Changes to traffic signs: these are the new ones that have already come into effect
The DGT updates the road signage catalogue, which has been in force for more than 20 years.
Traffic signs will be modernized starting in July 2025. And some changes are coming that may affect both drivers and pedestrians. The current road sign system has been in place since 2003, meaning it hasn't been updated in over 20 years. Below, we explain the changes to the General Traffic Regulations so you don't miss out.
The new traffic sign catalog published by the DGT includes new pictograms, including electric scooters and electric charging stations (vehicle charging stations), for example. Some signs have also been redesigned, the visibility of others has been improved, and those that had become obsolete or were no longer in use have been eliminated.
Some of the new signs prohibit the use of personal mobility vehicles or regulate their use in specific areas, warn of areas with no exit except for pedestrians or bicycles, warn people to get off their bicycles and continue on foot, and remind them that they must have an environmental badge to ride.
Among the updated signage are reduced visibility, animal crossings, and a school zone.
Why was this reform decided to be carried out now?
According to the DGT (Directorate-General for Traffic), these road signage updates are intended to adapt to social, technological, and mobility changes, with a "unified catalog that improves understanding and consistency throughout the country." For this reason, the design and definition of vertical signs, road markings, and circumstantial signage have been modified. Generally, the idea is to improve understanding and modernize the pictograms, but sizes are also being adjusted to promote more efficient and sustainable manufacturing, eliminating gender connotations in the symbology to foster a more inclusive visual language.
Furthermore, both the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Transport will be able, through a joint ministerial order, to modify, add, and delete new signs in the official catalog to make it easier to adapt to future needs.
What if I have to renew my license?
According to the DGT, although the Royal Decree approving this new catalog is effective July 1, 2025, the physical change to the signs will be carried out gradually. Furthermore, for those who must obtain a driver's license, the new signs will not be immediately included in the theoretical exams: a three-month period is open before they are included to allow time to update the manuals and facilitate the preparation of candidates, according to the DGT.