V-16 Emergency Lights Now Mandatory — Insurance Implications

If you drive in Spain, the familiar red warning triangles you used to place behind a broken-down car are now officially history. From 1 January 2026, the luz de emergencia V-16 conectada — a connected V-16 emergency light — is the only legal device drivers can use to signal that a vehicle is stopped on the road. The change affects every car owner in Spain, including expats and second-home residents who drive Spanish-plated vehicles, and it has direct knock-on effects for your car insurance.

Here's what the new rule actually requires, where the regulation comes from, and what it means if you're stopped at the roadside or unlucky enough to be involved in an incident without one.

What the law says

The mandatory switch to the connected V-16 light is set out in Real Decreto 159/2021, published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE) and developed by the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT). The regulation gave drivers a transition window that ended on 31 December 2025. From 1 January 2026, the V-16 light is the only approved pre-signalling device for vehicles immobilised on Spanish roads.

In plain terms:

• Warning triangles are no longer valid as a stand-alone signalling device on motorways, dual carriageways or any public road.
• Every vehicle must carry a homologated V-16 connected light.
• The device must be a model approved by the DGT and connected to the DGT 3.0 platform.

What a V-16 emergency light actually is

The V-16 is a compact, battery-powered amber lamp with a magnetic base that sits on the roof of the car. Unlike the old triangles, you do not need to leave the vehicle and walk along the carriageway to deploy it — you simply switch it on and place it on the roof through the window. That alone is a meaningful safety upgrade on busy autovías.

The crucial word is connected. Homologated V-16 lights include a SIM card and GPS module that automatically transmit the vehicle's location to the DGT 3.0 system the moment the device is activated. That signal feeds into overhead motorway gantries, the DGT app and in-car navigation services, warning approaching drivers that there is a stationary vehicle ahead. Coverage and the data transmission service must be guaranteed for a minimum of 12 years from the date of purchase.

Where to buy one

Approved V-16 lights are widely available at petrol stations, motoring chains (Norauto, Feu Vert, AECOC members), large supermarkets such as Carrefour and Alcampo, motoring clubs like RACE and RACC, and online retailers including Amazon. Prices typically range from around €40 to €60 for a homologated, connected model. Always check that the packaging displays the official DGT homologation mark and the words "conectada" and "DGT 3.0". Cheaper non-connected versions sold during the transition period are no longer compliant.

What happens at the roadside

If your car breaks down or you are involved in a minor collision, the procedure is now:

• Pull over as far off the carriageway as possible and switch on the hazard lights.
• Put on a high-visibility vest before opening the door.
• Reach through the window or door and place the activated V-16 light on the highest accessible metal point of the vehicle — usually the roof.
• Exit on the safer side and move behind the safety barrier.
• Call your insurer's breakdown line or 112 if there are injuries.

Because the V-16 transmits the vehicle's GPS coordinates directly to DGT 3.0, emergency services and traffic management centres see your position in real time. There is no need to keep the device active for longer than the incident itself.

Insurance implications — this is the part people miss

Not carrying a homologated V-16 is, in itself, a traffic offence. The Guardia Civil and local police can issue fines of €80 for failing to carry or use one correctly, and higher penalties apply where the absence of pre-signalling contributes to a hazard for other road users. But the more important consequences sit inside your car insurance policy.

Spanish motor insurance contracts include a general duty on the policyholder to minimise damages and to comply with road traffic regulations. If you are involved in an accident after a breakdown and you did not deploy a homologated V-16 — or you used an expired triangle — insurers may:

• Reduce or refuse payment of own-damage cover (collision, fire or theft modules) on the basis of contributory negligence.
• Recover part of any compensation paid to third parties from you personally, under the right of repetición set out in the Spanish Insurance Contract Act.
• Treat any related fines and points on your licence as a renewal-pricing factor.

In short, the V-16 is no longer optional kit. It is part of how an insurer assesses whether you behaved as a reasonable, law-abiding driver in the moments after a stop on the road.

What to do this month

If you have not already done so, buy a homologated, DGT 3.0-connected V-16 light, store it within arm's reach of the driver's seat (the glove box or door pocket is ideal) and check the connectivity guarantee period printed on the box. If you are moving to Spain or registering a foreign vehicle, add the V-16 to your standard equipment list alongside the high-visibility vest and spare bulbs.

The official DGT list of approved models and the full text of Real Decreto 159/2021 are available on the DGT website and the BOE.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or insurance advice. Regulations and homologation requirements may change — always check the official DGT and BOE sources before making a purchase or relying on equipment for legal compliance. Cover terms vary between policies; please refer to your own policy documents or speak to our team for personalised guidance.