100 eur fine for speeding in Spain

The letter that the Spanish authorities are sending abroad to car owners in France, Germany, the Netherlands or Belgium is the one you can see below.

It is usually a fine for speeding, and the amount varies from 100 eur to 600 eur. Spanish law offers a 50% reduction for early payment (20 days), so my advice would be to pay as soon as possible.

You can pay by transfer (usually paying a transfer fee) or by card (check DGT's site for details, as there are ongoing updates on the English site).

As I speak a little Spanish, I have called their contact phone number a couple of times on behalf of someone else. To my surprise they have English speaking operators, and the lady was really helpful both times. A call to Spain is pretty cheap, and it can save you around 40 GBP (even more for higher fines). The last time I called the site insisted that I paid 100 euro, but I told the lady on the phone that I had only just received the letter and after closing the browser and trying again there was my reduction.

Car hire and administrative fees

I am convinced that administrative fees sum up to 80% of car hire companies' benefits. They will charge your credit card without prior notice, send you an e-mail informing about the fine and wash their hands. 

Is there anything we can do? Nothing, but paying for the fine. 

It is not clear why such a fee should be charged, given the fact that identifying the driver is their legal duty to do so! They are charging you and me for something they are obliged to.

Speed cameras in Malaga

Malaga is one of the best Spanish destinations, as it offers a perfect balance of beach, sun, shopping, culture, nightlife and gastronomy. The A-7 (the highway that runs parallel to the coast) and the A-45 (also a highway, this one connecting Malaga and Cordoba) concentrate most of the speeding cameras. You can be aware of their precise location hiring a GPS (DGT informs about their location in advance).

As the list of spots controlled by radar is updated monthly, radar than providing an information that will be outdated in a matter of weeks, I think it's more useful to provide the link where the information will always be up-to-date:

1. List of speeding cameras and areas under strict control: http://www.dgt.es/es/el-trafico/control-de-velocidad/malaga/index.shtml * 
2. Map highlighting the roads under strict speeding control: http://www.dgt.es/Galerias/el-trafico/control-de-velocidad/Malaga.jpg 

* vocabulary tips: "radar fijo" means "fixed speed camera". "Radar tramo" means "road section average speed camera". "Radar móvil" means "mobile speed camera". 

You migh be interested in our article about the tolerance thresold in Spain.

Can I dispute a Spanish fine in English?

Disputing a Spanish fine is pretty easy, you just need to send a letter or a fax quoting the reference number and the reason(s) to dispute it. The appeal can be written either in Spanish or in English.

By disputing the fine you agree to pay the full amount if your appeal is dismissed.

Identifying a driver is not considered a dispute, and the reduction for early payment applies to the identified driver.