What Changes with Royal Decree RD 518/2026 in Spain?

Royal Decree RD 518/2026 Traffic Reform in Spain

Royal Decree 518/2026, approved on June 24, amends Spain's General Traffic Regulations (Reglamento General de Circulación). It represents the most comprehensive reform in two decades and directly affects the official questions appearing on your DGT theory exam.

The Three Core Groups of New Rules

Personal Mobility Vehicles (E-Scooters & VMP)

• Minimum age of 15 years to ride on public roads.
• Certified helmet mandatory at all times, properly adjusted and fastened.
• Reflective elements or lights visible from at least 150 meters between dusk and dawn, or in low visibility conditions.
• Commercial delivery couriers (riders): high-visibility reflective vest mandatory throughout the entire working shift.
• Strictly prohibited from circulating on motorways, dual carriageways, interurban roads, and urban crossings.

Cyclists: Overtaking and Road Safety

• Certified helmet mandatory on all interurban roads (all previous exemptions for extreme heat or steep inclines have been abolished).
• Motor vehicles overtaking cyclists on interurban roads must reduce their speed by at least 20 km/h below the posted speed limit of that road.
• Minimum lateral safety distance of 1.5 meters must be maintained when overtaking cyclists on interurban roads.

Motorcycles and Mopeds

• Certified protective gloves mandatory on interurban roads for both driver and passenger (fines up to €200).
• Closed footwear completely covering the foot mandatory on all roads.

Connected V-16 Beacon: Warning Triangles Phased Out

The connected luminous V-16 emergency beacon officially replaces reflective emergency triangles. The device must feature certified geolocation and an integrated eSIM that automatically transmits the vehicle's position to the DGT 3.0 platform when activated.

• During the transition period, both reflective triangles and certified connected V-16 beacons remain legally accepted.
• Starting January 1, 2027, only the certified connected V-16 beacon will be legally valid; traditional emergency triangles will no longer satisfy the legal requirement.

Title VI: Urban Traffic and School Safety Zones

Harmonization of municipal speed limits across Spain: traffic calming zones, 20 km/h and 30 km/h speed limits in school environments, and dedicated safe school walking routes.

What This Means for Your DGT Exam

The official DGT question bank immediately integrates the new regulations. If you study with an outdated question bank that does not cover VMP rules, cyclist overtaking protocols, motorcycle protective gear, and connected V-16 beacons, you are preparing for an exam that no longer exists.

Practice these specific topic tests until you score zero mistakes: they are among the most frequently tested regulatory questions today.