New Traffic Rules in Spain from 1 October 2026: What Changes

On 23 June 2026 the Spanish Council of Ministers approved a reform of the Reglamento General de Circulación (RGC), the general traffic regulation. It focuses on the most vulnerable road users: e-scooters, cyclists and motorcyclists. Most of it applies from 1 October 2026; two specific points wait until 1 October 2027.

If you are preparing for the DGT theory test, this matters: exam questions follow the rules in force, and these new numbers are ideal exam material.

Quick summary

Who	What changes
E-scooters (VMP)	Minimum age 15, helmet mandatory, reflective vest at night
E-scooters (VMP)	Lights always on (from 1 Oct 2027)
Cyclists	Helmet on interurban roads, no exemptions
Motorcyclists	Gloves on interurban roads, closed shoes everywhere
Motorcyclists	Homologated helmet required, a certificate is not enough (from 1 Oct 2027)
Taxis, lorries, driving-school cars	Seat belt always, exemptions removed
All drivers	Overtaking a cyclist on interurban roads: −20 km/h and a full lane change where there is more than one lane

E-scooters and other VMP

• Minimum age: 15.
• Helmet mandatory for every rider.
• Reflective vest at night or in poor visibility. Anyone riding for work (delivery riders, for example) wears helmet and vest at all times.
• Missing helmet or vest when required is a serious offence: €200.
• Lights always on — this applies from 1 October 2027.
• Outside towns, VMP may use routes separated from motor traffic, such as cycle lanes.

Cyclists

• Exemptions are gone: helmet mandatory on all interurban roads.
• Professional riders wear helmet and reflective vest at all times. Fine: €200.
• In towns, cyclists ride preferably in the centre of the lane — they are more visible and close passes are discouraged.
• On single-lane streets limited to 30 km/h or less, the local council may allow bikes in both directions, with signage.

If you drive a car

This is the part most likely to generate new exam questions.

On interurban roads, when overtaking a cyclist:

1. Slow down at least 20 km/h below the road's limit.
2. Leave at least 1.5 m of lateral distance.
3. If there is more than one lane in your direction, change lanes completely.

In towns, when following a cyclist in the same lane, keep at least 5 metres behind.

Exam tip: "−20 km/h and 1.5 m" on interurban roads also applies when passing stationary vehicles, such as a car broken down on the hard shoulder.

Motorcycles and mopeds

• Protective gloves mandatory for rider and passenger on interurban roads.
• Closed footwear on all roads, towns included. No more flip-flops.
• Both are serious offences: €200.
• In congested traffic, motorcycles may use the right hard shoulder at up to 30 km/h, only on signposted sections.
• Delivery riders on motorbikes wear a reflective vest at all times (€200).
• From 1 October 2027, helmets must be homologated; a simple certificate will no longer do.

About gloves: the homologation requirement starts once a ministerial order sets the technical specifications. Until then, the protective gloves used today are valid.

Seat belts

Exemptions for taxi drivers, goods-vehicle drivers and driving-school cars are removed: seat belt on, always.

One new exception: occupants of the patient compartment of an ambulance during an emergency call.

Other changes

• Snow on motorways (autopistas and autovías): when traffic is hampered, overtaking is banned and only the right lane is used, leaving the left lane free for emergency vehicles and snowploughs.
• Emergency corridor: in a jam, when traffic moves at walking pace or stops, vehicles move to the sides and leave a free central space for police and emergency services.
• Pedestrian-crossing lights: flashing amber for vehicles can no longer coincide with green for pedestrians.
• Safe school routes gain legal status.
• Motorhomes: when parked, they may not extend elements beyond the vehicle's outline, must rest only on their tyres, and may not discharge fluids.

What to remember for the DGT exam

Questions on new rules usually target the exact numbers:

• 15 — minimum age for VMP
• 20 km/h — speed reduction when overtaking a cyclist or passing a stopped vehicle on interurban roads
• 1.5 m — lateral distance
• 5 m — distance behind a cyclist in towns
• 30 km/h — maximum for a motorcycle on the hard shoulder in congestion
• €200 — fine for helmet, vest, gloves or footwear

And a common trap: the date. Most of the reform applies from 1 October 2026, but VMP lights and homologated motorcycle helmets only from 1 October 2027.

Prepare with Skilyapp

In Skilyapp you can ask the AI tutor about any of these rules in English, Spanish or Russian, and practise with exam-format tests.

Start for free · Open in Telegram