Spain tightens vehicle inspection rules for motorhomes and campers

The Council of Ibiza and five municipalities launch a digital platform to track violators. In 2026, 17 fines have already been issued, and from June to September, island entry will be limited to 16,000 vehicles.

A fire broke out in the garage of a private home in the Parque de las Castillas urbanization (Torrejón del Rey, Guadalajara) on the night of May 8. The blaze destroyed a motorcycle and a motorhome. A man was hospitalized with smoke inhalation.

The municipality of Alpandeire has started building a motorhome area on the outskirts of town, in the Cerrejón area, near the municipal pool and the Fray Leopoldo Interpretation Centre. The project, with a budget of €29,983, is funded by the Andalusian government under the Municipal Cooperation Plan. Works include levelling the site, installing water supply and wastewater drainage. The aim is to attract tourists and boost the local economy.

Fernando and Ana, a retired Spanish couple, sold their home three years ago and moved into a 1999 Fiat Ducato Maxi motorhome nicknamed 'La Vaca'. They repaired it themselves for €1,631, far less than quoted by professionals. They report lower living expenses, with money left at month's end, unlike before. For the future, they plan to rent a camping pitch, which they say is cheaper than conventional housing.

An illegal business has been uncovered in Palma de Mallorca, renting out old caravans as housing to people who cannot afford conventional rent. According to COPE, an individual has been importing caravans from mainland Spain for at least three years, placing them around the city for monthly fees starting at €250. Many caravans are in poor condition, lack technical inspections, insurance, or proper documentation, and use license plates from scrapped vehicles. The caravans are left unhitched on public streets, making them illegal encampments rather than legal overnight stays.

In Almería (Andalusia), municipal authorities have tightened control over the placement of motorhomes, caravans, and campers. According to the recently adopted General Urban Mobility Ordinance, parking such vehicles is allowed under general conditions, but overnight stays and camping within the city limits are prohibited. The key distinction: parking is permitted without setting out tables, chairs, awnings, or discharging fluids, while for sleeping, specially equipped campsites or overnight areas defined by Decree 26/2018 must be used.