Traffic Complaint Form Spain (Denuncia de Tráfico)

A Traffic Complaint Form Spain (Denuncia de Tráfico) is a formal written document through which a person reports a traffic violation, road accident, or road safety offence to the competent authority in Spain, principally governed by Real Decreto Legislativo 6/2015, de 30 de octubre, por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la Ley sobre Tráfico, Circulación de Vehículos a Motor y Seguridad Vial (LSV), Article 80, which establishes the procedure for reporting and processing traffic infractions. The denuncia de tráfico is the cornerstone instrument through which Spain's administrative traffic sanction system — managed by the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) under the Ministerio del Interior — is activated.

The Real Decreto Legislativo 6/2015 classifies traffic infractions in Spain into three categories based on severity: leves (minor), graves (serious), and muy graves (very serious). Minor infractions under Article 76 LSV include failing to use indicators or driving with excessive noise. Serious infractions under Article 77 LSV include exceeding speed limits by between 20 and 40 km/h above the permitted maximum. Very serious infractions under Article 78 LSV include driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding 0.25 mg/l exhaled air (0.12 mg/l for novice and professional drivers), driving under the influence of drugs, or exceeding speed limits by more than 60 km/h above the permitted maximum.

Fines under the LSV range from €100 for minor infractions to €500 for serious infractions and up to €1,000 for very serious infractions. The LSV additionally establishes a driver's licence points system (permiso de conducción por puntos) introduced by Ley 17/2005 — very serious and some serious infractions lead to deduction of between 2 and 6 points from the driver's 12-point starting balance. Loss of all points results in revocation of the driving licence, with re-examination required before reinstatement.

A Denuncia de Tráfico in Spain may be filed with several authorities. The DGT processes administrative traffic sanctions. The Policía Local (municipal police) has competence within urban areas under Article 7 LSV. The Guardia Civil's Agrupación de Tráfico (ATGC) has primary competence on national and regional roads (carreteras nacionales and autonómicas). The Policía Nacional may also intervene in traffic matters within its jurisdiction. For criminal offences — such as reckless driving causing death or serious injury under Articles 379 through 385 of the Código Penal (Ley Orgánica 10/1995) — the complaint must be filed with the Juzgado de Instrucción.

The formal Denuncia de Tráfico must identify the reporting party (denunciante), the accused party (denunciado), the vehicle or vehicles involved (with registration plate — matrícula), the location and time of the incident, and a detailed factual account of the reported offence. In accident cases, the Atestado — the police accident report prepared under Real Decreto 769/1987 — is the primary official document, but a citizen may supplement it with a formal denuncia to confirm their version of events is recorded. Insurance claims for traffic accidents are processed through the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros (CCS) where the responsible vehicle is uninsured or unidentified.

A Traffic Complaint Form Spain is needed whenever a person wishes to formally report a traffic violation witnessed on Spanish public roads — whether the complainant is a direct victim of an accident, a third-party witness, or a party whose vehicle was damaged by an unidentified driver.

A Denuncia de Tráfico is required when a driver involved in a road traffic accident in Spain wishes to formally record their version of events with the Guardia Civil de Tráfico or the Policía Local beyond the standard Declaración Amistosa de Accidente (amicable accident declaration form) — particularly where the other party denies liability or where criminal negligence under Articles 379–385 del Código Penal is suspected.

The form is needed when reporting a hit-and-run (atropello con fuga) incident where the offending driver failed to stop at the scene, in breach of Article 75 LSV — Article 75 requires drivers involved in accidents to stop, identify themselves, and provide assistance. The Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros (CCS) processes claims against unidentified or uninsured drivers, but a formal denuncia with the competent authority is a prerequisite for CCS intervention.

A Traffic Complaint is necessary when a vehicle has been parked illegally causing damage, when a driver has been observed operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs contrary to Article 20 LSV (blood alcohol exceeding 0.25 mg/l in exhaled air), or when dangerous road conditions created by a third party — such as debris left on the carriageway — caused an accident.

The form is also used to report vehicle registration irregularities — such as cloned number plates (matrículas clonadas), which constitute a criminal offence under Article 399 of the Código Penal — to the Juzgado de Instrucción and the DGT simultaneously. Road users who receive a traffic fine they consider was issued against their vehicle due to a cloned plate use the Denuncia de Tráfico to document the irregularity and initiate the sanction cancellation procedure before the DGT.

A Denuncia de Tráfico is required when pursuing civil liability (responsabilidad civil) for personal injury or property damage caused by a traffic accident under the Ley sobre Responsabilidad Civil y Seguro en la Circulación de Vehículos a Motor (LRCSCVM), Real Decreto Legislativo 8/2004 — the formal complaint establishes the factual basis for subsequent civil or insurance proceedings before the Juzgados de Primera Instancia.

