Starting January 2026, those trusty old warning triangles that have been cluttering up Spanish car boots for decades are officially getting the boot. Enter the new kid on the block: the connected V16 emergency beacon. And before you roll your eyes at yet another bit of Spanish bureaucracy, this one actually makes sense.
How to Spot a Dodgy V16 Beacon (and Avoid a €200 Fine)
With the new law kicking in on January 1st 2026, everyone’s scrambling to buy these V16 gizmos. Which means – surprise, surprise – the internet’s awash with cheap knockoffs and old stock that won’t pass muster with the Spanish Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT).
Here’s the thing: buy the wrong one and you could be looking at a €200 fine for using a device that’s about as legal as a chocolate teapot.
From New Year’s Day 2026, those red warning triangles become about as useful as a handbrake on a canoe. They’ve been frowned upon since 2023 anyway – mainly because wandering around a motorway trying to place them is a spectacularly dangerous way to spend your afternoon. The V16 beacon becomes the primary way to warn other drivers you’ve broken down.
These aren’t just fancy flashing lights, mind you. They need to be DGT-approved beacons connected to the DGT 3.0 platform via a built-in SIM card, automatically pinging your location to the authorities and other drivers in real-time.
How to Spot a Fake or Non-Compliant V16 Beacon
Consumer watchdogs are ringing alarm bells because even major online platforms are flogging approved and non-approved models side-by-side without making it clear which is which. Helpful.
Here’s what to look for:
Price matters: Anything under €20 is almost certainly dodgy (unless it’s a genuine, verified promotion from a proper retailer).
Technical requirements for legal use from 2026:
- Visible 360 degrees from at least 1km away in any weather
- Battery lasting minimum 30 minutes while flashing
- Built-in SIM card with DGT 3.0 connectivity and active geolocation for at least 12 years
- Official DGT homologation certificate
The only foolproof check: Visit the official DGT website and check their list of authorised V16 beacons. The authorisation code on your device (or its packaging) must appear exactly as listed and start with either “LCOE” followed by 12 digits, or “IDIADA PC” followed by 8 digits.
If the code’s not on the DGT’s list, your beacon won’t be accepted – regardless of what some dodgy online seller claims.
Which Vehicles Need a Connected V16 Beacon from January 2026?
The new rule applies to:
- Private cars
- Buses, coaches and minibuses
- Multi-purpose vehicles
- Goods vehicles (vans and lorries included)
- Non-special vehicle combinations
Motorcycles, mopeds, agricultural vehicles and other special categories get a pass for now, though the DGT suggests carrying one anyway. Just in case.
Road-safety experts reckon you should only buy from reputable retailers – and yes, apparently even some supermarkets have been caught stocking non-compliant beacons. Check that homologation code on the DGT website before you hand over your cash. Better to spend a few extra euros now than face a fine later, or worse, find yourself invisible in a real emergency.
How Does the New V16 Light Actually Work?
Here’s the brilliant bit: unlike those antiquated triangles, you don’t need to play chicken with traffic on the hard shoulder anymore. The V16 beacon is a small, lightweight device with a magnetic base that sits on your car roof, emitting a bright yellow flashing light visible from every angle – up to a kilometre away.
But the clever part is the connectivity. Each V16 beacon has built-in GPS and a SIM card. Switch it on and it automatically sends your exact location to the DGT, which then shares that information in real-time with Traffic Management Centres. They can alert other drivers through roadside signs and sat-nav systems.
To be DGT-approved, the V16 beacon must:
- Have at least 30 minutes of battery life when active
- Have a battery lasting at least 18 months
- Guarantee connectivity for 12 years – with no extra fees
Basically, it’s a smarter, safer, and considerably more convenient replacement for those reflective triangles that were always a faff to set up properly anyway.
Where Should You Stick It?
Mount the V16 beacon as high as possible on your stricken vehicle for maximum visibility. If your car’s roof is out of reach (looking at you, lorry drivers), the device should have a magnet so you can whack it on the driver’s door instead.
Why Ditch the Triangle? The Dangers We’ve Been Ignoring
For decades, the emergency triangle has been the universal “I’m broken down” symbol. Which meant getting out of your car – often in rubbish weather, poor visibility, or on fast-moving motorways – and wandering about placing triangles at the right distance. Sounds simple enough, but it’s properly dangerous.
Standing on the hard shoulder or carriageway with vehicles screaming past at 120km/h is asking for trouble. Other drivers might not spot the emergency situation – or you – in time. And triangles themselves aren’t exactly brilliant at their job, especially on bends, hills, or in fog, rain, or darkness. Their effectiveness depends entirely on other drivers actually paying attention.
The connected V16 beacon sorts all these problems. This isn’t just technological showing off – it’s a genuine safety improvement designed to stop drivers getting flattened while trying to do the right thing.
What Happens If You Don’t Have One?
Once the rule becomes mandatory in 2026, not having a V16 beacon in your car could cost you around €80. Failing to signal an emergency properly – or doing it in a way that endangers others – bumps that up to €200.
The DGT is also warning drivers about fake or uncertified devices flooding online marketplaces. Many cheap versions lack proper connectivity or don’t meet official safety standards, making them useless once the law kicks in.
With this move, Spain becomes one of the first European countries to make a connected emergency light mandatory for all vehicles. The DGT hopes it’ll significantly reduce roadside accidents and make Spanish roads safer for everyone – drivers and emergency workers alike.
As the DGT puts it, the goal isn’t just modernising road safety – it’s keeping people alive. Hard to argue with that, really.
