Spanish wilding

[YeoBlade]

DGT CLARIFIES THE LAW for Motorhomes in Spain

There’s been a lot of confusion over the years… Now the DGT has made things much clearer

Sleeping in your vehicle

✔ You CAN sleep inside your motorhome or camper

As long as:

- Nothing is outside the vehicle
- You’re not causing disturbance

Sleeping is NOT camping

Parking rules

✔ Motorhomes can park like any other vehicle (unless local restrictions or signage apply)

You don’t need a campsite just to park or stay overnight

When you risk a fine

The moment you:

- Put out chairs or tables
- Open an awning
- Take up extra space
You are camping
Different rules apply (and possible fines)

What’s actually changed?

These rules aren’t completely new…

But the DGT has now clarified them to avoid confusion and unfair fines

Simple rule to remember:

“If everything stays inside the vehicle... you’re legal.”
Info from
Car Registrations Spain

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Very useful Julian, thank you.

 

[Rosehip]

Wouldn't it be great if they would do that here.

Not sure about the pic top left, weird driver sat in the front with the couple in bed - creepy!

 

[marchie]

Wouldn't it be great if they would do that here.

Not sure about the pic top left, weird driver sat in the front with the couple in bed - creepy!

It removes any confusion over whether being outside for the dogging contravenes the parking regs ... And it's warmer, too

Steve

 

[barryd]

Its pretty clear. Maybe it could be adopted here. I think a lot of the complaints and concerns at Scarborough for example were people having fires, barbecues etc and generally making the place look like a campsite. I would be happy with that. I hardly ever sit outside my van anyway but that might just be me.

 

[Phantom]

As long as there are no restrictive signs you should be good. A bit windy up here for some reason?

 

[Robmac]

Why are Spanish Police cars so small - or is the cop a giant?

 

[Sharon the Cat]

I saw something very similar somewhere (can't remember where) . It also mentioned No side windows opened out, But roof vents open is OK.

 

[jacquigem]

I saw something very similar somewhere (can't remember where) . It also mentioned No side windows opened out, But roof vents open is OK.

Yes we were pulled at potes for having our sidewindow which opened outwards open .on other side sidewindow which slid alongside van wall ok. Friendly warning and all OK. Van with washing line out drying clothes told to move on.

 

[Geek]

I was under the impression that these had been the rules for several years. What is new?

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Advertising the facts, I assume, is nice to know, and I wish everywhere would do it.

 

[RSD7a]

What's DGT?

 

[bartman]

Have they told the French about this?

 

[TJBi]

What's DGT?

Dirección General de Tráfico​

 

[marchie]

I saw something very similar somewhere (can't remember where) . It also mentioned No side windows opened out, But roof vents open is OK.

IIRC, that's because you are not extending the vehicle space 'consumption' in a manner that would constitute camping behaviour; a car driver could park, and sleep within the vehicle, as well as opening the sun roof and the vehicle windows. So, parking the M/Home and opening the roof vent is directly comparable.

My own interpretation of the need for clarification [so could very well be completely wrong ...] is that the Winter 2025 storms caused a major logjam in many areas, leading to complaints from the local populace; M/Homers headed for a parkup/Aire to avoid the storm, were forced to stay put in the subsequent windy/rainy post-storm aftermath, and then needed to wash/dry knickers & socks et seq; they needed then to dry the laundry, so the clothes airer appears in the open side window and/or on the rear bike rack, and the lack of driving on meant that solar power top up was needed, so out came the portable panels, often placed on the footpath under the open side window, and the footpath became impassable. Meanwhile, new arrivals during the lull had no real space to park because of the extra space the M/Home 'campers' were occupying [we were opposite 2 x French Vans at Moncofa street parking who each reversed at right angles to the parking, blocking one lane of the road, and used the 3 metre+ gap between the vehicles to set out a formal dining space for 4 people for a 2 hour lunch ...], so the parking became ever more hazardous and over the original number of spaces ... And then the M/Homers, including the Germans who had 2,4m Portable solar panels out on the footpath, started their engines to recharge the vehicle batteries, and that was the point at which another German M/Homer, fed up with the diesel exhaust fumes, phoned the Police on a Sunday morning ... Everybody, except us, because the inflated semi air suspension was not visible!, was told to stop the use of air suspension jacks and blocks, remove the portable solar panels and clothes airers and dogbaskets from the footpath, and close the side windows ...

