Your expert guide to driving in Southern Spain

Published by Cassie on 29/12/202529/12/2025

green text box: everything you need to know about driving in southern spain. 4 photos - 1 of car from inside, 3 street scenes (1 of cars on narrow road, 1 of empty narrow road and 1 of guadix entrance to city with mountains in distance)

In this short but extremely important article we’re going to look at why it’s a really great idea to take a road trip around the south of Spain.

We’ll look at how to rent a car if you need to, and what you need to know when planning your Spanish road trip and driving around southern Spain.

I live in Sevilla and absolutely love driving in Spain: the roads are well maintained, generally they’re free of too much traffic and the views are absolutely breathtaking.

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What’s it like to drive in Spain?

photo taken from back seat of car - on left can see the right arm of the driver, dash board in front empty right seat and sea in front through window

The South of Spain is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe but only those visitors who decide to rent a car/drive here will really get to experience the true magic of southern Spain.

Having a car lets you get deep into the countryside, allows you to explore the small villages, eat in country restaurants, detour to catch an amazing view from a remote mirador, join the Spanish in a joyful roadside picnic, or follow a winding path to an isolated beach or to a castle on a distant hill – and yes, all these things have happened to me. Olvera was the first castle in Spain to lure me off the highway 🤣 but she certainly won’t be the last.

🚆 What about public transport? – Sure, both the buses and trains are excellent in Spain, but truly nothing beats the freedom of going at your own pace, deciding to visit a tiny village served by little or no public transport, hunting down miradors for the best views over small villages and incredible mountain ranges, or even just the joy of detouring for a quick look at the ocean should the desire overtake you (hah, overtake, in an article about driving… sweet).

Renting a car in southern Spain

→ I use Discover Cars to rent when I need an extra car in Spain.

→ Additionally, you can also read the full MexicoCassie guide to driving around Spain

✈️ Car rental companies are found at both of the major airports – Málaga airport & Sevilla airport and in the cities across the region.

⏲️ It’s important to note that during high season it is essential to reserve your rental car as far in advance as possible to ensure you get the car you need.

⭐️ Size isn’t everything: don’t assume that the biggest car is the best car when renting in southern Spain. Roads in towns can be very narrow and it can be hard to manoeuvre big cars around if you’re not used to them.

I drive a WV Passat, which is a very roomy car that still fits down these narrow old city roads. We chose it specifically because it’s extremely comfortable for road tripping. I wouldn’t recommend getting anything bigger than this if you plan on driving in the old cities.

What do you need to rent a car?

This should be obvious but you’d be surprised how many stories I’ve heard of people getting this wrong (and ahem, I have once too).

🏎️ Full driving licence – you must be over 18 to drive in Spain but generally to rent a car the minimum age is 21. There is sometimes an additional fee if you’re under 25.

🛂 ID – Passport, please.

💳 Credit card – I once tried to rent a car with just my debit card, don’t do this. Some places will allow you to do so but that massive insurance hold on your debit card is not funny. Please remember the credit card (my most recent rental through Discover Cars in Spain actually didn’t require a credit card as I bough the full coverage)

🚙 International driving licence (IDP) – if you’re not European you may well need an IDP to rent a car in Spain. I say ‘may well’ because technically you are allowed to drive on your US or other licence while on vacation in Spain but rental companies do often ask for the IDP. It costs relatively little so it’s worth picking up before you arrive.

📑 Insurance – Generally, the required unlimited 3rd party insurance will be included in your rental car price but it’s a good idea to check it’s there. It’s also possible to add CDW (collision damage waver) if you want it (and if you’re worried about those narrow roads!)

🧐 Obviously you know to check the car carefully for bumps and scratches before you drive it away.

What do you need to know about driving in southern Spain?

empty road, blue sky, mountains in front

I always hated driving until I moved to Spain. I found it stressful and it didn’t make me happy. I’d do it but I hated it. Here in Spain I’ve found my driving-mojo because driving in Spain is truly a pleasure.

Road conditions

The roads in southern Spain are excellent. They’re well maintained, smooth and well signposted. There are motorways/highways/autopistas across the whole region. Even the smaller roads are mostly in good condition and where they’re not, there are clear warnings.

