Spanish for Driving

Road signs, gas stations, accidents, directions. Drive safely in a Spanish-speaking country.

Driving vocabulary

SpanishEnglishSpanishEnglish
el coche / carro / autocarconducir / manejarto drive
el carnet de conducirdriver's licenseel seguroinsurance
la gasolineragas stationla gasolinagasoline
el semáforotraffic lightla rotondaroundabout
el peajetollla autopistahighway
el aparcamientoparking lotaparcar / estacionarto park
el cinturón de seguridadseatbeltla multafine/ticket

Road signs

Common signs you'll see

PARE / STOP = Stop
CEDA EL PASO = Yield
PROHIBIDO APARCAR = No parking
VELOCIDAD MÁXIMA 120 = Speed limit 120
OBRAS = Road works
DESVÍO = Detour
SALIDA = Exit
SENTIDO ÚNICO = One way

At the gas station

Useful phrases

Lleno, por favor. (Fill it up, please.)
20 euros de gasolina. (20 euros worth of gas.)
¿Tiene aire para las ruedas? (Do you have air for the tires?)
¿Dónde está el baño? (Where's the restroom?)

Problems on the road

Breakdowns and accidents

Se me ha averiado el coche. (My car broke down.)
Tengo un pinchazo. (I have a flat tire.)
Se me ha acabado la gasolina. (I've run out of gas.)
He tenido un accidente. (I've had an accident.)
Necesito una grúa. (I need a tow truck.)
¿Puede llamar a la policía? (Can you call the police?)

Spain drives on the RIGHT, uses km/h and liters

Speed: km/h (not mph). Fuel: liters (not gallons). Distance: km.
Highway speed limit: typically 120 km/h.
City: typically 50 km/h. Residential: 30 km/h.

Quick quiz

1. Driver's license = carnet de _____.

2. Gas station = _____.

3. Fill it up = _____, por favor.

4. Traffic light = _____.

5. My car broke down = Se me ha _____ el coche.

6. Flat tire = tengo un _____.

7. Seatbelt = cinturón de _____.

8. No parking = Prohibido _____.

9. Speed limit = velocidad _____.

10. Tow truck = _____.

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