V16 Warning Light: Mandatory in Spain Since January 2026

If you drive a Spanish-registered car on Mallorca, you have needed a connected V16 warning light on board since 1 January 2026. Since that date, the classic warning triangle is no longer an accepted way to mark a broken-down vehicle in Spain. Spain is the first country to take this step, and enforcement is already under way: driving without a valid V16 light costs a EUR 80 fine. The catch is that not every light sold in shops or online as a "V16" actually meets the rules. Here you will read how to recognise an approved model, how the technology works, and what applies to your foreign-registered car or your rental car.

What the V16 warning light is and why it replaces the triangle

The V16 warning light is a small yellow flashing beacon with a built-in SIM card and GPS chip. In a breakdown or accident you place it on the roof of your car. It flashes in all directions and at the same time sends your position to the DGT 3.0 traffic platform, which warns other road users through sat navs and roadside message signs.

The reason for the switch is uncomfortably concrete. To set up warning triangles you have to get out and walk along the road, a good 100 metres there and back. Over the past two decades that is exactly where people in Spain have repeatedly lost their lives, as the traffic authority DGT's figures on pedestrians killed on rural roads and motorways show. With the V16 light, you put it on the roof without leaving the vehicle.

The legal basis is Real Decreto 1030/2022, which set the transition period ending on 1 January 2026. Since then, neither warning triangles nor older V16 lights without connectivity are permitted for Spanish vehicles.

A few numbers worth knowing:

• The fine for a missing or non-working V16 light is EUR 80, reduced to EUR 40 if you pay promptly. No licence points are deducted.
• Once activated, the light must keep flashing for at least 30 minutes and is visible up to one kilometre away in good conditions.
• In standby, the battery must last at least 18 months. Charging it or replacing the batteries once a year is still a good idea.
• Connectivity is included in the purchase price for at least twelve years, with no contract, no registration and no running costs.

Only certified models are valid

The biggest headache with V16 is not the rules but the chaos in the market. Lights are still being sold online that flash but have no certification or no connection to the DGT at all. Such a light is legally worthless, and the EUR 80 fine still applies.

You can check whether a model is approved on the official list of certified brands and models at the DGT. The certificates are issued by the testing labs IDIADA and LCOE, and the identifier is printed directly on the light's cap: the name of the lab plus the test report number. If that print is missing, leave it on the shelf. The packaging and the device also show the expiry date of the connectivity. Since the twelve years run from certification, it pays to check this even when buying in a shop.

On Mallorca you can get certified lights in car accessory shops, many garages, larger petrol stations and the motoring club branches. When buying online: check the DGT list first, then order. Especially on marketplaces, approved and non-approved models are mixed together in the search results.

How the connection to the DGT works

Many newcomers wonder whether they need to register the light or pair it with their phone. The answer is no. The SIM card is built in, and the device establishes the connection itself when switched on. You press the button, put the light on the roof, done.

Once activated, the light sends its position to DGT 3.0. From there the alert flows into navigation systems, traffic apps and the message signs on surrounding roads. Other drivers know kilometres in advance that a vehicle is stopped on the road, even behind a bend or in thick fog, where the flashing light alone is of little use.

On data protection, things are tighter than some fear: the light only transmits when activated and only sends its position. Number plate, speed and personal data are not transmitted, and there is no permanent tracking. The light does not replace an emergency call, though. In an accident you still have to call 112 yourself.

What applies to foreign-registered cars and rental cars

For residents who have re-registered their car, the case is clear: Spanish plates, so the V16 rule applies. If your car is still driving on Mallorca with foreign plates, the situation is different. The DGT has clarified in a dedicated instruction that vehicles registered abroad must comply with the rules of their country of registration while in international traffic. A car with foreign plates is therefore still compliant in Spain with a warning triangle, as set out in the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Conversely, you may drive a Spanish-registered car with a V16 light through Germany or France without carrying triangles.

Important for everyday life: as soon as you re-register your car in Spain, the obligation comes with it. And if you live here permanently, you cannot legally keep driving on foreign plates forever anyway. For the rest of the rules on the road, see our overview of traffic rules in Spain.

With rental cars, the equipment obligation lies with the keeper, meaning the rental company. Spanish-registered rental cars must have a V16 light on board. Still, take a quick look in the glove box at pick-up, just as you would check the hi-vis vest and spare wheel. If the light is missing, have it confirmed or replaced at the desk. For long-term rental and leasing (renting), the Spanish rules put the obligation to obtain the light on the renter. That is stated in the DGT's FAQ and surprises many people when they sign the contract.

Frequently asked questions about the V16 rule

Does the V16 rule also apply to motorcycles?

No. The obligation covers cars, estate cars, trucks and buses with Spanish registration. The DGT still recommends the light for motorcyclists, because it can be attached to the tank or mirror and reports your position.

Do I have to replace my old V16 light without connectivity?

Yes. Since 1 January 2026, only connected models with a valid certificate are permitted. An older light without a SIM card no longer meets the rule, even if it still flashes perfectly.

Is the V16 light alone enough in a breakdown?

The light only replaces the warning triangles. Switching on the hazard lights, putting on the hi-vis vest and getting behind the crash barrier when in danger remain mandatory. If you cannot leave the situation safely, stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on.

Conclusion

Since January 2026 the V16 warning light belongs in every Spanish-registered car, on Mallorca too. Best to buy a certified model from the DGT list right away, with the test number printed on it and at least twelve years of connectivity. Anything else may flash, but counts for nothing at a roadside check. If you are still driving on foreign plates, your warning triangle remains valid for now, but at the latest when you re-register you will need the light. The EUR 80 fine is annoying, but the real argument is a different one: you no longer have to walk around on the road during a breakdown. How to bring your vehicle to Spain properly and re-register it is explained in our guide to re-registering a car.