Using Google Maps while driving in Spain? One mistake could cost you €200 and six licence points

You are driving through Spain, following Google Maps, when a quicker route suddenly appears. Do you tap the screen to check it or pick up your phone to take a closer look? It is something many motorists do without thinking, but that split second decision could cost you €200 and six licence points. Spain’s traffic authority, the DGT, makes an important distinction between following directions and handling your phone while driving, and it is one every motorist should understand.

Can you legally use Google Maps while driving in Spain?

Using Google Maps while driving in Spain is perfectly legal. The problem is not the navigation app itself, but how you use it once you are behind the wheel.

Spain’s Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) permits GPS navigation through a mobile phone or a built in dashboard system, provided it does not distract the driver or obstruct their view of the road. Ideally, your destination should be entered and your route checked before setting off.

The biggest mistake is picking up your phone to check or change directions. Under Spanish traffic law, simply holding a mobile phone while driving can result in a €200 fine and the loss of six licence points, even if you are only looking at Google Maps rather than making a call.

And there is another detail worth knowing. Being stopped at a red traffic light does not mean you can start using your phone. The same restrictions apply while you are temporarily stopped in traffic.

What happens if you need to change your Google Maps route?

Google Maps has a habit of changing its mind halfway through a journey. One minute you are following the fastest route, the next it is offering to save you seven minutes by sending you down another road. The temptation to tap the screen is obvious, but that small action could turn an ordinary journey into an expensive one.

Under Spain’s traffic regulations, manually operating a navigation system while driving is a serious offence, carrying a €200 fine and the loss of three licence points. Holding a mobile phone is treated more severely, with six points deducted.

The distinction matters. A phone secured in a dashboard mount does not automatically make it legal to interact with Google Maps while driving. Even without picking up the device, manually changing the route can still result in a penalty.

The safest approach is to programme your journey before leaving and follow the spoken directions. If you need to change your destination, find somewhere safe and legal to park before adjusting the navigation.

The DGT’s official guidance on driving offences explains the penalties motorists can face for using mobile phones and navigation devices incorrectly.

And these are not simply rules that exist on paper. During the DGT’s October campaign against distracted driving, officers reported 49 cases involving improper use of navigation systems, alongside 3,816 involving mobile phones.

EWN previously highlighted the scale of the problem in its report on thousands of drivers caught during Spain’s mobile phone crackdown.

How to use Google Maps in Spain without risking a fine

Avoiding a fine does not mean giving up Google Maps or your favourite navigation app. A few simple precautions can help you reach your destination without an unexpected penalty.

Before setting off, enter your destination, check the suggested route and make sure your phone is securely mounted somewhere that does not obstruct your view. Switching on voice navigation also allows you to follow directions without constantly looking at the screen.

If Google Maps suggests a faster route, there is no need to respond immediately. Allow the app to recalculate automatically or find somewhere safe to park before making changes yourself. Remember that sitting in a traffic jam or waiting at traffic lights does not give you permission to pick up your phone.

For British residents and tourists driving in Spain, the rules apply whether you are using your own vehicle or a hire car. Motorists should also be aware that other everyday driving habits can lead to penalties, as explained in EWN’s guide to Spain’s driving fines and what the law actually bans.

The next time Google Maps offers you a shortcut, remember that saving five minutes is hardly worth risking €200 and your licence points. In Spain, the app can guide you wherever you want to go. Just make sure you are not trying to guide it while driving.