Safe Speed Forums

Me and the clan are off to Santander, Spain (first foreign holiday with our 3yr old & 5yr old, nightmare!:loco:) at the end of August and have hired a Focus while we are out there from Hertz and I am a bit confused as to weather I need an International Driving Licence or not can anyone advise?

Strange place to be directed to - but they know , as their peeps end up there representing us ( just in case ) ----try FCO - Foreign and Commonwealth Office - lots of tips on all sorts of subjects - from driving licences to what not to take in to a country.
They do an "info " sheet internally for fellow workers - what is in short supply etc etc -

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

Thanks Botach

A big site that! Didn't find any mention of it but did find this somewhere -

Beware in Spain.

The law operating in Spain regarding the use of indicators on motorways is being strictly enforced. You will risk being fined for not indicating before overtaking and again before pulling back to the nearside lane after overtaking.

If you have a full UK licence (with the EU symbol on it) then you are fine.

Thats why i advised FCO site - know from family conections that
if you look they advise on all things you may find abroad - got a sister that nag me that this site is be all and end all of Brits problems when going abroad.

_________________
lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

Great! Thanks fellas

Apart from that , i found in most parts of Africa that a UK licence (without a photo) is preferred to a licence from most other parts - mind you i'm talking about about 30 yrs ago when UK road safety was the thing that even despots of third world African countries said they should aspire to - but now Britain has aspired to copy their record on human rights.

_________________
lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

Yeah, you've got to watch out abroad, as they aren't so relaxed with regards genuine road safety. They will come down on you like a ton of bricks if you speed, but the speed limits are such that if you do break them you probably are going too fast.

Drink drive limits are much stricter in Spain, and I think the limit is half what it is in Britain. On the spot fines can be dished out. Use indicators to make your intentions clear. And, in the event of a breakdown on the motorway, put on a high visibility vest, which should be provided in the hire car.

Hi Paul, I think I'm right in saying that as long as your Driving Licence is an up to date "European" one, you're OK. All European licences now follow the same format so there's no problem anymore. Make sure you have the card AND the paper copy with you ALWAYS.

In SPAIN however, because of their laws, and ability to lock you up if they think you may abscond before the hearing....... You will require a "bail Bond" which guarantee's your presence/payment of fine. Now, you can take the risk if you want to, as I have done previously. But in the event of a serious accident you CAN find yourself behind bars awaiting the outcome...

You CAN opt for "accident waver" with the hirer which will cover you for damage to their car. But in a legal situation without a Bond you're stuffed!

My photocard did have that...but it hasn't any more