Ironically, the Guardia Civil did not warn the German Caravanner who parked parallel in the parking layby, but with his portable step about 18 inches into the road, and all 4 stabilisers deployed ...

Steve
Steve

 

[alcam]

IIRC, that's because you are not extending the vehicle space 'consumption' in a manner that would constitute camping behaviour; a car driver could park, and sleep within the vehicle, as well as opening the sun roof and the vehicle windows. So, parking the M/Home and opening the roof vent is directly comparable.

My own interpretation of the need for clarification [so could very well be completely wrong ...] is that the Winter 2025 storms caused a major logjam in many areas, leading to complaints from the local populace; M/Homers headed for a parkup/Aire to avoid the storm, were forced to stay put in the subsequent windy/rainy post-storm aftermath, and then needed to wash/dry knickers & socks et seq; they needed then to dry the laundry, so the clothes airer appears in the open side window and/or on the rear bike rack, and the lack of driving on meant that solar power top up was needed, so out came the portable panels, often placed on the footpath under the open side window, and the footpath became impassable. Meanwhile, new arrivals during the lull had no real space to park because of the extra space the M/Home 'campers' were occupying [we were opposite 2 x French Vans at Moncofa street parking who each reversed at right angles to the parking, blocking one lane of the road, and used the 3 metre+ gap between the vehicles to set out a formal dining space for 4 people for a 2 hour lunch ...], so the parking became ever more hazardous and over the original number of spaces ... And then the M/Homers, including the Germans who had 2,4m Portable solar panels out on the footpath, started their engines to recharge the vehicle batteries, and that was the point at which another German M/Homer, fed up with the diesel exhaust fumes, phoned the Police on a Sunday morning ... Everybody, except us, because the inflated semi air suspension was not visible!, was told to stop the use of air suspension jacks and blocks, remove the portable solar panels and clothes airers and dogbaskets from the footpath, and close the side windows ...

Ironically, the Guardia Civil did not warn the German Caravanner who parked parallel in the parking layby, but with his portable step about 18 inches into the road, and all 4 stabilisers deployed ...

Steve
Steve

I understood these rules were strictly applied way before 2025 ?

 

[jacquigem]

I was under the impression that these had been the rules for several years. What is new?

Yes nothing new as far as I know.

The website is used to promote safe driving and traffic rules by the Spanish police in general and not solely for transmitting news.

Worth signing up for email alerts as sometimes quite informative.

 

[marchie]

I understood these rules were strictly applied way before 2025 ?

In force, but not often applied in our experience. With a regular turnover of M/Homers every 2-3 days [minus the 'loiterers' who overstay as the norm], there has rarely been a problem that we have seen. But this year, in Moncofa, Antequera, Puerto Lumbreras and Los Alcazares in particular, the logjams, overstays, and parking anywhere/everywhere plus the 'street furniture' blockages did cause problems

Steve

 

[alcam]

In force, but not often applied in our experience. With a regular turnover of M/Homers every 2-3 days [minus the 'loiterers' who overstay as the norm], there has rarely been a problem that we have seen. But this year, in Moncofa, Antequera, Puerto Lumbreras and Los Alcazares in particular, the logjams, overstays, and parking anywhere/everywhere plus the 'street furniture' blockages did cause problems

Steve

Yea I suppose they're the kind of rules that are applied when it suits .
Think Police Scotland refer to them as initiatives .
Years ago complained to police about graffiti. Surprisingly the police were all over it . Came to see , asked if I'd be a willing witness etc . Couple of convictions . No more graffiti.
6 months later it all started again , police didn't want to know . It was no longer an initiative.
Totally off topic but wanted a moan