Vehicle inspection ITV: (inspección técnica de vehículos)
This is a safety and road worthiness vehicle inspection in Spain which is required for all vehicles. Major towns and cities in Spain have many ITV inspection centres.
About the ITV vehicle inspection - (inspección técnica de vehículos)
The actual vehicle inspection costs around 40 euros and can usually be booked from day to day.
Payment is in cash at most ITV centres.
The inspection takes about 15 minutes while ITV inspectors check your horn, windscreen wipers, seat belts, turn on your flickers/indicators, check your brake lights and your exhaust emissions, then all brakes and alignment of wheels.
If you pass the inspection, you get a new sticker for your windscreen.
Here are the most important words you need to know to understand what the inspector is asking you to do:
Faros - headlamps Luces traseras - back Lights Luces de los Frenos – brake lights Izquerda – left Derecha – right Pisar el freno/acelerador - to put one's foot on the brake/accelerator Freno de Mano – Hand brake El Volante – steering wheel Escobillas – windscreen wipers
If you do not have time to take your vehicle to the ITV inspection yourself, then many mechanics and garages can handle it for you, but they will charge a fee of course, so the easiest thing is to take your car your self.
Here are the year 2006 schedules for different types of vehicles:
Motorcycles /motorbikes
Less than five years old - exempt from ITV inspection
Over five years old – ITV inspection every two years
Private Vehicles
Less than four years old - exempt from ITV inspection
Four to ten years old – ITV inspection every two years
Over ten years old – ITV inspection every year
An invalid ITV sticker will generate a substantial fine of around 100 – 150 euros. Your driving license could also be confiscated until you can document that your vehicle has passed the ITV inspection within 10 days.
