Spain traffic laws explain delayed removal of burnt vehicles

In Spain, the presence of a burnt octopus truck on the A-381 highway near Alcalá de los Gazules has raised questions regarding why the DGT does not immediately remove accident-damaged vehicles. Under Spanish traffic law, there is a distinction between removing a vehicle for safety reasons and declaring it abandoned.

While authorities can remove vehicles that pose an immediate danger or obstruct traffic, the process for handling abandoned vehicles—regulated under Article 106—requires specific procedures. Before a vehicle can be sent to an authorized treatment center for destruction, the administration must formally request the owner to remove it. The owner then has a one-month period to comply before the vehicle is moved.