Lorraine Williamson
We all know that your car must pass certain standards to confirm it is road worthy. In the UK this is called the MOT. In Spain, it is the ITV. It stands for “Inspección Técnica de Vehículos”.
Renewing your ITV is very straightforward, but what if you are doing it for the first time? We have put together some of the main points you will require to know. However, you can also look at the government website ITV.com.es if you require any further information. The process is similar throughout the whole of mainland Spain.
When do you need an ITV?
It is compulsory to have an ITV for your vehicle. If you are stopped and found not displaying the ITV sticker, you will receive a fine, or perhaps your license may even be confiscated. Remember, if your car is not legally registered in Spain, there are different requirements you must meet. If you have been living in Spain for more than 6 months and driving a foreign car in the country for this length of time, then you must re-register your vehicle onto Spanish plates. You cannot simply drive back to the UK and have an MOT there. It will then be subjected to the same ITV test requirements as any other Spanish vehicle.
The ITV in Spain is required at different intervals dependant on the age of your car. Newer cars do not require an ITV test until they are four years old. Cars between four and ten years will require a certificate every two years. And cars older than ten years must pass an ITV test every year. Mopeds and motorbikes also have different timescales.
Does de ITV expire on a specific day?
The ITV sticker only shows the month and year of expiry, not the specific day. However, the ITV has an exact expiry date. You can find this on the back of the technical inspection card or in the report of the last inspection of your car. Additionally, you can find the expiry date in mi DGT app. It is possible to pass the ITV up to a month before its expiry without this affecting the next inspection. However, if the ITV has expired, you cannot drive the vehicle at all. It even can´t be parked on the public road without a valid ITV. It must be taken to the ITV station on a ‘grua’, or transporter. An expired ITV can also invalidate your insurance, so be careful.
Booking your ITV (MOT)
There are various ways to do this. The simplest way is to ask your local garage or mechanic to do it for you. Many offer this as a service usually called a “pre-ITV” check to ensure you don´t have any unexpected problems at the test. At the inspection, the mechanic will not only get your car ready for the ITV, but they will also take the car for you. They will, of course, charge a fee for this. You can also send anyone – a friend, a neighbour- to the inspection with your car, as long as they bring the original documents of the vehicle: the technical inspection card and the registration certificate. You can also book online to make an appointment. For the inspection, you can go to any station througout Spain, regardless of the autonomous community in which your car is registered.
Cost of the MOT process
The cost may vary from area to area depending on which company controls the testing. You can check in advance. There is not one flat rate for the ITV test – the amount charged will depend on the size and power of the vehicle you drive. Payment may only be permitted by card.
Documents required
- Ficha Tecnica – This is a blue sheet you are given following your previous ITV test. Inspecciones Técnicas or technical sheet outlines any faults found. You should bring the Ficha Tecnica from the last ITV test when your vehicle passed.
- Permiso de Circulacion – This is the registration document and is a green paper.
- Evidence that your car is currently insured with the appropriate insurance. A payment receipt with your insurance policy.
- NIE/TIE/DNI identification
What do they check?
If you do decide to go to the test centre yourself, most of the test will be carried out with you inside the car. On arrival at the ITV station, you must first go into the office and present your documentation and pay the fee. You will then be given a number to wait for your turn. You will also be given some documents to give to the person conducting the test on your car. This person testing will ask you to do certain basic tasks. Among other things, the following will be checked;
- Emissions
- Tyre tread
- Lights and Lighting
- Indicators
- Brakes
- Seatbelts
- Windows
- Steering
- Wheel Alignment
- Shock Absorbers
Once the test is complete, you will be told to park your car and return to the office for the results and to collect the new paperwork. This will tell you if your car has passed or failed the test.
What if my car fails the MOT process in Spain?
If your car passes its ITV, you will be given the test certificate and a coloured sticker to be displayed in the right-hand side of your windscreen. This shows the month and year of when the next test is due. As mentioned above, displaying this sticker is important, as you can be fined not only if you do not have a current ITV, but also if the sticker is not displayed.
In some cases, if your car fails, they will provide you with the certificate if it is only one or two minor issues but with the proviso that you have a limited time to rectify the issue. However, if you do not rectify it and are stopped by the police, you will receive a fine.
If your car fails on various counts, your documentation will be returned to you together with the test sheet with a stamp showing the word ‘Disfavorable’ and the reasons for the failure. You will then by given up to 30 days to make changes to your car and have it tested again. If you do not make the test again within this period, remember your car will not be legally roadworthy, and as such if you drive it your insurance could be invalid, and you could risk a fine. In addition to police stops, there are cameras that can identify vehicles with no ITV.
As Guillermo Magaz, director of AECA ITV stated: “The ITV saves lives. It prevents 539 fatalities, around 12,100 injuries of varying severity, and 17,700 road accidents. But they also help minimise the environmental impact of transport. By going to an ITV station, we protect ourselves and our loved ones.”
Also read: Understanding the ITV inspection process for campervans in Spain