Riding in Spain: gloves and closed shoes are now the law

What changed on 1 October

Spain updated its General Traffic Regulations by royal decree in June 2026. From 1 October 2026 the new rules for motorcycles and mopeds apply to everyone riding in Spain, on a UK-registered bike as much as a Spanish one.

• Gloves: rider and passenger must wear protective gloves on roads outside built-up areas, which means ordinary roads, dual carriageways and motorways. Riding only within a town doesn't need them.
• Footwear: closed shoes or boots that cover the whole foot, on every road, in towns too. Sandals and flip-flops are out.
• Each one is a serious offence with a €200 fine.
• The detailed technical standard for the gloves is still to come in a separate ministerial order. Until then, normal protective motorcycle gloves count.

The hard shoulder in traffic

Motorcycles can now ride on the right-hand hard shoulder when traffic is queuing, at no more than 30 km/h, but only on stretches signed for it. Where there's no sign, the old rule stands: stay off it.

Also new for drivers

Overtaking a cyclist on a road with more than one lane in your direction, you must slow to at least 20 km/h below the limit and leave 1.5 metres. Moped helmets must be fully approved from October 2027.

What to do

• Pack proper gloves and boots for the passenger, not just for yourself.
• Hot-weather riding in the south: vented summer gloves count. No gloves at all doesn’t.
• Don’t filter on the hard shoulder unless you see the sign.