Guardia Civil adds glovebox inspections to traffic stops and checkpoints
The Guardia Civil has have confirmed that they have introduced glovebox inspections at police checkpoints and if you are pulled over for an infraction. The aim is to improve road safety and ensure drivers are complying with current regulations.
Officers are mainly looking for three things:
1. Dangerous or prohibited items such as knives, heavy tools or anything considered a risk under Spain’s Citizen Security Law.
2. The V-16 emergency light, which will replace warning triangles and becomes compulsory in 2026.
3. Vehicle and driver documents, which can also be shown digitally using the official DGT mobile app.
The most serious offences can lead to fines between 601 and 3,000 euros.
Because the V-16 beacon must be easy to reach, most drivers keep it in the glovebox, so officers are increasingly checking this compartment.
What Can the Guardia Civil Actually Check?
Rumours circulating online claim that the DGT (Spain’s traffic authority) will remove a driver’s licence based on what they keep in their glovebox. This is false. There is no law or official campaign that allows licence removal simply for having certain items in the car.
However, police do have the legal power to inspect a vehicle during routine or justified stops. They may issue fines for carrying banned items or for safety-related issues, but this does not lead to losing your licence.
Police can also check inside a vehicle if they suspect an offence, a crime or a potential safety risk. This is not a new power and forms part of their normal duties.
Can You Lose Your Licence Because of What You Carry in the Car?
No. A driving licence in Spain can only be withdrawn when:
• the driver has lost all their points,
• a court orders it for a road-safety offence, or
• a very serious offence specifically states so.
Fines for carrying inappropriate or dangerous items usually involve:
• a monetary penalty,
• confiscation of the item, or
• being reported under other laws, such as weapons or public safety regulations.
But none of these mean automatically losing your licence.
Weapons and Dangerous Items
Carrying weapons without permission, dangerous or banned substances can result in fines or even criminal charges. These are dealt with under separate laws, not traffic rules, and still do not automatically result in losing your licence.
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