MOT testing in Spain

By /
Wise bank for Spain

The ITV is Spain’s mandatory vehicle inspection system, much like the MOT in the UK. The test ensures cars are roadworthy and meet environmental regulations. 

Once your car passes the inspection, the engineer gives you a sticker to display on the windscreen. Driving without a valid ITV sticker if your car requires a test will almost certainly result in a fine.

Dedicated ITV testing centres situated at multiple points within each province carry out the tests rather than in garages. The engineers employed there do nothing but ITV tests. Many test centres are just off a local motorway. The one I use is in Algarrobo in the province of Malaga, just off the A7.

The need to ITV your vehicle will depend on age; not every vehicle needs annual testing. New cars, for example, have their first inspection at 4 years old. Vehicles aged 4-10 years need to be tested every 2 years. Cars over 10 years old are tested annually.

The documents you need for your appointment are Identification (e.g., NIE or passport) and Vehicle registration documents. You pay for the test at the centre.

Now, to the hard part. Once you drive your car into the testing hall, everything is in Spanish unless you are lucky enough to have an engineer who speaks English. You drive in at one end and exit the other after testing is completed. 

So, here is a trick I use. When my ITV is due, I take it to a garage close to the ITV station and ask them to service the car and do the ITV for me. If it is only a service and ITV, the cost is always around 250€.

When the garage phones say the car is ready, it will be good for another year with the ITV sticker in place, as they have taken it through the testing hall for you. 

Gone are the days when you could say that it would pass if your car managed to get from one end of the hall to the other. Each vehicle is tested thoroughly using rolling roads, inspection pits, pneumatic plates under wheels, and gas analyzers.

Next time you pass your local ITV centre, see if there are any garages nearby if your Spanish is not so good.

A contribution from FoxySandra: Spain related.  (⌐■_■) More articles

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