The
law on quad bikes in Spain
The amazing scenery in the majority of the country, way of
life and the climate in Spain all come together to make riding a quad bike an
attractive idea. When you bring in the cost factor of owning a quad bike, it is
quite easy to understand why there always seems to be many more of these
vehicles on the road in Spain than anywhere else in Europe.
Laws surrounding these vehicles can be confusing though,
and lots of people often find themselves on the wrong side of the law without
realising it. This is why we have decided to address the issue, so you know
where you stand should you be considering buying or renting a quad bike in
Spain.
Age
and licence type rules
Anyone with an AM licence can drive mopeds or quads of 50cc,
which is nice, and the person needs to at least 15 years of age to hold this
licence. Seems fairly straightforward but a theory test and a closed-circuit
test also need to be taken, and passed, before the licence can be yours.
If you would like a ride with a little more beef, then the
A1 licence may be more your style. You have to be at least 16 but you will be
able to drive quads up to 125cc – of course, the mandatory tests still apply if
you want the A1 licence. On the other hand, if you currently hold a car driving
licence (category B), and you have held it for at least 3 years, then you are
already cleared for the A1 as it is included.
As with the rest of the EU, Spain also has an A2 licence
category. You need to have held an A1 for 2 years and you are a minimum of 18
OR a B licence for 3 (making you at least 21). For this licence, the two
mandatory tests apply but also an open road test. Passing all three tests
allows to drive 500cc quad bikes.
Hold
a current UK licence?
If you currently hold UK licence then you have to
con-validate it to a Spanish one. This will allow you to get the A2 licence
after taking the relevant tests (closed circuit, theory and road tests.). After
these, you will be able to ride quad bikes up to 500c.
Once you have the A2 for two years you can, if you like,
sit another theory test then a road test. Upon completion of these tests, you
will receive your A licence and you can ride anything that you like.
With quads, if the number plate is a regular
black-on-white, you can ride quads of up to 550kg on a car licence.
These are the current rules as we understand them in the
Alicante region of Spain. As the rules and regulations can differ from region
to region, it is best to check with the local authority of your area or the
area that you intend to ride in – just to be sure.