The V16 emergency beacon in Spain has gone from being the great road‑safety bet of the DGT to sitting in the sights of the European institutions, which are now openly questioning how it has been made compulsory and even flirting with the idea of banning it. This leaves millions of drivers who have already bought the device wondering whether they will be forced to change safety equipment yet again just weeks after the obligation came into force.
What is the V16 beacon and why was it made mandatory?
The V16 is a small yellow flashing light designed to replace the classic warning triangles. It is placed on the roof of the car, usually magnetised, and emits a 360‑degree high‑intensity signal so that a vehicle stopped on the carriageway can be seen from far away.
Unlike the triangles, the driver does not have to get out and walk along the hard shoulder to position them, which reduces the risk of being run over during a breakdown or accident. With this argument, the Government and the DGT pushed through the change of rules: since 1 January 2026 the triangles have definitively disappeared from the regulations and only V16 devices connected to the DGT 3.0 platform are considered valid in Spain.
The European Commission’s warning
The controversy has exploded because the European Commission has received several formal complaints from citizens and political groups questioning whether Spain has complied with EU rules when making the connected V16 beacon mandatory.
Brussels’ doubts focus on two main points:
- Spain requires the beacon to include a geolocation and connectivity module that sends the vehicle’s position to the DGT 3.0 platform each time it is activated.
- This technical requirement is national and very specific, which may clash with EU rules on the free movement of goods and the harmonisation of vehicle equipment.
If only beacons with Spanish‑style connectivity are accepted, manufacturers from other countries are effectively forced to adapt their products exclusively for this market, which Brussels views with suspicion.
For the moment, the Commission has not ordered Spain to suspend the rule, but it has admitted several petitions and announced that it will study whether the way the obligation has been introduced complies with European law. Depending on the outcome, it could ask for the regulation to be amended or even trigger infringement proceedings.
Why is the connected V16 beacon so controversial?
On paper, the V16 connected beacon offers clear safety benefits: it avoids having to walk on the road, makes the vehicle visible immediately and sends its exact location to the traffic management systems so that emergency services are warned.
However, several factors have fed the current backlash:
- Privacy concerns. Every activation of the beacon sends a geolocated signal, and many drivers are uncomfortable with a device in their car that communicates automatically with a public platform.
- Cost and commercial impact. The obligation has sparked a rush to buy approved models and sidelined older non‑connected beacons and triangles, generating suspicion about how the change has been managed and who benefits from it.
- Unequal treatment within the EU. Only vehicles registered in Spain are required to carry a connected V16; foreign vehicles circulating on Spanish roads can continue to use their usual equipment, which raises questions of fairness.
This mix of legal, economic and privacy concerns explains why the case has ended up on the European Commission’s agenda.
What happens now for drivers in Spain?
At the time of writing, nothing has changed in practical terms: the V16 connected beacon is still the only legal device in Spain for preseñalising a breakdown or accident on the road. The DGT continues to insist that the regulation is in force and that drivers must comply with it.
However, the European review opens several possible scenarios in the medium term:
- Spain could be asked to adapt the technical requirements of the beacon so that they are aligned with a future EU‑wide standard.
- The geolocation and connectivity obligation might be relaxed, allowing simpler devices or different technological solutions.
- In an extreme case, Brussels could conclude that the way the obligation was imposed is not compatible with EU law and ask Spain to modify or repeal part of the regulation.
Until there is an official decision, drivers who have already purchased a connected V16 should continue to use it as their emergency signalling system to avoid fines and potential liability issues in the event of an incident.
Practical advice if you are driving in Spain
- If your car is registered in Spain and you drive on motorways or main roads, you must currently carry an approved connected V16 beacon in the vehicle and use it in the event of a breakdown or accident.
- Check that the model you buy is properly homologated and explicitly indicates that it is connected to the DGT 3.0 platform; not all lights on the market meet the 2026 standard.
- Keep your old triangles only as a backup if you wish, but bear in mind that they no longer replace the legal obligation of the beacon.
- Stay tuned to official announcements from the DGT and, where relevant, from the European Commission, because the rules may evolve as the legal review progresses.
For now, the message is paradoxical: while Spain has made the connected V16 beacon the new symbol of roadside safety, Europe has put a question mark over the way it has been imposed and is weighing up whether that bright flashing light really fits with community law.
