Overview
- Drivers must carry a V16 from January 1 with an €80 fine for non‑compliance and no grace period, and warning triangles stop being valid for Spanish‑registered vehicles while foreign‑plated cars may still use them.
- Only DGT‑approved connected models are legal, with visible lab marks and identifiers such as LCOE or IDIADA codes and a unique IMEI, and they auto‑transmit location to DGT 3.0 for display on road panels and navigation apps.
- Placement should be at the highest feasible point; if roof mounting is impossible, allowed alternatives include the upper driver’s door, bonnet or high windshield area on metallic surfaces, with roof‑mount exemptions for fabric‑roof convertibles, aluminium bodies and motorcycles.
- The Guardia Civil advises placing the beacon where it is most visible and checking power readiness, and it reminds users to call 112 or 062 because activating the device does not contact emergency services.
- DGT points to the voluntary V27 “virtual triangle” that sends in‑car alerts to connected vehicles as a complement designed to mitigate visibility limitations highlighted by critics.