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V16 warning light Spain: requirement, models and fines

Responsible for this content: Frank Menze

The V-16 warning light has been the only permitted means of marking a broken-down or crashed vehicle on the road in Spain since 1 January 2026 – the classic warning triangle is no longer sufficient for Spanish-registered cars, buses and lorries. For expats and second-home owners on Mallorca, this is more than a footnote: as soon as your car carries a Spanish number plate, you need the yellow flashing light ready to hand in the glovebox. If, on the other hand, you're still driving with a German number plate, a different legal situation applies, which many forums and guides describe inaccurately. In this article you'll learn which vehicles are affected, how the connected V-16 works technically, how to recognise a certified model, what to do in the event of a breakdown or accident, what costs threaten in the event of violations – and why the rule applies differently for foreign number plates than it may seem at first glance.

V-16 warning light Spain: requirement, models, fines

Is your vehicle already equipped in compliance with the regulations?

What is the V-16 warning light – and since when has it been mandatory?

The V-16 (Spanish: baliza V-16 conectada) is a small, battery-powered flashing light with a magnetic base that is placed on the vehicle roof in the event of a breakdown or accident. According to the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), the legal basis is the Reglamento General de Vehículos. Since 1 January 2026 the connected V-16 has been the only legally permitted means there of marking a broken-down vehicle – meaning the previous warning triangles are no longer sufficient as sole equipment.

To understand the regulation, the background is important: the V-16 itself was already permitted as an alternative to the triangle from 1 July 2021. What's new as of 1 January 2026 is exclusively the connectivity requirement – i.e. the stipulation that the light must automatically transmit its position to the DGT.

Date Event
1 July 2021 V-16 is approved as an optional alternative to the warning triangle
24 January 2025 DGT publishes instructions on the use of the V-16 in international traffic
1 January 2026 Connectivity requirement comes into force: only connected V-16 devices are permitted, warning triangles are no longer sufficient for Spanish-registered vehicles

Note: Today, on 3 September 2026, the requirement has already been in force for around eight months. Many texts circulating online are still phrased in the future tense ("will become mandatory from 2026") – in fact, it is now applicable law.

The DGT refers to the Reglamento General de Vehículos as the overarching legal basis. Some specialist portals also mention supplementary Real Decretos on marking broken-down vehicles; since this information is not consistent across the various sources, we refrain here from citing a specific decree number. For the exact legal basis and future adjustments, it's worth taking a direct look at the official DGT website, which is also continuously updated with the currently certified models.

Who is affected? Vehicle types and number plates

The obligation is not linked to your place of residence, but to the number plate of your vehicle. This is the point where most misunderstandings arise.

Vehicle status V-16 obligation from 01.01.2026
Cars / estate cars with a Spanish number plate (turismo) Yes
Vehículos mixtos (estate/multi-purpose vehicles) with a Spanish number plate Yes
Buses (autobuses) with a Spanish number plate Yes
Lorries / goods vehicles with a Spanish number plate Yes
Rental cars with a Spanish number plate Yes, the rental company must provide the equipment
Vehicle with a German number plate, travelling in Spain No, see the section on international traffic

If you're only just bringing your vehicle to Mallorca, you'll find the details on registration in our guide Registering a car in Spain. Anyone still driving with a foreign number plate should also read our article on the foreign number plate on Mallorca – it also explains the time limit after which a move forces you to re-register.

How does the connected V-16 work technically?

The V-16 emits a high-intensity, yellow flashing light in all directions – considerably more visible than a warning triangle, especially in fog, rain or darkness. The real difference from the old version, however, lies in the data transmission.

Feature Specification according to the DGT
Signal high-intensity, yellow flashing light
Data transmission Position is reported to the DGT 3.0 platform or the Punto de Acceso Nacional
Repeat interval every 100 seconds, until the deactivation is transmitted
Data affected anonymised; the DGT only learns the location of a broken-down vehicle while the light is activated
App/registration required No
Approval only models from the continuously updated DGT list

Note: In its own announcements, the DGT explicitly corrects false information ("bulos") about alleged data collection. No personal data is transmitted and no app is required – the light communicates independently.

