Driving Differences: Philippines vs. Spain Explained
Explore the vital contrasts between driving in the Philippines and Spain to enhance your road safety abroad. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane regulations, and documentation requirements. Understanding these unique driving practices will empower travelers to navigate confidently and responsibly in either country.
Lanes
| Philippines | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Right
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Bus Lanes: Usage
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
spain:
Exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
philippines:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Philippines | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 kph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 kph | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 kph | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 kph | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 90 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Less common; fines are usually issued later | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
philippines:
40 kph
spain:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
philippines:
20 kph
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
philippines:
80 kph
spain:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
philippines:
70 kph
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
philippines:
50 kph
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
philippines:
100 kph
spain:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
philippines:
80 kph
spain:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
philippines:
80 kph
spain:
90 km/h
Speed Units
philippines:
kph
spain:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
philippines:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Philippines | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Spain |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Filipino; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
philippines:
Not used
spain:
Not used in Spain
Traffic Signs: Language
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Philippines | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Philippines | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; 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. |
| Insurance | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed | 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 | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory. |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Insurance
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
spain:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
philippines:
Mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Philippines | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Alcohol
| Philippines | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
spain:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
philippines:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Philippines | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AAA | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
philippines:
911
spain:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
philippines:
117
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Philippines | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 | 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 | PHP 300 | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | PHP 1000 | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
philippines:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
philippines:
PHP 300
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
philippines:
PHP 1000
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay