Mandatory equipment you need in your car when driving in Spain.

This post will help you prepare for a safer road trip through Spain, following the necessary requirements with a vital checklist of mandatory equipment that you need in your car and glove box when driving in Spain. That way you can check them off before you turn that ignition on and get going.

After reading a post written by Go Compare named, Inside the glove box which you can view here: https://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/inside-the-glove-box/, it got me thinking. What is inside our glove box? Is it useful to our driving experience? Do we really need it in there and how long has it been collecting dust?

It also sparked the thought of how different our glove box is now that we use rental cars compared to my own personal rubbish bin that was used in Alex’s car. I also decided it would be perfect to tie in with what you’re going to need in your glove box and your car if you’re driving in Spain.

Back in England, we had a car and one of the weirdest things to get used to not having here is a car. Although day to day, we don’t necessarily need it, it would just make things a little easier from time-to-time. Carrying food shopping down the mountain isn’t always the simplest of tasks. I mean, it’s hard work watching Alex lump it down.

We are lucky that we have access to a car on occasions, that’s the time when bulk shopping happens. We’ve also used rental cars a few times, but, they get expensive.

One thing that we don’t have anymore, is the hoarding of the glove compartment. I’m pretty sure it was the first bit of Alex’s space I ever invaded. It was so conveniently placed in front of me that I could just dump things in it. Hair bobbles? They’re going in. Tourist guide from Anne Hathaway’s House? Definitely belongs in the glove box. Parking stubs? Cinema stubs? iPod? They’re all going in.

So, this week, as we’ve just returned from our Road Trip, which you can watch below, I thought it would be a great idea to cover what you need when you’re driving in Spain and what you should consider keeping in your glove box, regardless of where you are in the world.

As you all know, I’m a big advocate for keeping safe whilst travelling, especially after going through a few travel mishaps myself. So, without further chit-chat. Let’s get down to business. Not before you’ve watched our Road Trip Vlog though! Spoiler: There are some pretty epic mountain views.

Mandatory Equipment when Driving in Spain

There is so much conflicting information when trying to find out what you need when driving in Spain, but here is the list of what is currently mandatory and what is recommended. This post was uploaded on 8th September 2018, so if you are from the future, firstly, Hello! But also, please make sure this is still accurate!

– A Spare Wheel

It is compulsory to have a spare wheel in your car when driving in Spain, this goes for local cars and tourists.

– Tools to Fit the Spare Wheel

This should go without saying, I mean, how can you change the wheel if you haven’t got the tools? But, it’s still something people forget. Just because you have the wheel, that doesn’t mean you’re good to go. You must have the relevant tools in your car should you need to change the wheel.

– A Hi-Visibility Jacket

It’s compulsory to have at least one jacket. Though, it’s recommended you have enough for each passenger. A reflective Jacket is compulsory in case you have to exit the vehicle by the main road or a motorway in case of an accident or breakdown.

– Two Warning Triangles

There are some websites that will tell you that one warning triangle is enough. It isn’t. If you break down on a carriageway you will need to put a warning triangle at least 45 metres behind the broken-down vehicle on the same side of the road.

– Fire Extinguisher (if towing a trailer)

If you are towing a trailer it is absolutely necessary to have a fire extinguisher. It is recommended for other vehicles but not mandatory.

Recommended Equipment when Driving in Spain

– Medical Kit

It is recommended that you have a small but well stocked medical kit readily available in your car, it isn’t mandatory though.

– Flashlight

In the event of breaking down in darkness, it’s recommended to have a flashlight stored in the car. This is especially important if you’re considering doing long distance night journeys. Most smartphones have a flashlight application.

So, what should you have in your glove box? Is that hair bobble really a necessity or is it just taking up vital space? What about that ABBA CD? Of course, it has some absolute road trip bangers on it, but when was the last time you played it? Does it really need to be there?

Now we don’t have our own car, we are able to use the glove box in the way it’s intended. A space to keep important items. If your glove box has become a mini dumping ground for toll receipts and old CD’s, then it’s time to have a clear out and swap them for something a little more useful.

Here’s my list of a few things that are handy to put in your glove box if you haven’t already:

Weather Protection

After travelling through the North of Spain, I can confirm they were lying when the rain in Spain falls mainly on plain because it absolutely does not. In the mountains, it pours. You might look at the local city and it says full sun 30 degrees. But, you’ve got to get there first.

Plus, is the weather ever predictable in England? You can get small compact umbrellas that are perfect for putting in a glovebox. I really wish we had one for Zaragoza!

It’s also a good idea to have a travel-sized sunscreen and sunglasses in your glove box too. You never know when the sun might just make an appearance, especially if it’s low.

Phone Charger

This is a big one. I always have and always will have a spare phone charger that stays in the car. If you’ve broken down and you’re about to call for help and your phone runs out of battery, it makes an already bad situation worse. They take up barely any space.

Notebook and Pencil

Funnily enough, this is one that I only started using since I became a blogger. But, they can be useful for so many things. Kids playing up in the back and bored of their games? Here, do some drawing. Had a bright idea in the passenger seat? Great, grab the notebook and write it down. Had an accident and need to write down their details? You’ve got the equipment.

Spare Change

When we drove down from the UK to Spain, this was one of the best things we kept in the glove box. We organised all of our scraps of change into separate bags. This was ideal for the tolls. All of the loose change we had collected over the years sat together organised and meant we could use coins that aren’t so welcomed in shops and dump them in the tolls. It’s also great for cafes in the mountains that don’t accept a card for those that don’t carry cash!

What does your glove box look like? A mess of unfinished thoughts or a clean, organised and useful storage spot perfect for road trips?

I’m pretty sure our Glove Box in England looked most like Brunel’s. In fact, if we changed the Ford to a Toyota, I’d have thought he’d have raided ours. Ibuprofen was always in there, plus a selection of perfumes and wipes.

I mean… If you’ve still got the room, I’d suggest putting that ABBA CD back in! What’s a road trip without a little Mamma Mia?

If you’re looking for insurance, you can always check out Go Compare.  They haven’t sponsored this post, but they did give me some food for thought and permission to use some fantastic photos, so it’s only right that I give them a little thank you!

Hasta luego,