Spain driving licence penalty points explained

Drivers in Spain have 12 points on their licence, which can be deducted for road traffic offences

With some British citizens resident in Spain getting Spanish driving licences to be able to continue to drive in Spain after Brexit, it’s important for drivers to know how the penalty points system in this country works. It is quite different from the method employed in the UK or Ireland, for example, where points are added to a driving licence for serious infractions.

 

In Spain, points are deducted for offences and when a motorist reaches zero, they are off the road. In addition, penalty points follow the driver and not the licence, so if you exhaust all of your points, you are forbidden from driving any kind of vehicle.

 

How many points do I have?

 

Initially, in general, drivers start with a balance of 12 points. However novice drivers and any driver who gets their permit back after it was withdrawn start at 8 points. This figure is not fixed and can increase or decrease depending on whether or not you are a good driver.

 

You can check the points you have on your permit through the DGT points check service.

 

Where to get a points certificate?

 

Occasionally, professional drivers will need a physical points certificate. To find out how to obtain one, you can consult the points certificate request service.

 

How to understand the points I have

 

Drivers with more than 3 years of experience start from a balance of 12 points, but the points system rewards good drivers, so that you can have up to a total of 15 points.

 

If in 3 years no infraction is committed that subtracts points, the initial 12 will be increased by 2 points. After another 3 years without infractions, another point will be added, bringing the total to 15.

 

Novice drivers or those who have obtained the permit again after it has been withdrawn, start from 8 points. This will be increased to 12 points after 2 years without committing infractions that lead to the loss of points.

 

Once a driver reaches 12 points, they can also get a bonus of up to 15 points following the same process as other motorists.

 

 

You might also like: How to pay reduced fines for traffic violations in Spain

How do you lose points?

 

Points are lost after being sanctioned for committing a serious or very serious infraction. You can lose 2, 3, 4 or 6 points per infraction depending on the severity. Speeding can cost you between 2 and 6 points, while driving the wrong way in the wrong lane will always mean you get 6 points taken away.

 

As a general rule, drivers cannot lose more than 8 points in a day, but there are exceptions, when it comes to some very serious offences.

 

Beware! You can lose all the points on your driving license in a single day if:

 

• You are caught driving over the legal alcohol limit or are found to have drugs in your system while behind the wheel
• You refuse to submit to drug or alcohol testing
• You exceed the authorised speed by more than 50%
• You engage in manifestly reckless driving
• You drive a vehicle with radar jammers installed
• You drive on a road in the wrong direction
• You participate in drag racing
• You fail to comply with more than 50% of the mandatory driving and rest times if you are a professional driver

 

How can points be recovered?

What do I do if I lose all my points?

• Carry out and pass the road awareness and re-education course. This will last about 24 hours and you can do it during the period in which you cannot drive.
• Once this period has elapsed and you have passed the awareness and re-education course, you must pass a theoretical exam. Request an appointment for the test through your centre or driving school, or directly at your Traffic Office.
• Once you have passed the exam, remember that you have to request the issuance of your new permit so that it can be sent to your address. The new licence will begin with a balance of 8 points.

What happens if you drive without points?

What are the most common offences?

• Speeding
• Not wearing a seatbelt
• Mobile phone use
• Alcohol and drug use