The DGT Instruction on Motorhomes Explained Without Jargon
The new 2026 rules from the DGT (Spain's Directorate-General for Traffic) have filled motorhome forums with questions. The traffic authority has decided to revise the instruction in force since 2023 to clarify concepts that until now confused drivers and, quite often, the town halls that enforce the bylaws too. We are going to explain it in plain language: what changes for anyone who parks or sleeps in their vehicle, and where the new S-128 sign fits into all this.
What is the new DGT instruction on motorhomes?
A technical document. It is not a law. Its purpose is for the whole country to interpret the traffic and parking rules in the same way when the vehicle has a bed and a kitchen inside. It works as a reading guide to the Reglamento General de Circulación (General Traffic Regulations) for police officers and municipal staff. What is it trying to do? Put an end to the absurd situation where the same behaviour —sleeping on an ordinary street, for example— gets you fined in one town and is tolerated in the next.
Why did the rules need updating?
Because the number of motorhomes and campervans in Spain shot up after the pandemic, with thousands of newly converted vans hitting the road every year. The 2023 instruction had too many gaps, especially on the boundary between parking and camping, and that left both users and town halls in limbo. User associations and local authorities had been asking the Directorate-General for Traffic for clarification for months.
What changes compared with the 2023 instruction?
First, the definitions. The new text spells out much more precisely what correct parking is and which behaviours count as camping. It introduces the S-128 sign, which did not exist before, and makes clearer what role town halls play when they regulate the matter. It also details how caravans and motorhomes should be emptied at designated areas, an issue that had been piling up complaints because many municipalities do not have a single decent waste disposal point.
When do the DGT 2026 rules come into force?
Gradually, over the course of next year. The idea is to give town halls time to change their signage and adapt their bylaws to the new criteria. It makes sense. Without that transition period, drivers would be fined for rules that their own town hall has not yet put in place.
What is the difference between parking and camping?
This is the heart of the instruction. Whether your motorhome is properly parked or you are risking a fine depends on where the line between the two falls.
What counts as parking according to the DGT?
Parking means leaving the vehicle stationary in a place where it is allowed, without putting anything out and without setting up camp. A motorhome or a campervan can occupy a normal space as long as its outward appearance does not change and it does not spill furniture or equipment into the space around it. A practical rule of thumb: if someone walking along the pavement cannot tell the difference between your campervan and a delivery van, you are parked.
What actions count as camping?
Camping begins when you do more than park. Opening the awning, putting out a table and chairs, leaving levelling chocks in place permanently or setting out anything else that turns the space into an improvised campsite all count. All of that is prohibited outside designated areas, whatever the vehicle.
What happens if I put out the awning or a table?
As far as the officer is concerned, you are now camping. And that carries a penalty. On this point the instruction leaves no room for manoeuvre: anything that sticks out beyond the vehicle's footprint and suggests an intention to stay in an undesignated place turns parking into unauthorised camping. No further assessment needed.
Can I stay overnight in my motorhome or campervan?
This is another of the big questions, and the instruction answers it quite clearly.
Is sleeping inside the vehicle the same as camping?
No. Staying overnight in a motorhome or a campervan without putting anything outside is allowed, provided the vehicle is properly parked and there is no specific restriction in that area. Resting inside, by day or by night, is not camping in itself. What matters is what can be seen from outside.
What does the DGT say about staying overnight on urban roads?
In town the criterion is the same. Sleeping in your vehicle in a normal parking space is perfectly legal, unless an ordenanza municipal (local bylaw) expressly prohibits it and signposts it, for example with the new S-128.
What is the difference between a motorhome, a campervan and a caravan?
The rules do not treat them the same, so it is worth being clear. A motorhome is a motor vehicle built from the outset to live in. A campervan is its compact version: a converted commercial van, along the lines of a Volkswagen California or a converted Ducato. A caravan has no engine and needs a car to tow it, with a carnet B (the standard Spanish/EU category B car licence) or B+E depending on the weight of the combination, and that adds nuances when parking and driving. We go into detail in our article on the differences between a caravan and a campervan.
What is the new S-128 sign and what is it for?
Of everything new, this is what you will notice most on the street.
Where will the S-128 sign be put up?
In the municipalities that decide to regulate motorhome parking themselves with their own bylaw. The sign shows whether motorhomes can park in that area or not, and under what conditions.
What exactly does this sign mean?
It shows a picture of a motorhome and can carry additional panels with, for example, the times or the maximum length of stay. That way the driver understands at a glance what they can do on that street, without looking up the bylaw on their phone.
Does it replace other parking signs?
No. The S-128 sits alongside the familiar parking signs and adds information designed for this type of vehicle. The standard signage of the General Traffic Regulations remains in force.
What role do town halls play in the new rules?
A very big one. The instruction sets the criterion, but it is the town hall that applies it on the street.
Can town halls create their own local bylaw?
Yes. Each town hall can pass its own bylaw provided it respects the general principles set by the traffic authority, and tailor it to the needs of its area. An inland village in February is not the same as Cullera in the middle of August.
Can they limit parking time?
They can, in certain areas, as long as they signpost it properly and justify it in the bylaw. A limit with no sign announcing it is hard to uphold on appeal.
What happens if the local bylaw contradicts the DGT instruction?
In the event of a clash, the reference point is the DGT instruction as the national framework, and town halls must bring their bylaws into line with those general criteria. That alignment is not immediate, mind you. Some municipalities take their time, and in the meantime it is the local police officer, bylaw in hand, who issues the fine.
How do the DGT 2026 rules affect different types of vehicle?
Do they apply equally to motorhomes, campervans and any other vehicle?
Not exactly. The rules set motorhomes and campervans apart from other vehicles and apply their own criteria to them, according to their technical characteristics and how they are used.
Are there differences depending on the size of the vehicle?
Yes. Dimensions affect where you can park, especially in town centres with height or length restrictions. A five-metre campervan fits in almost any space; a 7.4-metre over-cab motorhome more than three metres high does not.
What about towed caravans?
They have their own rules on unhitching and on leaving them parked without the towing vehicle. The new instruction covers this too.
Where can I park or leave my motorhome in 2026?
Are there specific areas set up by town halls?
Many town halls already have their own areas for parking and emptying motorhomes, and that makes coexistence with other traffic much easier. However, a motorhome stopover area (aire) is for stops while travelling. To keep the vehicle between trips you need something else, such as secure caravan storage in Silla, less than 5 km from the V-31 and with 24-hour access.
Can I park in any normal parking space?
Yes, as long as the vehicle is properly parked and nothing is put out around it.
What are the risks if I camp outside authorised areas?
The risk is a fine. Before settling in anywhere, check the relevant local bylaw; it takes less time than arguing with an officer at midnight. And if you have questions about how storing your motorhome works when you are not travelling, our frequently asked questions cover the most common ones, or you can get in touch to book a space directly.