Spain's DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) has published instruction PROT 2026/04, tightening the frequency of technical inspections (ITV) for motorhomes and campervans. According to the document, vans converted for living and registered as category N must undergo ITV every six months once they exceed 10 years of age. Motorhomes of category M, including factory models such as the Volkswagen California and Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo, retain the standard schedule: every two years after 4 years and annually after 10 years. The key criterion is the entry in the technical passport, not the fact of use for living.
The instruction also clarifies the difference between parking and stopping with deployed equipment and introduces a new road sign S-128 for waste disposal points. The cost of ITV is 120–150 euros, so campers over 10 years will have to pay twice as often as motorhomes.
According to sources, in 2025 Spain registered 6,067 new motorhomes and campers (6% less than in 2024), while caravan sales fell to 1,000 units. Other sources report a 19% increase in motorhome sales (to 3,667 units) and a 29% decline in the camper market (to 2,400 units). Spain's motorhome fleet has nearly tripled since 2015, from 48,000 to 137,000 units.