The Directorate-General of Traffic (DGT) has required a connected V16 beacon in cars, vans, buses and mixed-use vehicles since 1 January 2026, replacing the traditional warning triangles. The rule also applies to hire cars, a detail many tourists are unaware of before collecting their vehicle at the airport. If you are going to hire a car on our coast this summer, here is what the DGT requires, how much the fine is and how to check in a minute that your car has one.
Pere Navarro, director general of Traffic, has been blunt about the consequences of not carrying one. «If you stop because of a breakdown and do not put it out, you will be fined because it is mandatory by law.»
How much is the fine for not carrying a V16 beacon?
The penalty for driving without a V16 beacon can reach 80 euros, rising to 200 euros if the driver makes mistakes in using it, such as not connecting it or not switching on the hazard lights at the same time. The DGT has indicated that, during the first months of enforcement, officers will act with some flexibility, giving priority to information over direct penalties.
Does the hire car already come with a V16 beacon?
This is the question most tourists ask before hiring a car in Spain, and the one with the least direct answer. Some hire companies already confirm on their own websites that their vehicles include a beacon that is «fully certified and operational» in the glove compartment. Not all companies state it in the same way, so the safest approach is to confirm it when collecting the vehicle, before heading out on the road.
How do you check that the beacon is approved?
Not all beacons on sale comply with the regulations. The certification code must begin with LCOE or IDIADA, followed by a series of numbers, and must be engraved on the plastic of the device, not on a sticker. That code can be checked against the list of authorised models that the DGT itself publishes on its website. It is a check that takes less than a minute and is best done while the car is still at the collection point.
Who pays the fine if the car is a hire car?
The Traffic Law establishes that it is the vehicle owner who has the legal obligation to identify the driver to the authorities, and in a hire the owner is the rental company. The penalty ends up falling on the person who was driving, but the identification procedure is the company’s responsibility.
This nuance matters more than it seems. The Provincial Court of Bizkaia issued a final ruling declaring void as unfair the clauses in hire contracts that allow customers to be charged for handling fines and accident reports, as this is a legal obligation of the company. Despite the ruling, a large part of the sector continues to apply charges that sometimes exceed 60 euros per case.
In practical terms, the V16 fine does fall on the driver, but any additional charge for processing it can be challenged. Checking this point in the contract before signing avoids disputes later.
How does the connected V16 beacon work?
The device is placed on the roof of the car using a magnetic base and emits a flashing light visible up to one kilometre away. When activated, it connects automatically to the DGT 3.0 platform, which transmits the vehicle’s location in real time to the emergency services. The regulations require a minimum battery life of 30 minutes.
What should you check before leaving the collection point?
With the beacon now mandatory, the check before setting off adds one more item to the usual list of paperwork and vehicle condition. You should find it physically (it is usually in the glove compartment), check that the engraved code belongs to an approved model and verify that it switches on, since the regulations require a minimum battery life and a flat device does not do its job.
For foreign drivers collecting a car in Spain the obligation is exactly the same. The rule applies to the vehicle driving on Spanish roads, regardless of the driver’s country of residence.
What if you collect the car in San Pedro de Alcántara?
For those collecting their vehicle in San Pedro de Alcántara, confirming that the car includes the V16 beacon should be one of the first steps before leaving the collection point, along with the rest of the vehicle’s paperwork. The car hire services in San Pedro can confirm this detail directly at handover, avoiding any surprises on the road.
The V16 coming into force has coincided with a record summer at Málaga airport, which in July exceeded three million passengers for the first time in its history, 6.3% more than the previous year. The increase in hire cars on the roads of the Costa del Sol makes the rule even more relevant in the area.
How do you avoid the V16 fine in four steps?
1. Find the beacon before setting off. It is usually in the glove compartment or the boot. If you cannot see it, ask at the desk before leaving the collection point.
2. Look at the engraved code. It must begin with LCOE or IDIADA and be engraved on the plastic, not on a sticker.
3. Check that it switches on. A flat beacon does not meet the requirements. The minimum battery life required is 30 minutes.
4. If you are fined, you pay the fine, but not the administration charge. The penalty falls on the person driving, and the charge for processing it applied by some companies can be challenged, according to the Provincial Court of Bizkaia.
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