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.

monacospain

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

100

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in monaco is 100

1.816 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for monaco is 1.816 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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	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:

spain:

Yes

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

monaco:

N/A

spain:

Minimum two or three occupants

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

monaco:

spain:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

monaco:

Standard speed limits apply

spain:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

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	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:

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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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