Lorraine Williamson
Why does the same vehicle inspection cost €17 in one region and more than €50 in another? As Spain heads into 2025, the mandatory ITV check – something every driver must face sooner or later – is set to become even more uneven across the map. New data from consumer group FACUA shows stark price differences, raising fresh questions about how fair the current system really is.
The ITV is Spain’s compulsory roadworthiness test, similar to the UK’s MOT. Despite being a basic public safety measure, it is neither priced nor organised at national level. Each autonomous community has the freedom to run the system through public centres, private operators, or fully liberalised models.
Over time, this autonomy has produced striking disparities: motorists in some regions pay three times more than those in others for exactly the same test.
Where the highest fees are found
FACUA’s latest figures place the Basque Country at the top of the price table once again. Petrol-car drivers there pay an average of €53.63 per inspection, rising slightly for diesel vehicles. Close behind sits Cantabria, with Castilla y León and Aragón occupying the next positions depending on the engine type.
Regions such as Valencia and Catalonia sit mid-table. The notable detail in both is that they have frozen their 2025 rates – a contrast to communities where prices rise year after year.
Mallorca bucks the trend with Europe-low prices
At the other end of the scale lie the Balearic Islands, where Mallorca stands out with a fee of €17.01 for petrol cars – the lowest in Spain by a wide margin. Extremadura and Andalucía also remain relatively affordable, though their pricing structures differ. Andalucía adjusts fees based on engine size, while Extremadura’s prices depend on whether a centre is publicly operated or privately managed.
Motorcycles: the extreme end of the spectrum
If the car data looks uneven, motorcycle fees make the picture even sharper. Madrid tops the list at €39.82, while Mallorca once again sits at the bottom with €10.21. The difference is close to 290%, a reminder of how fragmented the ITV landscape has become.
How regulation shapes your bill
The reasons behind the gap lie in how each region chooses to run its network. Fully liberalised systems tend to produce higher prices, as private operators set their own rates without national oversight. Publicly operated ITV stations often keep fees considerably lower and more stable.
Some regions apply subsidies or temporary discounts, widening the gap further. For a service that every driver must use, the lack of consistency continues to fuel debate.
What this means for motorists
For residents – including foreign nationals – the ITV is unavoidable. Yet depending on your postcode, the cost of staying road-legal can vary dramatically.
Those living near a regional border may be tempted to look elsewhere, though rules about cross-regional inspections differ, and not all fees include the same services. Some regions charge separately for emissions checks or re-inspections, making like-for-like comparisons difficult.
ITV – an essential guide
Calls for clarity – and change
Consumer organisation FACUA argues that such differences undermine fairness in a mandatory public service. They want clearer information, greater transparency and a national debate about whether Spain should introduce a more harmonised system.
It’s not the first time the issue has surfaced. ITV fees have been a political and consumer battleground for years, with the new data showing just how wide the gulf has become.
A debate that won’t disappear
With pressure on household budgets and the 2025 updates exposing ever greater regional variation, the discussion around ITV reform is likely to grow louder. For now, motorists must navigate a system where safety tests are standardised – but the price tag depends entirely on where they live.
Source: Facua