Drivers face €200 fines as Spain launches extra checks

Drivers across Spain face a week of increased roadside checks and camera surveillance from today, with a moment’s distraction behind the wheel potentially costing €200 and up to six points from a driving licence.

Spain’s DGT has launched a nationwide crackdown running from Monday, October 5 until Sunday, October 11, with mobile phone use firmly in the spotlight.

And drivers should not assume they need to pass a Guardia Civil patrol to be caught. The DGT has confirmed that its automated roadside cameras will also be used during the campaign to identify motorists using their phones behind the wheel.

The €200 mistake drivers should avoid this week

Holding a mobile phone while driving carries a €200 fine and the loss of six points from the licence.

Using a phone without holding it can still result in the loss of three points in circumstances prohibited under Spain’s traffic rules.

Mobile phones are by far one of the biggest targets during distraction campaigns. During the equivalent DGT operation in October 2025, 47.4 per cent of all fines issued were for using a mobile phone while driving. That means almost half of the offences detected during last year’s campaign involved drivers reaching for their phones.

The crackdown comes just days after a major package of new road rules came into force across Spain on October 1, affecting motorists, cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and electric scooter users.

Cameras will also be watching

The campaign is not restricted to traditional roadside checks.

Guardia Civil traffic officers will increase surveillance on interurban roads, while regional and local police forces across Spain have been invited to join the operation in their own areas.

The DGT says automated cameras installed on Spanish roads will also be used to establish whether motorists are using mobile phones while driving. That makes this particularly relevant for drivers who might normally associate mobile phone fines with being spotted directly by a police officer.

The operation forms part of the European ROADPOL Focus on the Road campaign and will continue throughout the week.

Why Spain is increasing checks

Distraction remains the most common contributing factor identified in fatal road accidents in Spain.

According to the latest DGT figures, distractions were recorded in 15,707 road accidents during 2025. They were also a contributing factor in 444 fatal crashes, representing 32 per cent of deadly road accidents recorded during the year.

The DGT is therefore putting particular emphasis on behaviours that take a driver’s eyes, hands or concentration away from the road.

For foreign residents and tourists driving in Spain, the practical message this week is simple. Set your navigation before leaving, avoid handling your phone while driving and do not assume that seeing no police patrol means nobody is watching.

With extra checks continuing until Sunday, reaching for your phone could make an otherwise ordinary journey €200 more expensive.

The DGT’s official announcement on the nationwide campaign confirms that roadside officers, participating local and regional police and automated cameras will all form part of this week’s increased surveillance.