Finding approved models – and avoiding the purchase trap

Not every device advertised with the term "conectada" is actually homologated. The DGT itself points out that only its own continuously updated list of certified brands and models is authoritative. Before buying, it is therefore worth checking this official list rather than relying on advertising claims in shops.

Practical points when buying:

  1. Check whether the specific model (brand and exact type designation) is on the current DGT list.
  2. Make sure the product is explicitly labelled as connected (Spanish: "conectada") – plain V-16 lights without connectivity no longer fulfil the requirement from 2026 onwards.
  3. Keep the device charged in the glove compartment or another easily accessible spot inside the vehicle.
  4. If in doubt, have someone at a garage near you show you how to correctly attach and activate the light.

Correct use in case of breakdown or accident

  1. Switch on the hazard lights and, if possible, move the vehicle to the hard shoulder or breakdown lane.
  2. Take the V-16 out of the glove compartment.
  3. Place the light magnetically on the vehicle roof – it is designed so that this can be done, as far as possible, without fully leaving the vehicle.
  4. Activate the light: from that moment on, it automatically transmits the position to the DGT platform.
  5. After the breakdown has been resolved or the vehicle has been towed away, deactivate the light so that the location reporting does not continue.

Fines for non-compliance

The DGT itself has stated the amount: the absence of the V-16 is a minor administrative offence (infracción leve), the penalty amounts to 80 euros — exactly the same amount that previously applied for the absence of warning triangles. The switch to the V-16 has therefore not tightened the fine framework, only replaced the object it applies to.

This is embedded in the general sanctions framework of Art. 80.1 of the Real Decreto Legislativo 6/2015 (Ley sobre Tráfico): minor offences up to 100 euros, serious ones 200 euros, very serious ones 500 euros. Under Art. 81, the fine can be increased by up to 30 percent — for instance in the case of repeat offenders or where the actual danger was particularly high.

Detail Value
Classification infracción leve
Standard amount without V-16 80 euros
Legal framework for minor offences up to 100 euros (Art. 80.1 RDL 6/2015)
Possible surcharge up to 30 percent (Art. 81 RDL 6/2015)
Points on the driving licence none

Note: 80 euros is not a dramatic amount when measured against the purchase price of an approved V-16. The real reason behind the regulation is different: according to the DGT, around 25 people die in Spain every year after getting out of their vehicle following a breakdown and being hit on the road — many of them while setting up warning triangles. It is precisely this step out of the vehicle that the V-16 is meant to avoid.

For the general procedures around fine notices, deadlines and appeal options in Spain, it's worth taking a look at our guide Fines in Spain.

Situation Classification
Missing or non-connected V-16 on a Spanish-registered vehicle minor offence, 80 euros (DGT)
Use of an uncertified model Does not fulfil the requirement, even if a device is present
Warning triangle alone, without V-16 No longer fulfils the requirement as of 01.01.2026 for Spanish-registered vehicles

V-16 abroad and with a German number plate – the key difference

This is the key point most relevant for German-speaking readers in Mallorca. On 24 January 2025, the DGT published an instruction on the use of the V-16 in international traffic. The basis is the Vienna Convention, which allows a state to require either a warning triangle for international traffic or to recognise any other equivalent device required under the law of the country of registration of the vehicle.

This results in two directions:

  • Vehicle with Spanish number plates abroad: It already meets the marking requirement abroad with the V-16, and warning triangles are not additionally required.
  • Vehicle with German number plates in Spain: The law of the country of registration, Germany, applies. As long as your car has not been re-registered with Spanish number plates, the Spanish V-16 requirement does not apply to you – you continue to follow the German equipment regulations.

