It's a pain but it happens. You drive too fast on the motorway or misunderstand the parking rules and you get a fine. The basic rule is that the quicker you pay, the cheaper it is. Here's how you pay Gran Canaria fines if you are here on holiday.

On-the-spot traffic fines in Gran Canaria

Tourists pulled over for speeding, or for things like dangerous driving or a broken tail light, pay an on-the-spot fine. If you have the cash on you, everything is simple. The policeman gives you a ticket, you pay the fine (with a 50% quick pay reduction), you get a receipt and off you go.

If you don't have any money on you, things are more of a pain. You still have to pay so the police have to take you back to your hotel, or to a cashpoint, to get the cash. They only accept euros so if your holiday cash in another currency, you have to change it. 

Some people feel like paying cash is an invitation to corruption, but you should always get a receipt. Gran Canaria's traffic police plan to equip their roadside teams with card readers so that they can charge most people on the spot without taking cash.

Speeding fines that arrive once you get home

Most speeding fines in Gran Canaria come from static cameras and arrive several weeks after you get flashed. As a non-resident, the police get your car rental company to give them your address, then send you the fine. The insurance companies also charge you around 50 euros for the admin involved in passing on your contact details. 

If you don't pay a traffic fine, you could well find that car rental companies everywhere in Spain refuse to let you rent a car in the future. 

Paying these days is pretty straightforward as you do it online via this Spanish Government website. It's best to pay them as soon as they arrive as you get a 50% discount for early payment.

Parking fines in Gran Canaria

If you park in a metered zone with blue or green lines and get a ticket, just annul it in the machine. This costs three euros. If you don't bother, you are unlikely to hear anything more because the blue zones are run by a private company and it's not worth their while chasing non-residents.

If you get a parking fine from the police, it's best to pay it online.  Otherwise, your hire car company may make extra charges. 

Appealing Gran Canaria fines

This is almost impossible unless you live on the island and is unlikely to succeed. Speeding fines include a large margin of error and the police use their mobile phones to document parking infractions.

Appealing a Gran Canaria fine as a non-resident just isn't worth the effort unless the fine was outrageous. If you appeal you also lose the early pay reduction. 

Renting a car in Gran Canaria

If you choose to explore Gran Canaria by car, take all the hassle out of renting by using Mr Car Hire Gran Canaria...

Mr Car Hire, an idependent rental broker, offers a complete Gran Canaria hire car service with car-to-door delivery anywhere on the island, fully comprehensive insurance and 24/7/365 support. 

Best of all, he does it at great prices and offers top service, no queues, dirty cars or long waiting times.

Rent your car via Mr Car Hire and you'll get:

• A wide choice of cars at reasonable prices with absolutely no hidden extras
• Delivery to anywhere in Gran Canaria and car collection anywhere on the island
• Comprehensive insurance and 24/7/365 support and breakdown cover
• Personal service and a completely stress-free car rental experience

Contact him right here and Mr Car Hire be right back in touch.