Monaco vs. Spain: Key Driving Differences Uncovered
When navigating the roads of Monaco and Spain, understanding the nuances in regulations and practices is crucial for a secure journey. Key distinctions include lane markings, speed limits, and the use of emergency equipment. This comparison sheds light on essential driving norms in both nations, ensuring travelers are well-prepared for their adventures abroad.
Lanes
| Monaco | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited, mostly on main roads | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Predominantly for buses. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled ‘BUS’. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with small vehicles or buses. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| 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 | Standard speed limits apply | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
spain:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
spain:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Bus Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
spain:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited
spain:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
spain:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
spain:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
monaco:
No
spain:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
monaco:
N/A
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
monaco:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Monaco | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | N/A | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | N/A | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | N/A | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | N/A | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common for traffic violations | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
monaco:
30 km/h
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
spain:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
spain:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
spain:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
spain:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
monaco:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Monaco | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Rare in Monaco, usually not used | Not used in Spain |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
spain:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
spain:
Not used in Spain
Traffic Signs: Language
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Monaco | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted where indicated; check for signs | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
monaco:
Prohibited
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Monaco | 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 for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually; proof may be required | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle windshield | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory. |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Mandatory. |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
monaco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Monaco | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
monaco:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Alcohol
| Monaco | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by severity | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
monaco:
0.02%
spain:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
monaco:
0.00%
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
monaco:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Monaco | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 18 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Local police also available on 911 using GSM | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through service providers or insurance | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
monaco:
112 or 18
spain:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Monaco | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | 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 | Fine applies if not used | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Substantial fines issued | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | High fines, points on license | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; varies | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be settled soon | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
monaco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
monaco:
High fines, points on license
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
monaco:
Possible; varies
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay