DGT updates regulations for caravans and includes camper vans

A court has ordered the eviction of a private plot in Ibiza where caravans were illegally stationed. The eviction is scheduled for April 29, and an estimated 80 people may reside on the site. Municipal social services will be present to assess the situation and provide assistance.

Spain's Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has updated its instruction for motorhomes and converted vans (camper vans) ahead of the Easter period. The PROT 2026/04 document specifies technical inspection intervals: motorhomes (category M) are exempt for the first 4 years, then biennial, and after 10 years, annual; for camper vans (category N), inspections are annual from the start, and every six months after 10 years. The instruction also confirms that municipalities can restrict parking and prohibit overnight stays outside designated areas, citing a 2018 Supreme Court ruling.

Spain's General Directorate of Traffic has updated regulations for motorhomes. Under the new PROT 2026/04 instruction, motorhomes under 4 years are exempt from technical inspection, those aged 4-10 years require biennial checks, and vehicles over 10 years need annual inspections. For converted vans (campers), inspections are annual up to 10 years and semi-annually thereafter. Parking in urban areas is permitted under general rules, subject to local ordinances.

The Ibiza City Council has notified residents of a caravan settlement that they must vacate the private land by April 29. Approximately 80 people, including Elena Núñez, are requesting an alternative plot, threatening to move their caravans onto the streets otherwise. According to the Red Cross, last July the island had 1,200 people living in 655 substandard dwellings.

According to the CamperDays platform, 53% of motorhome bookings by Spanish travelers for Easter 2026 are for Edinburgh. Total bookings increased by 70% compared to 2025, with 77% of destinations being in Europe. The main clients are couples (75%), and the average rental duration is seven days.

Living in a motorhome is gaining popularity in Spain, but legislation does not consider it official housing. The key distinction is between parking and camping, with rules set by municipalities. The main obstacle is registration in the population register (empadronamiento), which usually requires a fixed address.