Everything you need to know about the new traffic regulations in Spain coming into force from 1st January 2025. Keep up to date at a glance on what you need to be aware of if you are driving in Spain or if you are visiting our beautiful province of Malaga and Costa del Sol.
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New traffic regulations in Spain 2025
In short, the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) is going to modify the General Traffic Regulations in Spain for 2025 to include new rules.
The four most important changes include a ban on overtaking in bad weather on motorways, the obligation to create an emergency lane in traffic jams, and the authorisation for motorbikes and towing vehicles to drive on the hard shoulder under certain conditions. Below, we explain the new regulations in more detail.
Overtaking forbidden on icy and snowy roads
You might be thinking ‘Malaga and snow? This doesn’t concern me’. But, in fact, it is not uncommon for precipitation in winter to fall in the form of snow at altitudes above 800 metres.
The province of Malaga has several mountain ranges where there is often snow in winter. Examples are Sierra Tejeda with an altitude of over 2,000 metres. Or Sierra de las Nieves (which has its name precisely because of this, meaning “snowy mountain range“)), declared a National Park.
In the photo below you can see this beautiful view of snowy Ronda.
The new rule refers to the use of lanes, outside built-up areas, on roads with more than one lane for the same direction of travel.
When there is ice or snow on the road, overtaking is prohibited for all vehicles. They will have to stay in the right lane to facilitate the work of road maintenance services and emergency vehicles.
Emergency lanes in traffic jams
A new measure that we applaud and which has been mandatory for years in other European countries, such as Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic and Hungary, is the emergency lane.
The emergency corridor is a lane provided in the middle of a multi-lane roadway (such as motorways or dual carriageways). It allows emergency services to pass in the event of accidents, traffic congestion or traffic jams.
This means that in a traffic jam, drivers must give way to emergency vehicles so that they can pass quickly: If you are on a two-lane road in the same direction, those in the right lane to the right and those in the left lane to the left.
Motorbikes can ride on the hard shoulder in traffic jams
This new rule refers to the use of the right-hand verge by motorbikes in the event of traffic jams. It applies to all types of roads with traffic jams under two conditions:
- The speed limit may not exceed 30 km/h.
- The priority of vehicles obliged to use the hard shoulder, e.g. bicycles, must be respected.
Tow trucks and ambulances can drive on the hard shoulder
And last but not least, priority and emergency vehicles will also be allowed to drive on the hard shoulder. In emergencies, these vehicles are authorised to drive on the hard shoulder on public roads. These vehicles must also meet two conditions:
- Use illuminated signals.
- Do not drive faster than 30 km/h (except for priority vehicles).
Have you been fined for not complying with traffic regulations?
Driving around Malaga and the Costa del Sol in your rental car you have received a fine?
- In our article Traffic fines in Malaga you can find relevant information.
Low emission zones – Which cars will not be allowed from 2025 onwards
Another of the most significant changes that will come into force on 1 January 2025 are the Low Emission Zones. All vehicles, including cars, motorbikes and light vans, are obliged to have their corresponding label if they want to enter or drive through LEZs in cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants.
In other words: Vehicles without an environmental sticker cannot drive in the LEZs and vehicles with B and C stickers are subject to certain restrictions in certain areas.
- You can find more information in our article about Low Emission Zones in Malaga.
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