A note on borders – it’s generally ok to cross the border into Portugal, France & Gibraltar in a rental car but always check rather than assuming as you may have to pay an extra fee. And certainly if you’re considering taking the ferry to Tunisia or even to any of the Spanish islands with a rental car, you need to be sure your policy allows it.

Toll roads

Southern Spain does not go in for toll roads in the same way as Portugal or France, or even the north of Spain. There are a few but not enough to make it worth signing up for the Vía-T automatic payment system. Just ensure you have cash (Euros) or a credit card ready to pay.

In southern Spain there only a couple of toll roads: the AP7 from Málaga to Sotogrande along the coast and the AP46 between Málaga and Villanueva de Cauche (near Antequera).

Toll roads are always marked AP (Autopista Paeje), regular motorways are just marked A (or E if they have a European number too).

Speed limits

wide empty road in Sevilla, green traffic light ahead and plenty of jacaranda trees in bloom on either side of road

🚦 It is important to stick to the speed limits in Spain both because it’s the right thing to do and also because there are speed cameras all over the place (and sadly I know they work 📸 😢). The speed limits are generally well signposted and most modern cars have the speed limit on the dashboard anyway so it’s always easy to know what it should be.

Autopista – 120 km/hr maximum, some sections 100 km/hr or even 80 km/hr

Country roads – usually 90 km/hr

Towns – between 20 – 50 km/hr depending on size of road and traffic

Finding your way

🗺️ I highly, highly recommend you have a mobile phone with a good data plan while you’re in Spain. You won’t want to drive without access to Waze or Google Maps – both work equally well here. Many of my friends like Waze but I have stuck with Google Maps and it hasn’t let me down yet.

Eating on the road

a one storey building with 4 cars parked outside it. 3 people in view. (building is a venta - a restaurant by the side of the road)

⛽️ As you drive between cities you’ll see petrol (gas) stations. Most of them have small shops attached. These don’t just sell packaged sandwiches, crips and chocolate but many also double as a delicatessen, selling fresh local products.

🍽 You’ll also find attached restaurants & cafes at some of them. And other times you’ll see ‘ventas’ along the side of the road. These ventas are roadside restaurants that are often extremely high quality despite how they look from the outside.

🧺 Or, as we’ve noted already, the Spanish do love a good roadside picnic. As you drive you will see signs for picnic areas, why not try it one day? Grab a tortilla, some gazpacho, ham and fresh bread and Spanishify your life!

🦅 You’re unlikely to see too much in the way of exciting animal life on the ground as you road trip around southern Spain but look up into the sky and you’ll have a good chance of spotting storks (and their nests), flamingos, & large birds of prey.

Driving in towns and cities

looking down on a roundabout from a mirador - can see buses and cars on the road

A few things to be aware of when driving in Spanish towns & cities:

🦓 Pedestrian crossings – Spanish law gives the right of way to pedestrians on these crossings and the Spanish take this very seriously – they waltz out on to the crossings as if cars don’t even exist so please, please, always slow down and look before driving across one-

🔘 Roundabouts – technically you’re only meant to enter from the right lane but in reality, people enter where they like. They will also randomly park on a roundabout sometimes. Very annoying, watch out for this-

😵‍💫 Hazard warning lights – it’s not only the roundabouts where they’ll stop, they stop pretty much wherever they like, chuck on the hazard warning lights and do whatever they need to do. Be careful.

🛻 Narrow streets – in the older cities and town (which, really is pretty much all of them), the historical centres have extremely narrow roads that are really not fun for the uninitiated.

🚲 Bikes – you may only overtake a cyclist if you have a whole lane between you and them.

cars on extremely narrow road between tall buildings

🅿️ Car parks – my biggest piece of advice when renting a car in Spain is to plan where you’re going to park before you arrive in a town or city. Find a car park or two online first (you may need a back-up in case one is full) and drive directly there. If you find on-street parking, great, grab it but never expect it. If you can book a spot in a car park, I recommend doing so.

If you park on the street you need to know that in Spain, generally

🔵 blue lines mean max 2 hrs pay & display

🟢 green lines mean max 1 hr pay & display

⚪️ white lines mean free parking (so nab it!)

