From 1 January 2026 every car, van, bus and truck registered in Spain must carry a connected V16 emergency beacon—spelling the end of the reflective triangles that have marked roadside breakdowns for decades. The rule, laid down in Royal Decree 159/2021 and its 2022 amendment, is now live after a two-year transition.
The V16 is a palm-sized, magnetised strobe that drivers can place on the roof without leaving the vehicle. Once activated it flashes an amber 360-degree light and transmits the vehicle’s geolocation to Spain’s DGT 3.0 traffic-management platform, which then warns other motorists via variable-message signs, mapping apps and in-car navigation systems. According to the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), the technology could prevent up to 25 deaths a year caused by drivers walking on live carriageways to deploy warning triangles.
In the run-up to enforcement the DGT withdrew approval for four popular beacon models that failed to renew certification, prompting consumer-protection groups to demand clearer guidance. Facua argues that units purchased before withdrawal remain legal, but fleets scrambling to comply have nevertheless rushed to replace stock, temporarily pushing retail prices above €35.
![Spain makes connected V16 beacons compulsory for all vehicles from today]()
VisaHQ can help mobility managers stitch all of this together. While our core service is visa and immigration processing, our Spain team (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) also advises on ancillary regulatory duties such as vehicle registrations, import permits and, now, sourcing DGT-approved V16 beacons—making us a one-stop partner for relocating staff and their employers.
The change matters for global-mobility practitioners in Spain for two reasons. First, expatriate assignees who drive company vehicles—or their own Spanish-plated cars—must now have a connected, homologated beacon on board. Second, international corporate fleets bringing vehicles into Spain on long-term projects should note that foreign-registered cars may continue to use triangles, but longer-stay vehicles that switch to Spanish plates must retrofit V16s.
Best practice advice includes adding V16 procurement and user training to relocation check-lists, verifying that leasing providers supply approved devices, and updating travel-safety briefings. Non-compliance carries an €80 fine (reduced to €40 for prompt payment) and potential corporate liability if an accident results from improper signalling. The DGT says it will focus on education rather than fines in the first quarter, but roadside checks have already begun on major routes out of Madrid and Barcelona.
The V16 is a palm-sized, magnetised strobe that drivers can place on the roof without leaving the vehicle. Once activated it flashes an amber 360-degree light and transmits the vehicle’s geolocation to Spain’s DGT 3.0 traffic-management platform, which then warns other motorists via variable-message signs, mapping apps and in-car navigation systems. According to the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), the technology could prevent up to 25 deaths a year caused by drivers walking on live carriageways to deploy warning triangles.
In the run-up to enforcement the DGT withdrew approval for four popular beacon models that failed to renew certification, prompting consumer-protection groups to demand clearer guidance. Facua argues that units purchased before withdrawal remain legal, but fleets scrambling to comply have nevertheless rushed to replace stock, temporarily pushing retail prices above €35.
VisaHQ can help mobility managers stitch all of this together. While our core service is visa and immigration processing, our Spain team (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) also advises on ancillary regulatory duties such as vehicle registrations, import permits and, now, sourcing DGT-approved V16 beacons—making us a one-stop partner for relocating staff and their employers.
The change matters for global-mobility practitioners in Spain for two reasons. First, expatriate assignees who drive company vehicles—or their own Spanish-plated cars—must now have a connected, homologated beacon on board. Second, international corporate fleets bringing vehicles into Spain on long-term projects should note that foreign-registered cars may continue to use triangles, but longer-stay vehicles that switch to Spanish plates must retrofit V16s.
Best practice advice includes adding V16 procurement and user training to relocation check-lists, verifying that leasing providers supply approved devices, and updating travel-safety briefings. Non-compliance carries an €80 fine (reduced to €40 for prompt payment) and potential corporate liability if an accident results from improper signalling. The DGT says it will focus on education rather than fines in the first quarter, but roadside checks have already begun on major routes out of Madrid and Barcelona.
