Putting a Car through an ITV

Once you’ve taken the plunge and bought your own car (most people rent for the first couple of months as you need to get your paperwork in order to be able to buy) your next challenge will be its next ITV. The ITV is the Spanish equivalent of an MOT test in the UK.

The first time we had a test due we gave the car to a local mechanic to take it through for us. This time we took the car up with a friend whose Spanish is much better than mine as they were due about the same time. Actually if you get a Spanish speaker to book an appointment for you on the test centre number – 928 811 476, you can get by if you show up on time with just English, even if there are no English speakers amongst the staff. Just make sure you have all your cars documentation with you, and of course the cash to pay for the test. As opposed to an MOT test, it is sensibly priced, €32.50 for our small 4wd which is classed as an average car. Diesels (as they have an extra emissions test), larger vehicles and vans cost slightly more, but only a couple of Euros and are not going to break the bank either. If the car is from 4 to 10 years old you need a test every two years, if over ten years old every year.

As with the UK test, the following are checked.

• Tyres
• Lights
• Wheel alignment
• Brake effectiveness (inc handbrake)
• Shock absorbers
• Emissions test

If your car fails you get 15 days to put the problems right and get it retested for free.

My personal view is that it is not as strict as the MOT, far less items are checked. But then the Spanish don’t seem to have been looking for anything extra to add to the regular test in order to have the excuse to put the cost up as in the UK! However, it is still fairly thorough, with the emphasis placed on the specific items that make a car safe to drive or not…

The process is very simple, just visit the office when you arrive and show your papers and pay the fee. Then drive round to the back and join the queue – from then on it’s much like a drive through car wash getting passed on through the various stages of the test whilst you remain in the car. Very simple and efficient. And, don’t worry about not speaking Spanish, they will either pass you on to a colleague who speaks a little English, or get by with hand signals…

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