What to do if your car breaks down on a Spanish road

Terms used

• Arcén — The arcén is the hard shoulder, the strip beside the traffic lane where you can stop.
• V16 — The V16 is a connected emergency light you put on the car roof to warn others and send your position to the DGT.
• DGT — The DGT is Spain's traffic authority.
• Asistencia en viaje — The asistencia en viaje is the breakdown assistance cover in a car policy, often including towing.

Key rules

• V16 beacon: Since 1 January 2026 the connected V16 beacon is the only valid warning for a stopped vehicle and replaces the triangles; place it on the roof so it is visible from 100 metres.
• Who to call: Call your insurer's assistance line first, and 112 if there is danger or injury.
• Motorway towing: Only the road's authorised tow service can remove a car from a motorway, not a friend or private tow truck.
• Unrequested tow: Refuse a tow truck you did not call, because the cost may not be covered.

Stop safely first

Get the car as far to the right as you can, onto the arcén, and switch on your hazard lights. Put on your reflective vest before you step out. Do not try to repair the car in a traffic lane, and never walk on the carriageway, stand between vehicles or cross the road.

If you cannot reach a safe spot, or there is danger or an injury, call 112 straight away.

Warn other drivers with the V16

Use the connected V16 beacon. Warning triangles no longer count, so do not walk out to place them. Reach out of the car to put the beacon on the roof, or on the highest point where it can be seen, and switch it on. Do not put it on the road. It sends your position to the DGT automatically. This does not apply to motorcycles and mopeds.

Foreign-registered cars need it too. If you drive a car you brought from abroad, buy a certified connected V16 before you travel.

Get everyone out of the way

Everyone leaves by the side away from traffic, including children and pets. Wait behind the guard rail, not on the hard shoulder.

Who to call

Once everyone is safe, call your insurer's assistance line. The number is on your policy or green card. This is the usual way to get a tow.

• Motorway: the roadside SOS phones connect you to the road operator, who can also send a tow truck.
• Danger, injuries or a blocked road: call 112.
• Traffic information: the DGT line is 011.

Towing and who pays

On motorways and dual carriageways, only the authorised tow service for that road can remove your car. A friend or a private tow truck cannot tow it along the motorway. On toll motorways the operator's contracted tow truck acts, and the operator's help may be needed to remove the car.

The driver pays unless insurance covers it. Many policies with an assistance clause (asistencia en viaje) cover a tow, usually to the nearest garage or up to a distance or euro limit. A basic third-party-only policy may not. Check yours before you accept a tow. Insurers prefer to send their own tow truck, so call them first.

Do not accept a tow truck you did not call. Your insurer may refuse to pay for it. If you pay the tow yourself, keep the invoice so you can claim it back. Tariffs for removal from the road are set by the road authority or operator.

Fines

Not having a valid V16, or not signalling a stopped vehicle properly, can mean a fine of 80 euros. Stopping badly on the carriageway or hard shoulder can be a serious infraction, typically 200 euros. Stopping where it creates serious danger can cost more and, in some cases, points.

The checklist and warnings below cover the steps in order.

Checklist

• Move the car onto the arcén (hard shoulder), as far to the right as possible.

• Switch on your hazard lights.

• Put on your reflective vest before you leave the car.

• Activate your connected V16 beacon and place it on the roof, reaching out without leaving the car where possible.

• Call your insurer's assistance line, using the number on your policy or green card, to arrange towing.

What to watch out for

• Triangles no longer count: Warning triangles can no longer be used to signal a stopped vehicle. Without a connected V16 beacon you can be fined 80 euros.

• Stopping badly on the road: Stopping on the carriageway or in a dangerous spot, or failing to signal correctly, is generally a serious infraction with a 200 euro fine. Very dangerous stops can cost more and may lose points. Pull onto the hard shoulder, and do not walk on the carriageway or place signals on foot on a motorway.

• Unrequested tow trucks: A tow truck you did not ask for may leave you with a bill your insurer will not cover. Call your insurer's assistance line, or use the roadside SOS phone on a motorway, and accept only the tow they arrange.

• Danger or no safe place: If you cannot reach safety, someone is hurt, or your car blocks traffic, waiting in the car is dangerous. Call 112 and get everyone behind the barrier.

Frequently asked questions

Can a friend tow my car off a Spanish motorway?

No, a friend or a private tow truck cannot tow your car along a motorway. Only the road operator's or traffic authority's authorised tow service may remove it. Wait safely behind the barrier while it is arranged.

Does my car insurance pay for towing after a breakdown?

Usually yes, if your policy has a breakdown assistance clause (asistencia en viaje). It often covers towing to the nearest garage, up to a distance or euro limit. Basic third-party-only policies may not include it, so check your policy first.

What if a tow truck stops that I did not call?

Do not accept a tow truck you did not request, because your insurer may not cover the cost. Call your insurer's assistance line first, since insurers prefer to send their own tower. If you pay directly, keep the invoice to claim a refund.

Do I pay for removal from a toll motorway?

Yes, you pay unless your insurance covers it. On toll motorways the operator's contracted tower acts, and removal to the nearest safe point is often charged at a public tariff. Ask your insurer whether it will reimburse the cost.