Spain tightens MOT rules for older campervans

Police have started fining motorhomes, caravans and campervans for overnight stays or camping outside authorized areas as of Wednesday. The fine is 600 euros, reduced to 300 if paid on the spot, and vehicles may be immobilized. The measure follows a transition period since 2025.

The Valencian regional government has opened a public consultation on a project to build a three-star campsite for motorhomes in Elche, in the Valverde Bajo area. The site covers about 19,500 sq m on non-developable land and includes 157 pitches, a swimming pool, bar, children's playground, and wastewater treatment facilities. The documentation will be available for review and objections for 20 working days via the regional digital planning platform.

Spain has published updated guidelines for motorhome technical inspections (ITV). Inspection frequency depends on weight: motorhomes up to 3,500 kg require inspection every 2 years (from 4 to 10 years old) and annually after 10 years; heavier models are inspected more often. Costs range from €45 to €90 depending on region and fuel type. Special attention is paid to the legality of conversions: solar panels, bike racks, awnings, and additional equipment must be registered in the vehicle's technical documentation.

Autocaravanas Galicia in Burela reports that all its motorhomes are already reserved for summer 2026. Most customers come from southern Spain and rent vehicles to travel through the Mariña region. The surge in rental demand has been ongoing since the pandemic.

The San Sebastián municipality is not abandoning plans to build a motorhome parking lot in the Igara area, despite the provincial council's refusal to declare the project of public interest. Authorities are preparing modifications to convince the administration of the facility's importance for regulating tourist flows that generate complaints from residents and drivers.

Cantabria's Tourism Minister Luis Martínez Abad (PP) stated in parliament that the regional government lacks legal competence to prohibit motorhome parking on public roads. The new decree, he argued, simplifies procedures for opening new parking areas and removes the maximum capacity limit for service zones. The opposition (PRC) criticized the decree, saying it fails to address illegal camping and shifts regulatory and enforcement burdens to municipalities.