I moved to Spain not long ago and recently got a traffic fine downtown. Staring at the Spanish text and all the codes was a real headache. After some online research, I found that besides going to the post office or the DGT website, the easiest and quickest way is to pay it directly at a bank ATM! I’ve tried it myself, and it works perfectly. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help anyone else in the same boat.
Steps to Pay a Fine at an ATM
Not all bank ATMs offer this service, but most major banks like CaixaBank, BBVA, and Santander do. I used a CaixaBank machine, and the interface is pretty similar across different banks.
Finding the Payment Option
You don’t even need to insert a bank card! Just look on the ATM’s home screen for an option like “Pagos y Recibos” or “Pago de recibos/multas”. That’s the one you need to select.
Scan or Manually Enter Information
This next part is the most crucial step. Your fine ticket will have a barcode on it.
- Select the option “Pago con lectura de código de barras” (Payment with barcode scan).
- Hold the barcode on your ticket up to the machine’s scanner.
- After a “beep,” your fine details, including the amount and the issuing authority, will automatically appear on the screen. Make sure to carefully double-check that all the information is correct!
If the scan doesn’t work, you can also choose to enter the details manually. The ticket usually has a series of codes, such as “Emisora” (Issuer), “Referencia” (Reference), “Identificación” (Identification), and “Importe” (Amount). Just follow the on-screen prompts and enter them one by one.
Pay and Print the Receipt
Once you’ve confirmed the details are correct, the machine will prompt you to insert cash. Put the banknotes into the cash deposit slot, and the machine will count them automatically. If the amount is correct, confirm the payment. Finally, do not forget to print the receipt! This receipt is your proof of payment, so keep it safe just in case. I’ve heard unfortunate stories of people who paid but didn’t take the receipt, only to be chased for payment again because the system hadn’t updated.
| Common Bank ATMs | Supports Fine Payment? | Notes |
|---|
| CaixaBank | Yes | User-friendly interface, no card needed |
| BBVA | Yes | Also no card needed, option is “Pagar recibos” |
| Santander | Yes | Some older machines may not support this feature |
| Sabadell | Partially | It’s best to check the screen for the option first |
Using an ATM to pay a fine is incredibly convenient—the whole process takes less than five minutes, with no queues. It’s a lifesaver for those of us whose Spanish isn’t perfect. Of course, remember that when paying your fine at a Spanish bank, if you do it within the discount period, you’ll usually get a 50% reduction, so don’t be late! Does anyone know of other good payment methods? Feel free to share them in the comments!
