Parking your motorhome in Spain in total freedom!!
Everyone thinks it and says it: travelling in a motorhome is a unique and unforgettable experience. To be free of schedules, of a program or simply to sleep where you want, what an incredible feeling! And all this without giving up the usual comforts of home.
What do you think of a trip in your motorhome to admire the beautiful landscapes of Spain, from the Basque Country to Andalusia, via Catalonia, Madrid or Valencia? From the mountains to the sea to visits to historical monuments, it sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it?
Of course it does, but… Ignorance of the law on the part of motorhome owners, but also on the part of municipal officials, can lead to fines that are sometimes totally unjustified. Be careful, prepare your motorhome trip to Spain properly!
A closer look at the legislation concerning motorhome parking in Spain
First of all, to put things in order, in 2008 the Ministry of the Interior approved Instruction 08/V-74 of the DGT (Directorate General of Traffic) in which it is mentioned that there is a difference between two main terms: parking and camping.
⚠️ Important difference between parking and camping ⚠️
First of all, in Spain, the motorhome is considered parked if it meets the following points:
- When the motorhome is parked correctly and is only and only in contact with the ground with the wheels (without stabilizers).
- When there are no open windows, tables or chairs … i.e. anything that may protrude beyond the space occupied by the closed motorhome.
- No problem of emission or spillage of fluids (except engine) from the vehicle.
National and local legislation to prepare your motorhome trip in Spain
Secondly, you should be aware that when you are parked in Spain with your motorhome, the traffic laws apply. If, on the other hand, you are “camping”, then the rules of each region or municipality apply. In any case, normally, if you are well parked with your motorhome, you will not have any problems.
However, in Spain today, many municipalities still ignore national law in favor of regional or local law and therefore decide to apply their own methods.
In short, parking your motorhome in Spain…
In short, as the motorhome is considered both a vehicle and a dwelling, it has been subject to different laws regarding traffic and parking. Therefore, in order to be sure to travel and park with your motorhome in Spain in complete peace of mind and to avoid fines and misunderstandings with other road users and the police, it is important to be well informed about all these legal aspects.
If your vehicle is correctly parked, i.e. without crossing the ground markings of the parking area or the authorised stopping time, and if the external objects (awning, tables, chairs, stabilisers, etc.) do not exceed the basic perimeter of the closed motorhome, you are in order.
The documentation needed to park your motorhome in Spain
Therefore, for your next motorhome trip in Spain, we recommend that you take photocopies of the legislation governing the appropriate use of motorhomes. These include the manual on the mobility of motorhomes drawn up by the Ministry of the Interior and also the instruction from the Directorate General of Traffic (legal text).
If you want to park your motorhome in Spain, it is obvious that these documents are important elements to be able to justify yourself and argue with the authorities in case of a conflict situation. Don’t forget to download the law for your next motorhome trip to Spain.
Please read our article to prepare your next motorhome trip to Spain or check the map of service areas in Spain.
Have a good trip with CaraMaps!