Changes to driving rules mean that everyone in Spain will soon have to maintain a V16 light in their car, but the country’s traffic authority recently confirmed different rules for tourists.
Soon, Spanish drivers will no longer be able to legally use traditional warning triangles in case of malfunction or are involved in an accident.
From 1 January 2026, all drivers in Spain should have in the car, and use instead of the warning triangles, a Emergency Light V16 – A small LED light with a long -term battery, ie, and geolocation, among other features.
According to the General Traffic Directorate () of Spain, “V16 is a device of Accident warning that replaces the classic triangles To indicate that the vehicle is immobilized on the road or that its cargo has fallen on the road. ”
According to, the V16 is being introduced into the Spanish roads by safety reasons And to allow DGT to do your work better. However, the imminent change caused Doubts between tourists that drive in Spain with vehicles registered abroad.
During the last months it was not clear if the foreign drivers vacation would need Buy and use V16 when in Spainor if the old warning triangle would be acceptable.
According to a DGT clarification, “in the case of vehicles recorded in other countries and in Spain in ‘international circulation‘, they fulfill the regulations if they carry, or use if necessary, warning triangles or any other device with a similar function implemented in the regulations of the country of origin ”.
This guidance is for Tourists with cars registered abroad And it does not apply to foreigners living in Spain, details The Local.
DGT clarification arises due to the confusion that has been installed, and because Spain is the first country to make it mandatory the use of this device, which means that the tourists visiting almost certainly will not have lights V16 – That is not yet a rule.
Although some European Union countries are evaluating the implementation of emergency light V16, most still require emergency triangles. In Portugal, its use as a safety complement is allowed, but is not mandatory.
What is light V16?
The V16 device is a small yellow LED light, equipped with geolocation technology, which is capable of emitting a high intensity light at 360ºintermittently and continuously for 30 minutes.
With a battery with autonomy of up to 18 monthsthe device contains several íma, which ensure that it can be easily placed in the rod, safely from the interior of the car – and that it will not be taken by the wind.
According to Real Automóvel Club of Spain () Light works in extreme temperatures, ranging from -10 ° C to 50 ° C.
However, the Unified Association of the Spain Civil Guard Police already criticized the effectiveness of these new lightsthey claim they are not useful on roads with a High number of curvesbecause the approaching conductors do not receive the preview that a triangle provides.
Also, they underline that the V-16 lights They are not bright enough or visible during daytime-making them useless.