🟡 and 🔴 yellow & red lines mean no parking

Road trip ideas

There are 8 provinces in Andalucía. The most popular and visited are: Sevilla, Cádiz & Málaga. Córdoba & Granada are visited mainly for their capital cities of the same name, while Huelva, Jaén & Almería see far fewer visitors overall. There are too many options for great road trip itineraries around Andalucía to include every variation here. Instead, in this section you’ll find the highlights of each of the eight provinces. If you’d like my help in planning a magnificent personalised road trip do get in touch with me as this is a service I offer.

⭐️ MexicoCassie car rental recommendation: Discover Cars ⭐️

Sevilla

City gate in Carmona, cars parked outside it

Capital city: Sevilla

Highlights: Sevilla City with its UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alcazar, Cathedral & Archivo de Indias. Roman ruins of Itálica, Carmona (photo above), Sierra Morena de Sevilla, Cerro de Hierro

→ Find all the MexicoCassie guides to Sevilla Province here

Cádiz

extremely narrow road between 2 buildings

Capital city: Cádiz

Highlights: Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz City, Tarifa, Setenil de las Bodegas, Bolonia beach & magnificent Roman ruins, pueblos blancos (white villages), exquisitely gorgeous beaches, Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema

(photo is from Arcos de la Frontera and is truly the narrowest road you’ll find – it is passable in a regular sized car and locals love to watch visitors panic here 😉. I wouldn’t even bother trying, personally)

→ Find all the MexicoCassie guides to Cádiz Province here

Málaga

famous peña in shape of a prone face in Malaga province

Capital city: Málaga

Highlights: Málaga City with its alcazaba, castle and numerous museums. Marbella, Estepona Nerja, Caminito del Rey, Ronda, Antequera (photo above is just outside Antequera), pueblos blancos including Mijas Pueblo

→ Find all the MexicoCassie Málaga guides here

Córdoba

small village of white houses and a castle nestled under cliffs

Capital city: Córdoba

Highlights: Córdoba City with its famous Mezquita, Medinat al-Zahra, Parque Natural Sierra de Hornachuelos, Parque Natural de las Sierras Subbéticas & Zuheros

→ Find all the MexicoCassie guides to Córdoba Province here

Granada

empty road stretching into Guadix town, mountains in background

Capital city: Granada

Highlights: Granada City and the Alhambra, staying in the cave houses in Guadix, skiing in the Sierra Nevada National Park (or hiking in summer)

→ Find all the MexicoCassie guides to Granada Province here

Huelva

empty road with famous spanish pines on either side

Capital city: Huelva

Highlights: Huelva City is a delightful small city, incredible beaches, Parque Nacional de Doñana, Palos de la Frontera (for anyone interested in Cristobal Colon), El Rocío, Aracena, Almonaster La Real, Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche

→ Find all the MexicoCassie guides to Huelva Province here

Almería

faded sign for a beach bar with a wooden surf board next to it. blue sky and sand

Capital city: Almería

Highlights: Almería City is a small city with a wonderful Alcazaba. Parque Natural del Cabo de Gata-Nijar is one of the most gorgeous natural parks I’ve ever visited. The beaches here are magnificent, Almería is home to the Tabernas Desert, the only true desert in Europe. The world’s largest geode is in Almería and the beaches here are just magnificently gorgeous.

→ Find all the MexicoCassie guides to Almería here

Jaén

Capital city: Jaén

Highlights: Jaén is another delightfully small city with an impressive cathedral and castle. There are some excellent museums in town too, Oppidum Íbero de Puente Tablas (an Iron age town). Úbeda & Baeza are two towns with castles too. Sierras de Cazorla.

And of course, if you’d like my help in planning a magnificent personalised road trip do get in touch with me as this is a service I love to offer.

⭐️ MexicoCassie car rental recommendation: Discover Cars ⭐️

📚 🇪🇸 Read more of MexicoCassie’s Spain guides

→ MexicoCassie guide to whether Spain is safe for tourists

→ MexicoCassie guide to driving in Spain

→ MexicoCassie guide to driving in southern Spain

☕️ MexicoCassie guide to vegetarian tapas, to breakfast and to feeding the kids