Reading a traffic fine (multa) and driver identification request

Key rules

• Reduction: Paying within 20 calendar days of the day after notification cuts the fine by 50%.
• Appeal: Paying early means giving up the right to appeal in most cases.
• Unopened notice: A notice you never open in the online mailbox still counts as delivered.
• Driver identification: The owner must name the driver within 20 calendar days, or face a fine of 500 to 1,500 euros.

What the letter is asking you to do

A traffic fine (multa) usually asks for one of two things: pay or defend yourself, or name the driver. Read the letter for which one it is, and for the date it was sent. Every deadline counts from that date.

The early-payment window

You can pay with a 50% reduction within 20 calendar days of the day after notification. Calendar days include weekends and holidays, so do not wait for a working week.

Paying ends the procedure. The fine becomes final, and in most cases you give up the right to appeal. The points are still deducted.

The reduction is not offered for every offence. Some very serious infractions are excluded, and some local fines follow local rules. Check the notice to see whether it offers the reduction.

If you disagree with the fine, do not pay. Send your allegations (written objections) within the same period instead.

Electronic notices

Individuals can choose to join the Dirección Electrónica Vial (DEV), the online traffic mailbox. It is compulsory for companies and other legal entities. If you have joined, notices are placed there.

If you do not open a notice within 10 calendar days, it counts as rejected, and the notification is treated as made. The 20-day period for the reduction or for allegations then starts from that date, even though you never read the notice. Check your mailbox often, and check the date shown on each notice.

If you have not joined, the notice comes by post. If it cannot be delivered, it is published in the public traffic-fines notice board (Tablón Edictal de Sanciones de Tráfico).

Driver identification

If the letter asks you to identify the driver, you must do so within 20 calendar days of the request, if you are the registered owner or lessee. This applies even if the fine was not for something you did.

Not replying without good reason is a separate fine of 500 to 1,500 euros. You could also be treated as the person responsible for the original offence. No points are deducted for failing to identify the driver.

If you do not know who was driving, you still have to reply. Say so, and give whatever you know. Rental companies have their own rules, so if the car was rented, follow the instructions in the letter.

The warnings and the FAQ below cover the most common mistakes.

Timeline and deadlines

• An electronic notice arrives in the Dirección Electrónica Vial, the online traffic mailbox: on the day it is placed there

• If you do not open the notice, it counts as delivered and the deadlines start: 10 calendar days after it is placed

What to watch out for

• Paying early ends your chance to appeal: Paying with the 50% reduction ends the procedure, makes the fine final and removes your right to appeal, except a court appeal. Points are still deducted. Pay only if you accept the fine. If you want to contest it, send your allegations within 20 calendar days instead.

• Not identifying the driver costs 500 to 1,500 euros: If you own the vehicle and do not identify the driver within 20 calendar days of the request without good reason, you face a fine of 500 to 1,500 euros on top of the original fine. Reply within 20 calendar days, even if you do not know who was driving. Say so in your reply.

• An unopened electronic notice still starts the clock: Individuals who joined the Dirección Electrónica Vial are treated as notified if they do not open a notice in time, and companies must use it. The 50% reduction period then runs without you knowing. Check the Dirección Electrónica Vial regularly and note the date of each notice.

• The reduction may not be offered: The 50% reduction does not apply to some very serious infractions where the law excludes it. Read the notice to see whether it offers the reduction before you pay. Ask your town hall or traffic office if unsure.

• Rental cars follow their own rules: If the vehicle belongs to a rental company, specific rules apply to who must identify the driver. Ask the rental company how it handles identification requests.

Frequently asked questions

Does paying the reduced fine mean I lose the right to appeal?

Yes, paying the reduced fine ends the procedure and you lose the right to appeal, except for a court appeal (contencioso). The fine is still imposed and points are still deducted. Pay only if you accept the fine.

Is the 50% reduction available for every traffic fine?

No, the reduction does not apply to some very serious infractions where the law excludes it. Check your notice to see whether the reduction is offered. Some local fines follow the town's own rules.

What if I do not know who was driving when the identification request arrives?

You must still reply to the request, even if you have no information about the driver. The notice lets you say this. Not replying can lead to you being treated as responsible for the fine.

Do I lose points for failing to identify the driver?

No, no points are deducted for failing to identify the driver. It is a separate fine from the original infraction. The points for the original infraction are still deducted.