Spain’s New V16 Rule Sparks Confusion: These Cars Won’t Have To Carry It In 2026

From adjacent year, Spanish roads will look very different. The acquainted image of a driver nervously stepping on nan difficult enarthrosis to spot informing triangles is astir to disappear, replaced by nan DGT’s caller connected V16 beacon – a mini flashing ray designed to beryllium connected nan tile and instantly alert different drivers and postulation authorities erstwhile a conveyance has surgery down.

It’s 1 of nan biggest changes to roadworthy information Spain has introduced successful decades, and it affects almost each conveyance registered successful nan country. But surprisingly, a very circumstantial class of motorists will beryllium exempt – and that’s precisely wherever disorder has already begun.

A awesome shift: Who must transportation nan V16 beacon?

From January 1 2026, nan V16 beacon becomes compulsory for millions of drivers. According to nan DGT, nan norm applies to astir 25 cardinal Spanish-registered cars, on with:

• buses
  • adaptable mixed-use vehicles
  • equipment carrier vehicles
  • non-special conveyance combinations

In short, astir of nan cars, vans and lorries that thrust successful and retired of Spain’s towns, cities and motorways each day.

The thought down nan alteration is simple: support group wrong their conveyance during a breakdown and debar nan vulnerable locomotion on nan roadworthy to spot triangles – thing that has contributed to excessively galore fatal accidents complete nan years.

The large objection nary 1 saw coming

The portion that’s catching everyone off-guard is this: foreign-registered cars do NOT person to transportation a V16 beacon.

Anyone driving into Spain pinch plates from France, nan UK, Germany, Morocco – aliases immoderate different state – tin proceed to usage nan accepted informing triangles without immoderate issue. They will not beryllium fined.

Why? Because Spain cannot enforce its ain method rules connected vehicles registered abroad. International circulation agreements make that crystal clear. Spain whitethorn person decided to lead nan measurement by making nan connected V16 mandatory, but it cannot unit visiting vehicles to adopt nan aforesaid system.

In different words, nan V16 norm only applies to Spanish plates.
Not rental cars from abroad.
Not tourists.
Not expats who thrust successful pinch a overseas vehicle.

But there’s a catch: Not each V16 beacons are valid

Even for those who are required to transportation nan device, there’s an important item that’s causing headaches.

The DGT has warned that galore V16 beacons presently sold online are not really authorised, moreover if they look identical to nan charismatic ones. Dozens of models person appeared connected online marketplaces, often astatine bargain prices – but not each of them meet Spain’s method requirements.

The DGT’s connection is clear: if it’s not connected their charismatic approved list, it’s not valid.

And from 2026, utilizing a non-approved beacon will beryllium treated arsenic if you’re carrying nary beacon astatine each – an offence punishable pinch a €80 fine.

Before buying, motorists are being urged to cheque nan DGT website and make judge nan exemplary is officially homologated.

Why Spain stands unsocial – for now

For Spanish drivers, nan displacement to nan V16 is huge. For overseas motorists, thing changes. And that mismatch is wholly down to world rules: postulation regulations only use to vehicles registered successful nan state issuing them.

Spain whitethorn beryllium pioneering nan usage of connected beacons, but unless nan EU – aliases individual countries – travel its lead, drivers entering from overseas will proceed placing triangles nan old-fashioned way.

So yes, from 2026, you whitethorn beryllium connected nan motorway utilizing a high-tech connected beacon… while nan car down you puts retired a accepted triangle. That mixed image is apt to proceed until different nations adopt nan aforesaid system.

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