The Three Documents You Must Carry In Your Car To Avoid A 100 Euro Fine

If you drive in Spain you will know that just like in any other country, there are numerous offences for which you can receive a fine or have points taken from your licence. These include speeding, using your mobile phone, or even playing music too loud.

However, did you know that there are also three documents you must carry by law when driving in Spain?

Failing to produce any of these if asked by a traffic officer can result in a hefty fine of up to €100.

So what are they?

You might think insurance papers are among them, but while you can be fined up to €3,000 if your car is not properly insured, it is no longer mandatory to carry your insurance certificate in the car. Authorities typically check your insurance electronically.

The first document is fairly obvious: your driver’s licence, or ‘Carnet de Conducir’ as it is known in Spanish. This must correspond to the vehicle you’re driving and be in the correct category.

The fine for not carrying it is €10, but this can be extended to €80 if your licence is not up to date.

Shockingly, a recent report suggests there are still around 100,000 drivers on Spain’s roads who do not have a valid licence.

The second document you must carry is the circulation permit or ‘permiso de circulación’. This is part of the log book and confirms you are the legal owner of the vehicle.

Finally, it is also necessary to carry your ITV document, or ‘Inspección Técnica de Vehículos’. This is the equivalent of the MOT in the UK and proves your vehicle has passed its roadworthiness inspection.

As with the driver’s licence, there is a €10 fine for not carrying either of these. If your documents are missing or outdated, the fines can increase to €80–500 depending on the case.

Alternative ways to carry proof of these documents

Although you are required to carry the originals of these three documents by law, there are exceptions. You may use certified copies, provided they have been properly notarized. Notaries in Spain offer this service for a modest fee.

Alternatively, you can carry digital versions using the official miDGT mobile app. The miDGT app is now widely recognized and fully accepted by traffic police across Spain. It securely stores your driving licence, circulation permit, and ITV certificate, making it easy to present them on your phone if stopped by a Trafico officer. The app is updated regularly to keep documents valid and current.

Carrying documents in digital format means your originals stay safely at home and are not at risk if your car is stolen.

Alongside these three important documents, there are other items you should keep in your car. Check out our other article for more useful tips: Things You Must Carry In Your Car By Law When Driving In Spain

ese are not in order, it is no longer a requirement to carry them with you.

The first one is fairly obvious. It’s your driver’s licence or ‘Carnet de Conducir’ as it is known in Spanish. This needs to correspond to the vehicle you are driving, i.e. be the right category.

The fine for not carrying it is 10 Euros but this can be extended to 80 Euros if the licence is not up to date.

Shockingly, a recent report suggests that around 100,000 drivers on Spain’s roads do not have a valid licence.

The second document you must carry is the circulation permit or ‘permiso de circulación’. This document is a part of the log book and will confirm that you are the legal owner of the vehicle.

Finally, it is also necessary to carry your ITV document or ‘Inspecciòn Tècnica de Vehículos’. This is the equivalent of the MOT in the UK and confirms that your vehicle has passed the roadworthiness inspection.

As with the driver’s licence, there is a 10 Euro fine if you are not carrying either of these. Furthermore, if you don’t have one or they are out of date, the fine can increase to a whopping 500 Euros.

Alternative ways to carry proof of these documents

Although we initially said that you must always carry the originals of these three documents with you, there are a couple of exceptions.

Firstly, if you want to be safe in the knowledge that the originals are stored away somewhere safe, you may carry copies of the documents. However, the copies must be certified by a Notary.

This is a recognised service carried out by Notaries and doesn’t cost very much to do.

Secondly, you may prefer to carry your documents in digital format via the miDGT mobile phone app.

The app stores all of the documents mentioned above so that you can easily produce them if asked to by a trafico officer.

Once again, you will know that the originals have not been left in the vehicle where they can potentially be stolen.

Along with these three important documents, there are other things you should be carrying in your car. Check them out in our other article - Things You Must Carry In Your Car By Law When Driving In Spain

For complete peace of mind on the road and at work, protect yourself and your family with Sanitas Top Quantum health insurance. This premium policy includes extensive medical cover, rapid access to private hospitals, and advanced digital services. Plus, it covers you for work and traffic accidents, giving you extra security wherever life takes you in Spain. Find out more about Sanitas Top Quantum now and get your free quote.