Driving in Romania vs. Spain: Key Differences Explained
Discover the vital distinctions in road regulations between Romania and Spain to enhance your travel experience. From lane use and speed limits to alcohol laws and emergency protocols, each country presents unique driving norms. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad, allowing you to navigate confidently on unfamiliar roads.
Lanes
| Romania | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited, mainly in urban areas | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | 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
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Bus Lanes: Usage
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
spain:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
romania:
No
spain:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
romania:
Not applicable
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
romania:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
romania:
Not commonly used
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Romania | 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
romania:
30 km/h
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
romania:
80 km/h
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
romania:
80 km/h
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
romania:
130 km/h
spain:
120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
romania:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
romania:
Not commonly used
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
romania:
Yes, common practice
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Romania | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Romania | Not used in Spain |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Romanian; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a red border | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
romania:
Not used in Romania
spain:
Not used in Spain
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
spain:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Romania | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
romania:
Not allowed
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Romania | 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 | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspections 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 | Mandatory | Mandatory. |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
romania:
International Driving Permit required
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
romania:
Mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
romania:
Mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Romania | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use expected | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
romania:
Moderate use expected
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Alcohol
| Romania | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Considerable fines for offenses | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
spain:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
romania:
0.00%
spain:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
romania:
0.00%
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
romania:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Romania | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call 112 for police assistance | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Call your insurance provider or a local service | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
spain:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
spain:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Romania | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Hefty fines and possible license suspension | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable; license points may be added | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist | Possible if fines are not paid |
Common Fines: Speeding
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
Payment: Deadline
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist
spain:
Possible if fines are not paid