Starting in 2026, all car owners in Spain will face a new requirement: having a special V16 emergency beacon. This device will become the only approved way to signal emergencies on Spanish roads. The new rule will affect around 25 million passenger vehicles, as well as buses, trucks, and other types of transport registered in Spain.
The cost of a single beacon is about €45, and it must be kept inside the cabin or trunk. It is expected that mass purchases of the V16 will bring substantial tax revenue to the government, with the device market projected to reach billions in turnover in just the first year of the law.
Who is exempt from the new rule
However, not all road users are required to purchase a V16. Owners of motorcycles, bicycles, electric scooters, and similar vehicles are exempt from this requirement. They are still not obliged to equip their vehicles with emergency beacons.
There is another important exception. Vehicles registered outside Spain may continue using traditional emergency triangles to signal an incident. This includes not only citizens of European Union countries but also drivers from countries with which Spain has reciprocal road safety agreements, such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Morocco, Argentina, Brazil, and others.
Why foreign cars are exempt
Spanish authorities have no right to require foreign drivers to replace warning triangles with the V16 beacon, as different standards apply in their own countries. As a result, over the next few years, both cars with the new beacons and vehicles with the traditional triangles will be seen on Spanish roads—depending on the country in which the car is registered.
For now, only Spain has introduced such a strict requirement for its citizens. In other European countries, similar devices are not mandatory, which has caused confusion and debate among Spanish motorists. Many believe the new rule is unfair to locals, since foreigners can continue using the old warning devices.
Fines and liability
Spanish-registered cars without the V16 beacon are subject to an €80 fine. If a driver is stopped on the roadside without this device, traffic officers have the right to issue a citation. Moreover, if a person leaves their vehicle without wearing a reflective vest, the penalty is even harsher—€200 and a loss of four driving license points.
Thus, starting in 2026, Spanish drivers will not only need to adapt to new regulations but also invest in the mandatory equipment. Exemptions for foreigners and some categories of vehicles are already causing dissatisfaction among locals, and this topic is likely to be debated further.
