Spain: camper ITV check every six months · VanLife Weekly #22

Last week brought plenty of news in the world of motorhomes: Spain sharply tightened roadworthiness checks for campers over ten years old, Germany reminded owners about the mandatory gas-system inspection backed by fines, Korea's LG and Kia unveiled an electric camper with voice-controlled home appliances, and in Burnham-on-Sea, England, neighbours pooled together supplies for a family that lost their motorhome in a fire.

Spain tightens roadworthiness checks for campers: what it means for your trip

Spain's General Directorate of Traffic (DGT — the national traffic authority) issued instruction PROT 2026/04, which sets out different inspection intervals for two types of homes on wheels. Campers are vans registered as goods vehicles (category N): for these, after 10 years the roadworthiness test must now be done every six months rather than once a year. Full motorhomes (category M, with a built-in living body) stay on the annual cycle once they pass the ten-year mark.

The document also clarifies the parking rules and introduces a new road sign, S-128, marking spots where motorhomes are allowed to park. The changes have already been published in the official gazette BOE and are in force, so there's no putting off getting your vehicle checked.

For travellers, the key thing is to work out which category your vehicle falls into, because that determines whether you'll have to get inspected twice as often. The S-128 sign should eventually settle some of the disputes over where a motorhome CAN legally spend the night, but a lot is still left to local councils — and, as other news from the week shows, they're increasingly tightening the rules.

In brief

• Russia, premieres: the company ST Nizhegorodets showed off the Verso motorhome on a Sollers SF5 chassis — it debuted at the "Camper Expo" show in Kolomna on 29–31 May.
• Germany and Austria, safety: owners were reminded that the G607 gas-system inspection must be done every two years — skipping it risks a fine of 15 to 80 euros and a real danger of a leak.
• South Korea, tech: LG and Kia unveiled the electric Spielraum camper based on the Kia PV5 van with voice-controlled LG home appliances; a production version is expected in a year or two.
• Brazil, manufacturing: Marcopolo has begun deliveries of the first fully Brazilian motorhome, the NOMADE, with all-wheel drive and a Cummins diesel.
• China, engineering: the company Feixiang presented the FX RV S800 motorhome, which unfolds into two-storey living space of 36 square metres when parked.
• Japan, compact models: Toyota added a five-seat Multi Utility camper version for the Noah and Voxy minivans, with room for two to sleep.
• Netherlands, roads: from 1 July a toll comes in for trucks heavier than 3.5 tonnes, but motorhomes are exempt regardless of weight.
• Japan, a model returns: Nissan is preparing a new generation of the NV200 with a hybrid drivetrain and all-wheel drive for vanlife — its debut is expected in the third quarter of 2026.
• Turkey, exports: near Bursa, with state support, a caravan factory has started up, shipping its products to five countries.
• USA, rentals: the RVezy platform launched in California a guaranteed-payout programme for owners with insurance cover of up to 2 million dollars.
• Norway, dealer dispute: a family from Sunnmøre won compensation for a defective Hymer motorhome — an inspection found faults on 12 of 13 points.
• Japan, rentals: the company Japan C.R.C. opened a motorhome rental point near Itami Airport in Osaka, with delivery to Shin-Osaka station.

Where to go

Yeongju (South Korea), June. At the foot of the Sobaeksan mountains in North Gyeongsang Province, three campsites opened all at once, set up for motorhomes and caravans. The city is betting on summer camping tourism: the sites have hiking trails, pools and play areas, and the main motorhome campground, "Yeongjuho", holds 127 pitches. It's a handy option for anyone who wants to combine mountain walks with a comfortable overnight stay without heading off into the middle of nowhere with no facilities. The format suits families with kids and couples who care about a shower and electricity alike. If you've long been eyeing Korea but didn't know exactly where to go on wheels — this is a clear reason to start with Sobaeksan.

Take care

• Spain, Cantabria: a regional party is proposing to ban unlimited overnight stays for motorhomes on public roads. If you're heading to the region, plan to spend nights at equipped sites rather than on the roadside.
• Spain, Ibiza: in the first month of the summer campaign, Sant Antoni police issued 19 fines and impounded six vehicles, with penalties reaching up to 30,000 euros. Don't leave your motorhome overnight outside permitted zones.
• USA, Texas: flooding on the San Gabriel River led to the evacuation of the Shady River and Good Water RV parks in Georgetown. If you're parked by a river during storm season, know your exit route in advance and keep an eye on the forecast.
• Italy, Turin: over two days of raids, police seized 10 motorhomes and vans without insurance. Check that your policy is valid for the whole length of your trip abroad.

Something good to end on

Two stories worth passing along.

Neighbours instead of insurance. In Burnham-on-Sea, England, on a bank-holiday Monday, a Rapido motorhome that held literally everything a family owned burned to the ground. Nobody was hurt, but they were left with nothing — and local residents immediately brought them water, shoes and even a dog leash. It's a story about how sometimes the most reliable safety net is strangers who happen to live nearby.

Sleeping in your vehicle as a skill. In Kumamoto, Japan, at a cycling track, the first drill for sleeping in a vehicle in case of an earthquake was held: around a hundred people in 40 vehicles practised sleeping in the cabin, preventing blood clots and using emergency gear. A useful reminder that vanlife skills can one day come in handy beyond just a holiday.

This week's questions

How often do you now have to get a camper's roadworthiness test in Spain?

Under DGT instruction PROT 2026/04, van-type campers in category N over 10 years old must pass the ITV every six months, while full motorhomes in category M of the same age group do so once a year. Check your vehicle's category in the registration document.

Where in Spain can you now legally park a motorhome?

The same instruction introduces a new road sign, S-128, marking spots where motorhomes are allowed to park. That said, the specific overnight rules are largely set by local councils: in Cantabria, for example, they're debating a ban on overnight stays on public roads, while on Ibiza they're actively fining people for it.

Is it worth going to Korea by motorhome this summer?

Yes, if you want to combine mountains with comfort. In Yeongju, near the Sobaeksan mountains, three new campsites opened with pools, hiking and play areas, and the largest motorhome campground holds 127 pitches — the facilities are geared specifically for the summer season.

Are motorhomes exempt from the new toll in the Netherlands?

Yes. From 1 July 2026, the Netherlands is introducing a road toll for trucks heavier than 3.5 tonnes, but motorhomes don't fall under it regardless of weight. Owners with foreign plates are advised to register in advance on the official site.

What's the takeaway from the news about motorhome fires?

Over the week, Europe and the US saw several motorhome fires, some caused by a battery short circuit or gas equipment. Check your wiring and gas system regularly (in Germany and Austria there's the mandatory G607 inspection for this), keep a fire extinguisher within reach, and don't store irreplaceable documents in the vehicle without copies.

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