As the summer rages on, a warning has been issued to British holidaymakers who are looking to visit Spain this year.
As reported by the Express, Mike Caunter, Managing Director of Airport Parking and Hotels, has told drivers to be wary of charges they may face in the country this summer.
As in accordance with a similar law across the road in Edinburgh, a number of major cities are introducing Low Emission Zones in order to combat air pollution rates. Mike Caunter had this to say: "An increasing number of European countries are introducing low emission zones across cities and towns in a bid to reduce congestion and air pollution.
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“With more destinations joining the list, it’s important drivers are aware of the rules and regulations before arriving on holiday.
“We hope the APH research will help savvy drivers ensure they have the correct fees, certificate or sticker displayed for their vehicle.”
In Spain, the most notable cities with Low Emission Zones (LEZs) is the capital, Madrid, and Barcelona. In order to enter these cities on working days between 7am and 8pm, a vehicle must comply with Euro 3 petrol standards and Euro 4 diesel.
Drivers are also required to purchase the correct badge for the vehicle before entering the controlled LEZ zone. Barcelona also has the ability to bar entry of all cars into its city centre, when an episode of excess NO2 pollution is declared.
It costs seven euros (£5.93) to register a car for the LEZs, and drivers face fines of up to 200 euros (£169) if they do not comply with the rules. From 2023 onwards, towns in Spain with more than 50,000 residents - and some with just 20,000 inhabitants - will have to designate a LEZ to comply with the Climate Change law.
This rule will apply to at least 149 towns and cities across Spain. When it comes to hiring a car, drivers must be at least 21 years of age, but some companies require road users to be at least 23 years old.
Under most circumstances, drivers under the age of 25, are required to pay an additional young driver surcharge, which can cost upwards of 20 euros (£17) per day. The majority of rental businesses also require road users to use a credit card in order to hire a vehicle.
In terms of driving licences, British expats in the country of Spain are still awaiting the outcome between the UK and Spanish Government discussion on whether they will be able to drive using their DVLA-issued licences.
The British Embassy public Facebook page has posted an update this week regarding the ongoing discussions. The post read: "This week, we have continued working with the Spanish Government to settle the small number of outstanding points in the annexes.
“Concluding these negotiations remains our top priority and we will post an update as soon as we have developments to share.”
And by law in Spain, drivers are also required to carry a number of items in their car, to ensure health and safety in the event of an accident. While safety vests are not mandatory to carry in a car in the country, you could be fined for not wearing one if you are walking on a busy road or the hard shoulder.
Warning triangles are obligatory for every vehicle with four or more vehicles and residents must carry two, as well as needing beam deflectors.
For more information on what fines are in place for using a car in Spain, check out the RAC website here.
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