Spain's DGT tightens ITV rules for motorhomes and campers: €200 fines

The first AdictosAC rally will take place from 9 to 11 October in El Bonillo (Albacete), organised by Autocaravanas y Campers (A&C) in collaboration with the Facebook group “Adictos a la autocaravana”. The programme includes yoga, a sponsored bike route, guided tours of El Bonillo, a round table with A&C CEO David Fernández Lorca, talks by travellers such as Lidia Geniz on her Ushuaia-to-Alaska trip and Mariola of SmartVan AI on AI route planning, plus workshops and contests from sponsors. The event is supported by Zalba-Caldú by Aon as main sponsor, with Grupo Island Tours, AutoC, Vigia / Viesa / Eurocolven, MAUS Spain and DSPCamper as official sponsors; the community has over 113,000 members.

A reform of the General Traffic Regulations approved by the Spanish government will take effect on 1 October. Under the new rules, motorhomes and camper vans are considered parked, not camped, if they do not extend beyond their perimeter with awnings or pop-out windows, rest only on their tyres and do not discharge fluids. The DGT cites a Supreme Court ruling of 13 March 2018 confirming that municipalities may limit parking times and prohibit camping. Inspection intervals are also clarified: motorhomes over 4 years old — biennial, over 10 years — annual; converted vans up to 10 years — annual, over 10 years — every six months. Over the past 10 years, the number of motorhomes in Spain has nearly tripled, from just over 48,000 in 2015 to almost 137,000.

Spanish TV presenter David Cantero, who has travelled by motorhome for over 20 years, published an Instagram post on 13 August criticising municipal authorities. He alleged "racism" against motorhomes and a lack of infrastructure. According to ASEICAR, Spain lacks around 2,000 motorhome areas, while the motorhome and camper fleet grew by 185% over the past decade, from 48,000 to almost 137,000. In summer, about 250,000 motorhomes and campers travel the peninsula. In 2026, Instruction PROT 2026/04 was introduced, allowing municipalities to restrict parking time.

In Astorga, Spain, work continues to transform the esplanade on Calle Alcalde Carro Verdejo into a parking area for motorhomes and light vehicles. The project will create 106 spaces: 38 for caravans and motorhomes, and 68 for light vehicles, including accessible spaces and electric vehicle charging points. The site will have a single access and exit from Calle Alcalde Carro Verdejo, along with water filling and drainage points, waste areas, lighting, and electrical hookups. The budget is 422,323 euros, financed through the Provincial Plan for Municipal Cooperation of the León Provincial Council, which allocated 572,000 euros to Astorga, with over 422,000 euros reserved for this project. Work resumed in August after a period of inactivity; the aim is to improve conditions for the growing number of motorhome travelers and increase parking capacity in the area.

The Marchena city council has been included among 44 municipalities provisionally selected for subsidies under the Diputación de Sevilla's 'Más Sevilla Turístico 2026' programme. A grant of €305,241.05 will fund the completion of a parking and service area for overnight motorhome stays and the fencing of the park in Sector 4 'La Alameda'. The project ranked 18th in the order of preference with 60 points. The programme distributes a total of €19,515,830.40.

The municipality of Miño has started work on a new motorhome area with five spaces at the A Galea parking lot. The project follows user requests and was agreed with the Galician Motorhome Association (AGA).