1. Types of transport 🚚
According to their nature, road transport is classified as:
- 🟢 Public: Transport for third parties in exchange for payment.
- 🔵 Private: Own-account transport, which may be:
- 👨👩👧👦 Personal: For personal or household needs. No authorization required.
- 🏭 Ancillary: Support for the main activities of one’s own company or establishment.
2. Transport authorization 📄
Mandatory for public or private ancillary transport. It may only be used with vehicles linked in the Register of Transport Companies and Activities.
Vehicle requirements:
- Own traction capacity 🛻
- Registered in Spain 🇪🇸
- Ownership, finance lease, or ordinary rental
2.1 Types of authorizations
| Code | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| MDPE | 🚛 Public | Goods with MMA > 3.5 tonnes (maximum authorized mass) |
| MDLE | 🚐 Public | Goods with MMA ≤ 3.5 tonnes |
| OT | 📦 Operator | Intermediation in public transport |
| MPCE | 🏭 Private | Ancillary transport |
🚫 Important: You cannot hold a private transport authorization and a public one at the same time.
2.2 Validity 🗓️
- ⏳ No fixed term, but verified every 2 years with a renewal endorsement (visado).
- 🔍 The Administration may request additional documents to verify compliance.
2.3 Transport exempt from authorization ❌
Cases where no authorization is required:
- 🚜 Vehicles with a maximum speed < 40 km/h
- ⚙️ Vehicles with machines permanently attached (cranes, generators, etc.)
- 🧃 Non-commercial transport in vehicles with MMA ≤ 2 tonnes (may be extended up to 3.5 t)
- 🏭 Internal transport within enclosed premises
- 🎒 Luggage in trailers of passenger vehicles
- 🗑️ Waste transport in special vehicles
- 💰 Transport of money or valuables in armored vehicles
- 💊 Medicines or urgent aid in disasters
- 🚘 Practical lessons for licenses or CAP
- 🏛️ Historic vehicles
- 🧳 Funeral transport within national territory
3. International transport 🌍
3.1 Customs regimes
- 📘 TIR system (Transport International Routier): mandatory use of TIR carnets
- 🌐 Community Transit: simplifies formalities within the EU
3.2 Specific signs for transport 🚨
- 🔶 V-2: Indicates a vehicle stopped or traveling at < 40 km/h (due to breakdown, accident, or special service)
- 🟨 V-21: Escort sign for a special vehicle or special transport
- 🟥 V-23: Mandatory retroreflective marking for heavy and long vehicles (since 10/07/2011)
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