How to find out if there’s a traffic ticket waiting for you

There are few things that cause greater anxiety for Spanish motorists than the arrival of a fine. You may have been caught by a speeding camera, parked in an illegal place, or have a sneaking suspicion that you have broken a law.

How long does it take to receive a Spanish traffic ticket? Can you avoid a traffic ticket that never arrives? Or do the authorities make sure you pay it regardless?

Waiting for the envelope

After you commit an offense, you have to wait. In Spain, the time it takes to receive a traffic ticket depends on several factors. These include how you are notified by the authorities and the severity of the infraction.

For minor violations, the law gives you up to three months to be notified by the administration. They have six months for more serious offenses. If you speeded in April, it will take the DGT until July to fine you (or even October if your offense was more serious).

The most common way to receive your letter is by post. But if you’ve registered for Spain’s Dirección Electrónica Vial (DEV), the whole process speeds up. Many drivers are receiving digital notifications through email or text message within a matter of days.

That said, relying solely on the post can be risky—especially if you’ve recently moved and forgotten to update your address. The authorities can still use another trick if they cannot deliver the letter. They will post the fines on an official online noticeboard called TESTRA, or TEU. According to Spanish law, if you see your fine there, it’s official notification, whether or not you know about it.

Even if you don’t have a fine letter, there are still ways to check.

Surprisingly many drivers do not realise that they may have an online fine waiting for their arrival. The DGT is now a digital-first organization. You can use their website to search for pending fines by using your DNI, name or car registration plate. The official DGT app miDGT allows you pay fines, appeal them, and check your fines.

But here’s something many people miss: if you’ve signed up for DEV, all your official traffic notifications—including fines—will come by email or text, and you won’t get paper notifications any more. This is a convenient way to keep up-to-date, but you must check your messages.

When do fines expire? Why you shouldn’t depend on them

Spanish traffic fines expire. You’re technically safe if you don’t receive notification within three months of a minor offense or six months of a serious one. But once that fine’s been legally served—whether by post, online, or digital message—the authorities then have four years to collect the money. The debt will simply disappear if they do not act within this time frame.

There are always exceptions. If you make any moves—like appealing the fine or making a partial payment—that timeline resets, and you’re back to square one. Any action taken by the DGT in order to collect the fine is also a violation. While it is possible that a fine will expire, you shouldn’t count on it.

What to do when you receive a fine

Let’s assume the worst happens and you receive a fine. Do not panic. Double-check the date, time and location as well as your vehicle’s registration. If you find any errors, you might have a case to contest the claim.

You will usually have 20 days in which to respond. You can then pay (and receive a discount of 50%) or start an appeal. You’ll lose your appeal rights if you accept the fine at this point. If you believe the fine is unjust, prepare your evidence—photos, receipts, or witness statements—and submit your case either online or by post.

Authorities are required to respond and review your appeal. You can take your case to court if you are still not satisfied with the result.

Staying proactive is the best way to avoid unpleasant surprises. Use the DGT app and check the website frequently. Also, keep your details updated. Don’t ignore those email or SMS notifications, and if you do receive a fine, deal with it promptly—one way or another.

Keep your eyes and ears open. Never assume you are off the hook just because the mailman hasn’t come.

Drive safely, but stay informed.

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