: Professional Drivers

iceland:

0.02%

spain:

0.03%

Limits: Underage Drivers

iceland:

0.00% - zero tolerance

spain:

0.00%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

iceland:

Common

spain:

Common; checkpoints frequently used

Enforcement: Fines

iceland:

Substantial penalties can apply

spain:

Severe penalties, including high fines

Test Refusal

iceland:

Can result in license suspension and fine

spain:

Can result in heavy fines and license suspension

Roundabouts

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	Iceland		Spain
Signaling: Entering	Signal when entering and exiting		Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting	Signal when preparing to exit		Signal right when preparing to exit

Signaling: Entering

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

spain:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Exiting

iceland:

Signal when preparing to exit

spain:

Signal right when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Iceland	Spain
Contact: Traffic Police	National Police number 112	Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Contact local towing services or insurance provider	Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Mandatory

Contact: Traffic Police

iceland:

National Police number 112

spain:

Check with local authorities

Contact: Roadside Assistance

iceland:

Contact local towing services or insurance provider

spain:

Contact your insurance provider or RACE

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

spain:

Mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Iceland	Spain
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense	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	Mandatory; fines apply	€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines if found using without hands-free	€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly	Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

iceland:

Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense

spain:

Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

iceland:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

spain:

Severe fines and potential imprisonment

Common Fines: Seat Belts

iceland:

Mandatory; fines apply

spain:

€200, mandatory use

Common Fines: Phone Use

iceland:

Fines if found using without hands-free

spain:

€200, points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

iceland:

Fines and points on license

spain:

€200, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

iceland:

Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly

spain:

Yes; discount if paid promptly.

Payment: Deadline

iceland:

Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame

spain:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay