Car rental in Madrid

Breaches of regulations on transporting children – up to 200 EUR;

Failure to use seat belts – up to 200 EUR;

Using a mobile phone while driving – 200 EUR;

Exceeding the speed limit:

• by up to 20 km/h: within and outside the city – 100 EUR;
• by up to 30 km/h: within the city – 300 EUR; outside the city – 100 EUR;
• by up to 40 km/h: within the city – 400 EUR, outside the city – 300 EUR;
• by up to 50 km/h: within the city – 500 EUR, outside the city – 300 EUR;
• by up to 60 km/h: within the city – 600 EUR, outside the city – 400 EUR;
• by up to 70 km/h: within the city – 600 EUR, outside the city – 500 EUR.

If you exceed the speed limit by more than 70 km/h, the fine is 600 EUR regardless of the type of road.

Motor vehicles:

Motor vehicles with trailers:

The minimum speed limit on long stretches of motorway is 60 km/h.

Parking rules for both hire cars and other motor vehicles in Madrid depend on the day of the week, time of day, and even the month.

In blue parking zones you must purchase a special parking ticket. It is available from a nearby parking meter from Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. At weekends it operates from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The ticket costs 1.5 EUR per hour. The closer to the centre you are, the more expensive the parking ticket will be. The parking meter will calculate the cost automatically.

If you need to park your car for a long period, use an underground car park, where an electronic sign at the entrance shows the number of available spaces. The parking fee can be paid when entering the car park, at a pay desk or at a filling station. Prices start from 22 EUR per day.

During siesta hours, as well as on Sunday, it is possible to find free parking in the city. Such zones are marked with a white line. However, if you see a parking sign for people with disabilities, you should be aware that parking is prohibited there for any other vehicle. Otherwise, your car hired in Madrid will be towed away, and you will be left a notice with a telephone number.

The maximum admissible blood alcohol limit is 0.5%. If you have held your driving licence for less than 24 months, the highest allowed blood alcohol content for you is 0.3%.

Exceeding the maximum permissible level of alcohol incurs a fine of 500 EUR. Refusing to take a blood alcohol test also results in a fine of 500 EUR.

• It is compulsory to use dipped headlights when driving through any type of tunnel;
• Children under 3 years of age must only be transported in cars in special child restraint systems, each of which is optimised for the child's weight;
• Children over 36 months of age and shorter than 135 cm must only be transported in a child seat or on a booster;
• Passengers in the front and rear seats are required to wear seat belts;
• It is forbidden to use a mobile phone while driving unless it is equipped with a hands-free system;
• At any filling station, make sure your mobile phone is switched off.

Unleaded petrol and diesel fuel are available. It is permitted to carry up to 10 litres of petrol in a canister. Many city filling stations operate automatically (without an attendant), and payment is accepted by credit card. Approximate fuel prices: petrol 95 – 1.38 EUR; petrol 98 – 1.50 EUR; diesel fuel – 1.34 EUR.