Yes. Since 1 January 2026, every car registered in Spain, hire cars included, must carry a connected V16 beacon instead of warning triangles. If you break down, you put it on the roof without getting out and it sends your position to the DGT, Spain's traffic authority. Foreign-registered cars, such as UK cars, can still use triangles.
What is the V16 beacon and when did it become compulsory?
The V16 beacon is a battery-powered, flashing yellow light that you place on the roof when your car is stopped on the road. Since 1 January 2026 it must be a connected model: when switched on, it sends the car's location to the DGT. It replaces warning triangles for vehicles registered in Spain.
How a connected V16 beacon works
It can be seen from up to a kilometre away, even in fog, rain or at night. While it is on, it sends the car's position every 100 seconds, and stops when you switch it off. This way other drivers are warned about the stopped vehicle before they reach it.
What about warning triangles?
For Spanish-registered cars the V16 beacon is now the compulsory signal. Under a DGT instruction of 29 December 2025, you will not be fined for carrying triangles as well, but they do not replace the beacon.
Do hire cars in Spain have a V16 beacon?
Yes. A hire car collected in Spain is registered here, so it must carry a connected V16 beacon, usually in the glovebox. When you pick up the car, check that it is there and ask to be shown how to switch it on: it only takes a few seconds, and it is better to know before you need it.
| Vehicle | Must it carry a V16 beacon? | What it can use |
|---|---|---|
| Car registered in Spain, including hire cars | Yes, since 1 January 2026 | Connected V16 beacon |
| Foreign-registered car (for example, a UK car) | No | Warning triangles, as required in its home country |
| Motorbikes and mopeds | No | No beacon requirement |
What changes if you drive your own car to Spain?
Nothing compulsory: the V16 beacon rule only applies to vehicles registered in Spain. If you arrive in your own car from the UK, France or Germany, you can keep using the warning triangles your country requires. Even so, the DGT recommends the V16 beacon as the safest option, because it saves you walking along the hard shoulder to set up triangles.
Why hiring a car on arrival is easier
If you fly into Malaga and hire a car there, you do not need to kit out your own car for the trip: the hire car is registered in Spain and must carry the connected V16 beacon along with the reflective vest.
How do you use a V16 beacon if you break down?
Once the car has stopped, switch on your hazard lights, take the V16 beacon out of the glovebox, turn it on and place it on the roof, at the highest point and as central as possible. You can do it through the window without getting out, which is exactly what makes it safer than walking back to set up triangles.
- Move the car as far off the lane as you can and switch on the hazard lights.
- Put the V16 beacon on the roof without leaving the car.
- If you get out, put on the reflective vest first and wait behind the safety barrier.
- Call for help: ring 112 if anyone is hurt or in danger, or your hire company's roadside assistance.
If there has also been a collision
Once the car is signalled, follow the steps in our guide on what to do after an accident in a rental car: the accident report, photos and telling the hire company.
What is the fine for not using a V16 beacon?
According to the DGT, not signalling a stopped vehicle with the V16 beacon is a minor offence with a fine of €80. The fine applies when the car is stopped on the road without being signalled properly, not simply for driving without ever having used it. In a hire car, checking that it is on board when you collect it avoids surprises.
Tips for driving a hire car in Spain without surprises
- Check the glovebox when you collect the car: V16 beacon, reflective vest and paperwork.
- Save the roadside assistance number on your phone before you leave the car park.
- Choose cover with no excess: with car hire with no excess in Malaga, a knock or a breakdown will not end in an unexpected charge.
- Flying into Malaga? All-inclusive car hire in Malaga gives you 24-hour roadside assistance and unlimited mileage from day one.
Frequently asked questions
Is a V16 beacon compulsory in hire cars in Spain?
Yes. Since 1 January 2026 it is compulsory in every car registered in Spain, and hire cars collected here are registered in Spain.
Do I need a V16 beacon if I drive my UK car in Spain?
No. The rule only applies to vehicles registered in Spain. With a foreign-registered car you can keep using the warning triangles required in your country.
Where do you put the V16 beacon?
On the roof of the car, at the highest point and as central as possible. You place it through the window without getting out.
How much is the fine for not using a V16 beacon?
The DGT treats it as a minor offence with a fine of €80, which applies when the car is stopped on the road without being signalled.
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