Does Your Car Have a Built-In SOS System? Do You Still Need the V-16 Light with Geolocation?
**Yes — even if your vehicle is equipped with an automatic SOS system, you still need the V-16 light with geolocation.**
Here’s why it’s essential 
**The SOS system contacts emergency services** in the event of an accident or breakdown — but it **does NOT warn other drivers** approaching your vehicle.
This is because it’s **not connected to DGT 3.0**, Spain’s traffic communication platform.
The **V-16 light with geolocation** transmits your exact location in real time to the **DGT cloud** 
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This data can be received by nearby **connected vehicles**, helping approaching drivers to:
**Slow down in time**
**Change lanes safely**
**Avoid last-minute surprises or collisions**
**Not all vehicles are connected** 
— many drivers won’t receive interactive map alerts or in-car notifications.
But a **flashing V-16 light** instantly signals a breakdown ahead, just like the old warning triangles used to do — but **without needing to leave your vehicle**.
The light offers **superior visibility** in low-visibility situations like:
**Fog**
**Rain**
**Night driving**
This helps prevent **secondary accidents** and protects both you and other road users.
IN SHORT:
**SOS system** = alerts **emergency services** only
**V-16 light** = alerts **other drivers** in real time
And remember: from January 1, 2026, the connected V-16 light will be mandatory in Spain for all vehicles registered in the country 
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