How Spain's 112 emergency number works

Key rules

• Cost: Calls to 112 are free from any phone, and a mobile can call 112 without a SIM card or credit.
• Serious cases: If the case is serious or you are unsure, call an ambulance rather than driving.
• Stay on the line: Do not hang up until the operator tells you to.
• Region: Your call goes to the 112 centre of the region where you are, so give your exact location.

The short version

Calls to 112 are free from any phone, and a mobile can call 112 without a SIM card or credit. A regional centre answers, asks a few fixed questions and sends the right services. If the case is serious or you are not sure, call an ambulance instead of driving.

Who answers

112 is the single European emergency number. Each region of Spain runs its own 112 centre, and your call goes to the centre of the region where you are. Madrid, Catalonia and the Basque Country (where it is called SOS Deiak) have their own set-ups, and Ceuta and Melilla have theirs. Many centres can help in English, French or German, or use an interpreter. Speak slowly and simply anyway.

What the operator asks

Expect the operator to ask these things, in about this order:

1. What the emergency is: fire, accident, medical problem or crime.
2. Where you are: town, street, number, a landmark or kilometre point. Your phone may also share its position.
3. How many people are affected and what condition they are in.
4. Your name and a number to call you back.

After that, answer their questions and follow their instructions. Do not hang up until they tell you to, and stay where you are if it is safe. The checklist below has the same steps in short form.

Who is sent

The operator can bring in any emergency service:

• Ambulances and medical emergency teams, including 061 or your region's medical emergency service.
• Police: Policía Nacional, Guardia Civil, regional police and local police.
• Firefighters (bomberos).
• Civil protection and rescue, including mountain and sea rescue.

The operator either sends the help directly or passes your call to that service's own centre. You may be kept on the line. Which of the two happens depends on your region, so do not be surprised if someone new comes on the phone.

Ambulance or drive yourself?

Call 112 for an ambulance if the situation is serious or you are unsure. Examples are chest pain, a suspected stroke, severe breathing difficulty, unconsciousness, heavy bleeding, major injury or seizures. On the phone, a doctor can give you instructions. The ambulance crew can then treat the person on the spot, and the hospital is warned before you arrive. If you drive, the person may get worse on the way and nobody at the hospital is expecting them.

For less serious problems, go to a health centre or urgencias by your own transport. You can also call 061 for advice. The decision box below sets out the choice.

Quick answers on fines, giving your name and calling for someone else are in the FAQ below.

Choosing between options

Should you call an ambulance or drive the person to urgencias yourself?

• Call 112 for an ambulance: Chest pain, suspected stroke, severe breathing difficulty, unconsciousness, heavy bleeding, major trauma or seizures, or when you are not sure how serious it is. A doctor can guide you by phone and the crew treats the patient on site.

• Drive to a health centre or urgencias: The problem is less serious and the person is stable. You can also call 061, the regional medical advice line, to ask first.

If the case is serious, life-threatening or uncertain, call 112 rather than driving. The patient may get worse on the way, and the hospital will not be ready for them.

Checklist

• Give the exact location: town, street, number, landmark or kilometre point, or the position your phone shares.

• Give your name and a callback number.

• Answer the operator's questions and follow their instructions.

• Stay on the line until the operator tells you to hang up, and stay at the place if it is safe.

Quick answers about calling 112 in Spain

Is a call to 112 free, even without a SIM card or credit?

Yes, calls to 112 are free from any phone, and a mobile can call 112 without a SIM card or credit. It also works without coverage from your own operator, because the phone can use any available network.

Can I be fined for calling 112 when it is not an emergency?

Yes, you can be sanctioned if you give a false alarm or knowingly false information, but an honest mistake is usually not penalised. Repeated or malicious false calls can lead to criminal or administrative fines, which vary by offence and region.

Do I have to give my name or show papers when I call 112?

No, you do not have to show identity papers, because the call is by phone, and refusing a name does not stop help being sent. The operator will usually ask for a name and callback number. Calls are recorded, and your number and location reach the centre automatically.

Should I call an ambulance instead of driving someone to urgencias myself?

Yes, call 112 (or 061) if the situation is serious, such as chest pain, suspected stroke, severe breathing difficulty, unconsciousness, heavy bleeding, major trauma or seizures. A doctor can guide you by phone, and the ambulance treats the patient on site and alerts the hospital. For less serious problems, you can go to a health centre or urgencias by your own transport, or call 061 for advice.

Can I call 112 for someone else or from the roadside?

Yes, anyone can call 112 for another person or from the roadside, and these calls are handled routinely. Give the exact location first (town, road, kilometre point, direction of travel), then what happened, how many people are hurt and any hazards. Stay on the line and keep a safe distance from traffic.