If you’re visiting or living in an Hispanic country, you’re sure to want to see as much of the place as you can. These days, motor cars offer travelers an independent, convenient way to get around and you’re now going to learn how to speak Spanish with a selection of key, helpful Spanish phrases for drivers so you can drive with confidence around a Spanish-speaking country.
The Spanish phrase for renting a car is really easy:
Quiero alquilar un coche - I want to hire a car
Depending on what type of car you prefer, you may then add on:
De marchas for manual gearing or automático for automatics. Along with your credit cards, don’t forget to take your driver’s license - carnet de conducir - and your pasaporte.
Traffic - tráfico - in the main cities can be heavy, with rush hour - la hora punta - seeing levels peak so be prepared for traffic jams - atascos - at these times. In addition to the multitude of automobiles, be aware of the ubiquitous scooters - motos – many of which will have a pillion passenger. Travelling as a pillion passenger is: ir de paquette, a great expression to introduce to your vocabulary as you continue learning to speak Spanish.
Roads are called: los caminos, highways: las carreterras and motorways: las autopistas. Traffic lights – semáforos - are pretty much the same as anywhere and you’ll also have to navigate around the many traffic islands which are fittingly called: las islas.
Be mindful about the speed limits as speed cameras - los radares - proliferate the highways and if you’re caught speeding - velocidad excesiva – you’ll be punished with a not inconsiderable fine - una multa. Occasionally, the offender will also receive a driving ban - una prohibición de conducir - therefore it’s wise to keep to the limits.
There are lots of toll roads - carreteras de peaje - so if you plan on driving long distances - conducir distancias largas – take in to account that you will be charged along the route.
Finally, if you’re staying in a city, parking can be an absolute nightmare. Here in Barcelona, there are a multitude of car parks - aparcamientos - and underground car parks - aparcamientos subterráneos – but if you want to park on the streets, be careful if you are in a residential area - una zona de residencia - as parking is only for residents there. In addition to receiving a fine for illegally parking your car – una multa de aparcamiento - your car will be towed away - quitar el coche - by the tow-truck - la grúa – and before you can retrieve it, you must have paid your fine in full. Not an experience you want on your visit!
To find a good place to park, just ask:
¿Dónde está el aparcamiento más cercano? - Where is the nearest car park?
And if you’ve taken a chance and parked your car on the street and you hear someone exclaim:
¡Viene la grúa! - here comes the tow-truck!
You’d better move your car and quickly!
