Fixed and average speed cameras are announced by signs, and the DGT publishes their locations. Mobile radars, unmarked cars, helicopters and drones also check speed. In Catalonia, the Basque Country and Navarre, regional police patrol the roads instead of the Guardia Civil.
Warned by a sign
Fixed speed camera, Average speed camera, Other camera (Control de separación mínima)
Not always warned
Mobile camera, Unmarked camera car, Other camera (Helicóptero Pegasus o dron), Red light camera
Real photos, with where each one was taken and who took it.
Radar fijo
Looks like: Cameras in roadside cabins, on poles or on overhead gantries.
Catches: Speeding.
About 90 per cent use Doppler radar and about 10 per cent use laser. At the end of 2024 there were 763 fixed and section camera points on interurban roads, not counting Catalonia and the Basque Country, and the DGT keeps adding more.
Radar de tramo
Looks like: Two camera points several kilometres apart that read number plates.
Catches: Average speed between the two points.
Sections average about 2 km. The longest is 23 km, on the CL-615 in Palencia.
Radar móvil
Looks like: Radar units on tripods beside the road, or operated from Guardia Civil patrol cars.
Catches: Speeding.
Officers may stop you a short distance after the radar to check documents and issue the fine.
Vehículo camuflado
Looks like: Ordinary-looking cars with a radar hidden inside.
Catches: Speeding.
Helicóptero Pegasus o dron
Looks like: DGT helicopters fitted with high-resolution cameras, and drones.
Catches: Speeding, measured from the air.
A dedicated sign for aerial speed control exists in the 2025 sign catalogue.
Control de semáforo en rojo
Catches: Crossing the stop line on a red light.
A warning sign for red light cameras was added to the official sign catalogue in July 2025. Signs are being replaced gradually as old ones are renewed. A similar sign warns of cameras at STOP signs.
Control de separación mínima
Catches: Following too closely, on ordinary roads and on autopistas and autovías.
The warning sign shows the minimum gap, 70 metres unless stated otherwise. Tailgating costs €200 and 4 points.
Control de velocidad en carretera convencional o carretera multicarril (S-991a)
A speed camera checks this point or section of an ordinary road.
What to do: Check your speed against the limit. The camera may measure at one point or your average speed over a section.
Control de velocidad en autopista o autovía (S-991b)
A speed camera checks this point or section of an autopista or autovía.
What to do: Check your speed against the limit.
Control de semáforo en rojo (S-991c)
A camera checks that vehicles stop at the red light ahead.
What to do: Stop before the stop line on red, and on steady amber unless you are too close to stop safely.
Control de velocidad mediante medios aéreos (S-991g)
Speed may be checked from a helicopter or drone on this stretch. If the checks target one type of vehicle, only that vehicle may be shown.
What to do: Keep to the limit. You may be stopped further on, or the fine may arrive by post.
Radar detectors: Illegal
Apps that warn of cameras: Allowed
If you're in a hire car: Camera fines go to the registered keeper. For a hire car, the hire company must identify the driver, and can do so by sending a copy of the rental contract, so the fine is then sent to you. If police stop you and you cannot show legal residence in Spain, you must pay on the spot, by card or in cash in euros, or the car is immobilised. Paying on the spot still gets the 50 per cent discount.
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| Speeding up to 30 km/h over a 120 km/h limit (121 to 150 km/h) No points. | €100 |
| Speeding at 151 to 170 km/h on a 120 km/h road Plus 2 points on a Spanish licence. Fines rise to €600 and 6 points above 190 km/h. | €300 |
| Speeding at 51 to 70 km/h in a 50 km/h zone 71 to 80 km/h costs €300 and 2 points, and over 100 km/h costs €600 and 6 points. | €100 |
| Running a red light Plus 4 points on a Spanish licence. | €200 |
The full guide to driving in Spain · Speed cameras in other countries