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Driving day to day in Spain: insurance, ITV, documents, V-16 beacon, alcohol and e-scooters
The everyday rules a resident driver in Spain deals with: compulsory insurance, the ITV inspection schedule, the documents to carry, the connected V-16 beacon that replaced warning triangles from 1 January 2026, alcohol limits, and the 2026 rules for e-scooters (VMP). This card describes the official rules; it does not say what applies in your case.
- Why it matters
- Several of these rules differ from the US (compulsory liability insurance tied to the car, a periodic state inspection, a beacon instead of triangles, low alcohol limits), and e-scooter rules changed during 2026.
- When
- You own, rent or borrow a car or e-scooter in Spain, or are about to start driving here.
- Official page
- Qué documentación debes llevar en tu vehículo
- Last checked
- 25 Oct 2026
- Next check by
- 22 Jan 2027
In the guide: the 7 steps, what to bring (4 items), the 2 offices with addresses and hours, and 4 Easy to miss lines, with every official source.
One Easy to miss, on us
Real Decreto 920/2017 art. 6 counts the ITV age from first registration or entry into service: cars are exempt up to 4 years, then bienal, then anual after 10 years.