Speed limits in Spain: the complete table (and the exam traps) 🚦
Quick answer: The generics to memorise: cars and motorcycles — 120 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways, 90 on conventional roads; in town, 30 km/h on single-lane-per-direction streets and 50 on wider ones. Buses: 100/90. Trucks: 90/80. Motorways inside towns: 80. Special vehicles: 40. And the one everyone forgets: the minimum on motorways is 60 km/h. A posted sign always beats the generic limit.
Speed limits provide more theory-test questions than almost any other topic — and they've changed more than any other in recent years: the 2021 urban reform (goodbye universal 50), the equalisation of vans with cars, and the per-vehicle nuances feed dozens of trap questions. This table gathers the 2026 generics, cross-checked against the traffic regulations and this year's updated guides.
The master table by vehicle and road 📊
| Vehicle | Motorway (km/h) | Conventional | Urban |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cars and motorcycles | 120 | 90 | 30 / 50 by lanes |
| Vans (≤3,500 kg) | 120 (equalised with cars since 2021) | 90 | 30 / 50 |
| Buses | 100 | 90 | 30 / 50 |
| Trucks (>3,500 kg) and articulated | 90 | 80 | 30 / 50 |
| Cars with trailers | 80–90 by combination | 70–80 | 30 / 50 |
| Special vehicles | 40 (25 if unable to reach it by construction) | 40 | — |
Reductions the exam loves: school transport and dangerous goods cut the limit by 10 km/h; dangerous goods drop to 40 in specific cases. And since 2021, town limits follow the lanes: 20 km/h on shared-platform streets, 30 with one lane per direction, 50 with two or more.
The exam's three favourite traps 🎯
1. «Motorway inside a town»: the generic drops to 80 km/h (minimum 60) — autopilot answers of 120 fail here daily.
2. «And the minimum?»: on motorways you may not cruise below 60 km/h without cause; obstructive slowness is an offence too.
3. «Special vehicle»: the generic is 40 km/h — 25 for those that can't reach it by construction. One of the worst-answered questions in the bank.
When the weather takes over 🌧️
Generics assume normal conditions: heavy rain, fog or ice legally require adapting speed even without signs — below 50 metres' visibility, 50 km/h is the classic reference. Speeding is fined by bands (€100–600 and up to 6 points, full detail in the 2026 fines table) and exceeding the limit by +60 in town or +80 elsewhere is outright a crime.
Conclusion 🏁
Learn the table as a grid — vehicle × road — plus the three traps above, and this topic flips from enemy to free points. Drill the real variants on TraficoTest and read the sibling rules: motorways and dual carriageways and alcohol at the wheel.
What searchers ask (answered head-on) 🔍
The exact phrasings people type into Google and AI assistants — answered head-on:
«motorway inside a town — what's the limit?»
On a motorway or dual carriageway running through a built-up area, the generic limit drops to 80 km/h maximum with a 60 km/h minimum, where signposted by the municipality. It's the urban exception to the usual 120 — and a theory question with a brutal fail rate.
«what's the speed limit for buses in Spain?»
100 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways, 90 km/h on conventional roads. School transport or standing passengers cut the limit by 10 km/h.
«how fast can a motorcycle go on a Spanish motorway?»
120 km/h — exactly like cars, unless signs set a lower limit. The idea that bikes have their own lower limits is a myth.
«what's the general limit for special vehicles?»
40 km/h as a general rule; special vehicles that by construction cannot reach it run at a maximum of 25 km/h.
«is there a minimum speed on motorways?»
Yes: 60 km/h. Vehicles that can't reach it are barred from entering, and needlessly slow driving is itself sanctionable.
Frequently asked questions ❓
What's the top speed for a motorcycle on a Spanish motorway?
120 km/h, the same as cars, unless specific signage says otherwise.
What's the limit on a motorway inside a town?
80 km/h maximum with a 60 km/h minimum, where signposted by the municipal authority.
What's the maximum speed for a bus in Spain?
100 km/h on motorways and dual carriageways and 90 km/h on conventional roads; school transport cuts 10 km/h.
What's the general limit for a special vehicle?
40 km/h; 25 km/h for those that cannot reach that speed by construction.
Is there a minimum motorway speed?
Yes: 60 km/h. Driving slower without justification obstructs traffic and is sanctionable.