This draft was prepared with AI assistance and editorially checked against the cited sources.
A roadside incident can feel confusing. Keep the order simple: protect people from further danger, call for help when needed, and give clear information. Spain’s traffic authority, the DGT, sets out emergency guidance for breakdowns and collisions. This guide summarizes that guidance; it does not describe MandryCabrio assistance, insurance or rental terms. [S1]
If the car stops because of a breakdown
- Focus on immediate safety. If the vehicle is stopped in or beside moving traffic, avoid stepping into the carriageway. If you can leave safely, exit on the side away from traffic and move behind a barrier or well off the road. If leaving would expose you to more danger, stay in the safest available place and call for help.
- Make the vehicle visible as instructed. The DGT says that, from 1 January 2026, a connected V16 is the only legal warning device in Spain. It recognizes a warning triangle or similar device under the vehicle’s home-country rules only for vehicles registered abroad and travelling in Spain under international traffic. That exception depends on the vehicle’s registration and status, not the driver’s nationality. For a rental or any vehicle whose registration/status you have not confirmed, ask the rental company which connected V16 is fitted, what warning equipment is supplied, and where to check the current DGT rule for that exact vehicle. Do not assume a triangle is a valid substitute. [S2] [S3]
- Wear the reflective vest when you leave the vehicle. Wait in a protected place, such as behind a safety barrier or off the carriageway, rather than beside moving traffic. [S1]
- Contact the right help. For immediate danger, injury or a collision that needs emergency services, call 112. For a mechanical problem without immediate danger, use the assistance contact and procedure in your own booking documents. [S1]
If there has been a collision
The DGT recommends the sequence PAS: Proteger (protect), Avisar (alert), Socorrer (assist). First look for dangers and protect yourself and others only when it is safe. Call 112 and explain where you are, what happened and whether anyone is injured. Give assistance within your ability without creating another danger, and follow the dispatcher’s directions. [S1]
When everyone is safe, exchange the information required for the incident and follow the official or rental-provider process. Write down the location and time, and keep relevant messages or documents. Do not guess who is responsible or promise payment. For non-emergency vehicle help, use the number and instructions in the rental agreement; coverage, response time and costs depend on that agreement.
Before setting off
Save 112 and the rental provider’s assistance contact. Read the vehicle’s emergency-equipment instructions and ask at handover if anything is unclear. The DGT’s guidance is general road-safety information; it does not confirm which warning device is in a particular car. If you are still choosing a vehicle, compare the current cabriolet range, then check the actual booking documents for the selected car.
Sources and claim anchors (checked 2026-09-30)
- [S1] DGT: What to do in an emergency, updated 5 March 2026. Covers PAS, 112, reflective vest, and safe exit and waiting guidance.
- [S2] DGT: V16 warning devices, updated 28 August 2026. States that the connected V16 is the only legal warning device in Spain from 1 January 2026 and that triangles are recognized only for foreign-registered vehicles in international traffic.
- [S3] DGT: V16 use in international traffic. Clarifies the international-traffic exception.
This is a safety checklist, not legal advice or a promise of roadside service. In an emergency, follow 112 and on-scene authorities.
