I have just had my car matriculated and put onto Spanish plates. I received quite a bit of paperwork, ITV cert, log book etc and would like to know what documents I am oblidged to carry in the car at all times.

I understand that driving licences and insurance need to be carried but wondered whether there is any legal requirement for other docs as well

It changes daily, but all of that! The last time I was stopped I was told that I also had to carry proof of insurance payment ie a receipt, bank statement or cheque stub. you should also have your passport with you - I used to carry everything LOL

Oh, you also need to have, spare light bulbs, a torch, two triagles and a hi vis jacket!!

But that was a year ago now, and as I say things change

Jo xxx

We were told this some time ago but have been informed since that it is no longer a requirement because they recognise that it would be impossible to change the bulbs in some cars without specialised tools.

Rosemary

It has changed a bit. You no longer have to carry a set of bulbs - on many cars it is impossible to change the bulbs without professional help and also the cost of carrying spare Xenon bulbs is prohibitive so they changed the rule.

Also it is no longer necessary to carry proof of insurance as the Guardia have access to the online database of insurance policies.

Personally I still carry proof of payment as the person stopping you may not have access to a computer!

Also, don't forget that it's 1 jacket per (potential) person in the vehicle. So, for my 7-seater, that's 7 jackets The theory being that if you do break down, then everyone should get out of the vehicle and be visible - makes sense I suppose.

I don't think that is correct.

The law actually only mentions the driver and the only requirement is that he wears a jacket when outside the car on inter-urban roads.

It makes sense to carry enough jackets for the actual number of occupants in the car but there is certainly no requirement relating to the theoretical maximum number of passengers.

Eroski published some relevant information when the law first came in.

http://www.consumer.es/web/es/motor/.../23/104750.php

The actual wording is in article 118 of this link

http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_d...1428-2003.html

Mmmm, don`t think I would like to argue the toss with Mr Policeman, I have always been told it is for everyone in the car that would have to leave it on the motorway.
Maybe passengers are easier to see than drivers.

Actually, the truth is that whenever I was stopped by the guardia, he was more interested in my cigarette packet than my paperwork and hi vis jackets. In fact it got stupid in the end, the same man and I'd be pulled over everytime. He'd end up standing smoking one of my cigarettes rather than check my documents. His name was Paco, he had two children, his wife was a dragon and he liked english cigarettes apparently!!!

Jo xxx

I gather then from the replies that apart from Driving licence and Insurance there are no other docs that are legally required to be carried in the car.

You are also obliged to carry
Permiso de circulación (proof of ownership/vehicle registration doc)
Ficha técnica (itv cert)

Last tiem we were stopped the guy looked at the Driving Licence, the registration document and ITV paper (not the thing on the windscreen). A photocopy of the registration document and ITV paper was acceptable. We had proof of insurance but AFAIK he did not check this.

IMHO, it is best to carry photocopies of everything and an original driving licence.

Hi

They changed the law some time ago to say you have to carry the actual ITV pass A4 paper as well as the Ficha Technical.

Davexf

Where did you get that information?

The most recent traffic law, November 2009, says that you must carry your driving licence, the car's permiso de circulacion and the ITV tarjeta which is the card which has all the technical details and the ITV inspection stamps on the back of it..

It does not mention the ITV report.

Clearly confused.com again on this one

They like them even better still if purely by chance there happens to be a 50euro note on show when you open the packet for them.

It can get you out of many a tricky situation.