Spain's DGT tightens overtaking rules: €200 fines and 4 points from October

The DGT will fine overtaking manoeuvres €200 and 4 points from October 2026

From 1 October 2026, the DGT (Spain's traffic authority) will apply up to six new rules for overtaking on motorways, dual carriageways and conventional roads. The penalties: €200 and the loss of 4 points from the licence. The reform, approved by the Council of Ministers, introduces stricter requirements that, according to the body headed by Pere Navarro, aim to reduce accidents. However, scepticism among drivers is huge: many see it as a new revenue stream rather than a safety measure.

The six new overtaking rules

The DGT has published the final text amending the General Traffic Regulations. Although not all the changes were detailed in Luis Miguel Lozano's article on MSN, it is known that they affect overtaking both on two-way roads and on dual carriageways. Among the changes, a greater lateral distance is required when passing cyclists, and overtaking is restricted on certain stretches. Drivers who break the rules face a fine and points deduction that, for many, is the last straw after years of pogre tightening.

The reaction on discussion forums has been blunt. Critics say the DGT focuses on raising revenue rather than educating drivers, and point to the lack of attention to dangerous practices such as cruising in the left-hand lane without overtaking or the behaviour of some cyclists on the road. One driver recounted that at night 80% of vehicles were driving in the middle lane of a three-lane motorway, ignoring the keep-right rule.

Revenue or safety? The ongoing debate

The mismatch between the DGT's official line (reducing accidents) and public perception (raising revenue) is obvious. While some argue the new rules are necessary to protect the most vulnerable, such as cyclists and pedestrians, others claim the authorities use safety as an excuse to squeeze motorists. Recent history does not help: from the introduction of the points-based licence to the mandatory V16 warning beacon, every new regulation has come with an increase in fines.

A recurring theme in the criticism is the practical difficulty of complying with the rules. Estimulante ilegal limits on rural roads cut to 50 km/h or even 30 km/h force constant braking, something conventional cars are not designed for. In addition, sharing the road with cyclists occupying the lane creates tension: some claim it is safer to risk hitting them than to overtake them, an extreme statement that reflects the climate of hostility.

The political context of the measure

Some participants in the debate link the DGT's policy to Pere Navarro's party, the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party), and note that both the PP and the PSOE have trinc a similar line on road safety. There is a widespread feeling that private cars are being demonised. The DGT insists the goal is zero tolerance for road deaths, but for many drivers the fine print says something else: getting around by car is becoming increasingly expensive and complicated.

Will these rules really reduce accidents, or just drivers' ability to lead a normal life? The answer is unclear, but distrust of the official narrative is growing alongside the new fines.