According to the DGT, Spain is the first country to introduce such a connectivity requirement. For second-home owners and those who have recently relocated, this specifically means: as long as your vehicle still carries German number plates, you are formally not required to use the V-16. However, once the import and re-registration process is complete, the requirement applies automatically – you can find more details in our guide Importing & re-registering a car in Spain.

Attention: Anyone who leases or rents a vehicle in Spain will, as a rule, drive one with Spanish number plates – in which case the requirement applies without exception. You can also find details on equipment for rental vehicles in our guide Rental car insurance Mallorca.

Most common mistakes

  • Buying a model that is called "V16" but has no connection to the DGT platform.
  • Relying on advertising claims in shops instead of checking the official DGT certification list.
  • Leaving the light uncharged or in a hard-to-reach place in the car.
  • Assuming that the old warning triangle is still sufficient for a Spanish-registered vehicle.
  • Wrongly assuming that a vehicle with German number plates must have a Spanish V-16.
  • Forgetting to switch off the light after the breakdown, causing the location signal to keep running unnecessarily.

What comes next?

The DGT continuously updates the list of certified models – devices can subsequently be removed from the list if they no longer meet the technical requirements. It is therefore worth checking at irregular intervals whether your own model is still listed, rather than relying solely on the time of purchase. There is currently no reliable official information regarding any further extension of the requirement to other vehicle categories.

V-16 warning light checklist

  • Vehicle carries Spanish number plates → V-16 is mandatory
  • Model is on the current DGT certification list
  • Device is explicitly labelled as connected / "conectada"
  • Battery charged, light within easy reach in the glove compartment
  • For hire cars: presence checked when taking over the vehicle
  • During ongoing import/re-registration: V-16 obtained before the first journey with Spanish number plates
  • For German-plated vehicles: German equipment regulations (warning triangle) still apply

Conclusion

The V-16 warning light has been mandatory since 1 January 2026 for all Spanish-registered cars, buses and lorries – warning triangles alone are no longer sufficient. For you as an expat or second-home owner on Mallorca, one distinction matters above all: as long as your vehicle still carries German number plates, the Spanish requirement does not formally apply; but as soon as it is re-registered in Spain, it does. Anyone who gets hold of a certified, genuinely connected model, keeps it charged and ready in the glove compartment, and activates it correctly in an emergency is on the safe side. You'll find further topics on driving on the island collected in our Cars & Traffic.

Official sources

Do I need a V-16 as a resident with a Spanish number plate?
Yes. Since 1 January 2026, the connected V-16 has been the only permitted means of marking broken-down vehicles for cars, vehículos mixtos, buses and lorries with Spanish number plates; warning triangles alone are no longer sufficient.
What applies if I drive in Spain with a German number plate?
According to the DGT instruction of 24 January 2025, the equipment requirement in international traffic is governed by the law of the country of registration. A vehicle registered in Germany is therefore not subject to the Spanish V-16 requirement, but to German rules on warning triangles.
Is a V-16 without an internet connection still sufficient?
No. Since 1 January 2026, only the connected version is permitted, which transmits its position via GPS to the DGT 3.0 platform; non-connected models are no longer considered sufficient.
How do I recognise an approved model?
What matters is the continuously updated list of certified brands and models maintained by the DGT. Not every device marketed as "conectada" is actually approved.
Does the V-16 collect personal data about me?
According to the DGT, the transmitted data is anonymised. The authority only learns the location of a broken-down vehicle when the light is activated; no app and no personal registration are required.
Is the V-16 automatically included with a rental car?
For rental cars with Spanish number plates, the light is part of the rental company's mandatory equipment. When picking up the vehicle, it's worth asking briefly if in doubt.
What happens if I'm currently re-registering my car to Spain?
As soon as the vehicle receives a Spanish number plate, the V-16 requirement applies from that point onwards. For the period before that, the law of the previous country of registration applies.
What fine is there for not having a V-16?
The DGT states 80 euros. This is a minor offence with no points deduction — the same amount that previously applied for missing warning triangles.