200 euro fines from 1 October: what changes for cars, bikes and scooters

From 1 October 2026 Spain applies a reformed set of road rules: helmets for cyclists on interurban roads, gloves for motorcyclists and a minimum age of 15 for e-scooters. Breaking any of them costs 200 euros. The Junta de Andalucía issued a reminder on 13 September.

What Real Decreto 518/2026 actually changes

The reform was approved on 24 June and published on 26 June in the Boletín Oficial del Estado (Real Decreto 518/2026). It amends the Reglamento General de Circulación, Spain’s road traffic regulation, in favour of so-called usuarios vulnerables – pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and users of personal mobility vehicles. The grace period runs out on 1 October 2026.

For cyclists the old exemption disappears: on interurban roads a helmet is now compulsory at any age, not just for minors. Motorcyclists need gloves on interurban roads and closed footwear everywhere. Both count as an infracción grave and cost 200 euros, according to the DGT statement of 23 June 2026. Two items only bite a year later, on 1 October 2027: permanent lights on e-scooters and the requirement for a homologated motorcycle helmet under UNECE R22.

Reform of the Reglamento General de Circulación – overview (source: BOE, Real Decreto 518/2026)

What this means for you as an expat

1. Driving: overtaking a cyclist gets expensive

Passing a cyclist on an interurban road now requires at least 1.5 metres of clearance and a speed reduction of at least 20 km/h before you pull out. On the narrow coastal and mountain roads between Málaga, Ronda and the Axarquía that means one thing in practice: stay behind the group until a real gap appears. What an offence costs and how the points system works is set out in our guide to traffic fines in Spain.

If you have only just arrived, note that the rules apply whatever licence you hold. Anyone who has not yet swapped a UK, Irish or other foreign licence should not put it off – the procedure is in our guide to the driving licence exchange in Spain.

2. Children and e-scooters: the rule that hits families

The patinete has long been the school-run vehicle of choice for teenagers in Andalusia. From 1 October nobody under 15 may ride one, and a helmet is compulsory for every rider. For bicycles, under-16s need a helmet on any road, not only outside town. If you moved here with children, the rest of the everyday rules are collected in moving to Spain with children.

A practical point for the family budget: a casco homologado for children costs between 25 and 60 euros in Spanish shops – far less than a single fine. If you are running a rental car rather than buying, check what the vehicle comes with; our comparison of long-term car rental in Spain covers what to look for.

3. Motorbikes and scooters: gloves, shoes, helmet

Gloves become compulsory on interurban roads and closed footwear on every road, which rules out flip-flops on a scooter for good. If you are bringing a machine over, pack the protective gear with it and get the paperwork straight; the full process is in importing a car to Spain.

Mopeds get a one-year transition in which certified helmets remain acceptable. From 1 October 2027 only UNECE R22 homologation counts. The annual roadworthiness test stays compulsory regardless – our guide explains booking an ITV appointment in Spain.

What to sort out before 1 October

Three things are enough: check the helmets everyone in the household uses, buy gloves and sturdy shoes for the bike or scooter, and settle who is old enough to ride the patinete. If you are already dealing with vehicle paperwork, combine it with the environmental sticker for Spain, which matters for the low-emission zones in Málaga and Seville. Vetted places to buy gear and arrange cover are listed in our expat toolkit.