Under Spanish law, the Constitución Española 1978 is the supreme law. The Código Civil governs contractual obligations under Article 1255 (libertad de pactos). The AEAT administers taxation. The Juzgados de Primera Instancia have general civil jurisdiction. The Ley 39/2015 governs administrative procedure. The LOPDGDD (LO 3/2018) and RGPD govern data protection through the Agencia Española de Protección de Datos (AEPD).

A valid Traffic Complaint Form Spain under Real Decreto Legislativo 6/2015 must contain the following essential elements to be processed by the DGT, the Guardia Civil de Tráfico, the Policía Local, or the Juzgado de Instrucción.

Identification of the Complainant (Denunciante): Full name, DNI or NIE number, residential address, and contact details of the person making the complaint. Where the complainant is a legal entity — such as a transport company (empresa de transporte) or a fleet operator — the company's NIF and the name of its legal representative must be provided.

Identification of the Reported Vehicle and Driver: The vehicle's registration plate (matrícula) in the standard Spanish format (four digits and three letters under the current system introduced in 2000), make, model, and colour. Where identified, the name and DNI or NIE of the accused driver (denunciado) and their driving licence number (número de permiso de conducción) should be recorded. The driving licence category (permiso A, B, C, etc.) is relevant where the offence involves a category-specific restriction.

Location and Time of the Incident: The exact location — street address, kilometre point (punto kilométrico — PK) on national roads, or geographic coordinates — and the precise date and time of the reported incident. The DGT's road kilometre marking system is maintained by the Ministerio de Transportes, Movilidad y Agenda Urbana. For accidents on autopistas or autovías, the concessionaire company or the relevant Demarcación de Carreteras of the Ministerio de Transportes should also be identified.

Factual Description of the Infraction: A clear, chronological account of the conduct constituting the reported infraction, referenced to the specific provision of the LSV or the Código Penal believed to have been violated. The description should specify speed (if relevant), weather and road conditions, presence of witnesses, and any attempt to identify the responsible vehicle.

Supporting Evidence: Reference to any supporting documentation — photographs or video footage (recording must comply with Reglamento General de Circulación, Real Decreto 1428/2003, and GDPR obligations under Reglamento (UE) 2016/679 regarding third-party image capture), dashcam recordings, witness statements, or medical reports in case of personal injury. Evidence of physical damage to the complainant's vehicle — repair estimates (presupuestos de reparación) from a registered taller autorizado — should be attached.

Insurance Information: The third-party liability insurance policy number (número de póliza de seguro obligatorio) and the name of the insurer of the reported vehicle, where known, in accordance with the obligations of the LSV Article 2 (compulsory insurance) and the LRCSCVM (Real Decreto Legislativo 8/2004). The UNESPA (Unión Española de Entidades Aseguradoras y Reaseguradoras) database and the Fichero Informativo de Vehículos Asegurados (FIVA) maintained by the DGT allow verification of insurance status.

Civil Liability Claim: Where the complainant suffered personal injury or property damage and wishes to claim civil liability under the LRCSCVM and the Baremo de accidentes de circulación (compensation scale set by Ley 35/2015, de 22 de septiembre), the estimated amount of damages should be quantified, distinguishing personal injury compensation (daño personal) from property damage (daño material).

Signature and Date: The complainant's handwritten or digital signature and the date of the complaint. Forms-legal.com provides this Traffic Complaint Form Spain template as a practical starting point — the formal denuncia must comply with the procedural requirements of the authority receiving it. A qualified abogado especialista en tráfico can advise on the most effective legal strategy for complex cases involving criminal liability or significant civil damages.

For criminal traffic offences under Articles 379–385 of the Código Penal — including causing death or serious injury through reckless driving (conducción temeraria) — the denuncia filed with the Juzgado de Instrucción initiates criminal proceedings under the Ley de Enjuiciamiento Criminal (LECrim, Real Decreto de 14 de septiembre de 1882). The Fiscalía de Tráfico (specialised traffic prosecution service) intervenes in serious cases. Mediation through the SMAC (Servicio de Mediación, Arbitraje y Conciliación) is available for civil disputes arising from road accidents.

Under Spanish law, the Constitución Española 1978 is the supreme law. The Código Civil governs contractual obligations under Article 1255 (libertad de pactos). The AEAT administers taxation. The Juzgados de Primera Instancia have general civil jurisdiction. The Ley 39/2015 governs administrative procedure. The LOPDGDD (LO 3/2018) and RGPD govern data protection through the Agencia Española de Protección de Datos (AEPD).