Spain’s Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) has issued Instrucción PROT 2026/04, setting new inspection schedules and clarifying parking rules for motorhomes and camper vans. The changes replace the 2023 guidelines and align with criteria set by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, changing owners’ compliance requirements.
The biggest change concerns how often vehicles must pass the mandatory technical inspection (ITV). The DGT says inspection intervals depend on a vehicle’s technical classification, not simply on its use as a living space or its appearance. Motorhomes registered as category M vehicles are exempt from ITV for their first four years. After that, inspections are required every two years until the vehicle reaches ten years of age, when annual checks become mandatory.
Camper vans and converted vans registered as category N vehicles face stricter requirements: annual ITV inspections through the first ten years, then inspections every six months. The vehicle’s technical registration document is decisive for owners; a camper-style interior alone does not determine its inspection category. Royal Decree 920/2017 governs the inspection regime and sets the legal structure for vehicle inspections in Spain.
Driving with an expired ITV can result in a €200 fine, reduced to €100 for prompt payment, without automatic loss of licence points. The vehicle may also be immobilized. That penalty applies to driving with an expired inspection and is separate from any municipal fine for prohibited parking or camping. Owners of category-N vans over ten years old need to plan for checks every six months.
Parking and Urban Restrictions
The updated instruction also addresses where and how motorhomes can park in urban areas. The DGT says motorhomes are generally allowed to stop and park under the same conditions as any other vehicle, provided they comply with local signage and municipal regulations. A Supreme Court judgment dated 13 March 2018 recognized municipalities’ authority to regulate motorhome parking, including by setting time limits and prohibiting camping outside designated areas. The court cited traffic flow and safety as reasons for such rules. It also referred to pedestrian use of streets and the fair distribution of parking spaces, not a blanket prohibition on motorhomes parking in urban areas.
Parking does not automatically grant the right to camp. Under the updated structure, a motorhome should remain within its marked footprint and rest on its tyres, with safety chocks or wedges permitted. It must not discharge fluids from its living area. An awning or furniture extending beyond the vehicle can indicate camping. So can stabilizing legs or other equipment. Local or regional restrictions may then apply, and noise may trigger separate rules. As the DGT’s guidance puts it, “parking is not camping”: occupants may remain inside a correctly parked vehicle, but municipal ordinances still apply.
Royal Decree 518/2026 of 24 June adds paragraph 4 to article 92 of Spain’s General Traffic Regulations, setting physical criteria for motorhome parking. Exterior elements must not extend beyond the vehicle’s perimeter, and the vehicle must rest only on its tyres, with safety chocks or wedges allowed. No fluids may be discharged from the living compartment. Municipalities retain authority to limit parking times and prohibit camping except in areas they authorize.
New S-128 Sign and Service Areas
The instruction introduces the S-128 sign, which marks official points for emptying wastewater from caravans and motorhomes. The DGT’s guidelines also refer to regional regulations in areas such as Navarra, Extremadura and the Community of Madrid. They emphasize that service areas must be properly equipped and clearly marked for users. Reception areas may provide water supplies and waste-disposal services.
The regulatory changes come as caravan travel grows in Spain. DGT figures cited for the sector show that the number of motorhomes rose from just over 48,000 in 2015 to almost 137,000 in 2026. That is an increase of roughly 89,000 vehicles, or about 185% based on those rounded figures. The growth has increased the need for clear rules on parking and overnight stays, as well as waste disposal and infrastructure that can accommodate demand.
A recent analysis examines how the inspection schedules compare with previous years and what the new ITV requirements mean for older motorhomes and camper vans: see the full breakdown of the latest ITV changes here.
Owners should check the vehicle category and first-registration date recorded in their technical documents, and stay informed about local parking ordinances. The rules distinguish a vehicle’s inspection obligations from the separate question of whether its use at a particular location counts as parking or camping.
