Do tourists driving in Spain need to carry the new V-16 emergency light?

Changes to driving rules mean that everyone in Spain will soon need to keep a V16 light in their car, but the country's traffic authority has confirmed different rules for tourists.

Drivers in Spain will soon no longer be legally allowed to use the traditional warning triangles when they break down or are involved in an accident.

From January 2026, all drivers in Spain must have a V16 light in their car. The Local has covered these changes in great detail here, but in short the V16 device is a small LED light with long battery life and geolocation technology, among other features.

According to Spain’s Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT): “The V16 is an accident warning device that replaces the classic triangles to indicate that the vehicle is immobilised on the road or that its load has fallen onto the road.”

The V16 is being implemented on Spanish roads for safety reasons and to allow the DGT to better do their job.

However, the upcoming change has caused doubts among tourists driving in Spain with foreign-registered vehicles. For many months it was unclear whether foreign drivers on holiday would need to buy and use the V16 when in Spain, or whether the old warning triangle would be acceptable.

Do tourists driving in Spain need to carry the new V-16 emergency light?

Fortunately, the DGT has provided some clarification: "In the case of vehicles registered in other countries and which are in Spain in 'international circulation', they will be complying with 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," according to car website Motorpasión.

The DGT explains that it has clarified this due to the confusion and because "Spain is the first country to make the use of this device mandatory", meaning tourists visiting will almost certainly not have V16 lights as it's not the rule back home.

Note that is guidance is for tourists with foreign-registered cars and doesn't apply to foreigners living in Spain.

What is the V16 light?

The V16 device is a small yellow LED light that is equipped with geolocation connectivity and is capable of emitting a high-intensity 360º light intermittently and continuously for 30 minutes.

It has a battery life of up to 18 months, and also has magnets so it can be easily placed from the safety of your car and it won’t blow away in the wind.

Spain’s Real Automóvil Club de España (RACE) states that the light will work in extreme temperatures ranging from -10C to 50C.

However, Spain's Unified Association of Civil Guard Police have criticised the effectiveness of these new lights already. They claim that they’re not useful on roads with a high number of bends as oncoming drivers don't get the pre-warning that a triangle provides.

Furthermore, they stress that the V-16 lights are not bright or visible enough during daytime hours, rendering them useless.

The DGT website gives a list of V-16 light models which have already been approved.

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