A speedometer hitting 150 km/h – a speed only legal in Spain during official vehicle testing.
Credit : krigo, Shutterstock

If you spend any time driving on Spanish roads, you’ll know the drill by heart. Stick to your lane, keep your eyes peeled for cyclists and tractors, and- above all – don’t get caught speeding.

The limit on the big motorways is 120 km/h, and on smaller, twistier country roads it drops to 90 km/h. Everyone knows someone who’s been stung by a speeding fine, and we all grumble about those mobile radar traps popping up just where you least expect them.

But here’s something you might not know: there’s a little-known exception buried in Spain’s traffic laws that lets a select few drivers legally blast down the road at a whopping 150 km/h. No, we’re not talking about Formula 1 stars or runaway politicians. We’re talking about the folks testing new vehicles—and they’ve got the paperwork to prove it.

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Legal speed limits: When driving over 120 km/h is allowed in Spain

Now, before you get any funny ideas, this isn’t a loophole you can wriggle through with a wink and a nod to the Guardia Civil. The rules are still pretty strict, and for the average driver, the top speed remains firmly capped. Cars, motorbikes, and motorhomes under 3,500kg get the 120 km/h green light on motorways. Lorries and buses have to stick to 90 or 100, and anyone towing a trailer gets knocked down to 80 or 90, depending on the road.

But every once in a while, especially near the big car manufacturing plants or on a remote stretch of autovía, you might spot something a bit unusual: a car or van streaking by, clearly breaking the speed limit, but closely followed by a convoy of official-looking vehicles. If you look closely, you’ll notice they’re marked up with special stripes and a big “V-12” sign stuck on the back. That’s the magic pass—proof that this isn’t just some speed junkie out for a thrill, but an official test in progress.

Spanish speed limit rules: Who gets special permission and why

So, why does Spain let anyone travel so fast in the first place? It’s all about safety—ironically enough. When car makers want to release a new model, or test out a major upgrade, they need to see how it handles at high speeds. That means pushing the vehicle right to the edge, but it’s done under strict controls and only after getting the green light from the authorities.

This isn’t a spur-of-the-moment thing. Car companies—or specialist testing labs—have to ask for special permission from the DGT (that’s Spain’s traffic directorate, and yes, they’re very picky). The tests can only happen on certain roads, never in the middle of a busy town or anywhere that’s clearly marked with lower speed limits. The vehicle needs to be plastered in high-visibility stripes so nobody can miss what’s going on. And, crucially, the only people allowed to drive are those named on the permission slip—no swapping with your mate halfway down the road.

There are even rules about who can ride along. Usually, it’s the owner of the test vehicle or someone officially “in service” for the manufacturer. These aren’t wild rides for fun—they’re serious business, and one slip-up means the paperwork gets yanked.

What Spain’s speed limit rules mean for everyday drivers

Does any of this mean the rest of us get a free pass if we’re “just testing something out”? Not a chance. For most drivers, the old rules still apply: 120 km/h on the motorways, 90 on the main roads, and always slower if the weather turns nasty or you’re towing something heavy. The police don’t have much of a sense of humour about excuses, and those automatic cameras are famously unforgiving.

But next time you see what looks like a professional rally car flying down the autovía at breakneck speed, don’t assume someone’s lost the plot. There’s a good chance it’s just the Spanish system working as it should—balancing safety, technology, and the need to keep innovation rolling.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to one simple thing: stay informed, keep within the lines, and leave the record speeds to the professionals—at least until the DGT comes knocking with a very special invitation.

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