I.T.V.
Can you book a ITV online or do you just turn up with your vehicle?
Can you book a ITV online or do you just turn up with your vehicle?
Hopefully this helps, copied from www.healthplanspain.com.
ITV Spain - Getting Your Car's MOT In Spain
In the UK, we have the annual M.O.T for keeping our cars roadworthy. The Spanish equivalent of this is the I.T.V, which stands for Inspecciòn Tècnica de Vehiculos.
How Often Should I Have an I.T.V/MOT Inspection in Spain?
If your car is less than four years old it does not need to undergo this inspection. Once your car is between four and ten years old, an I.T.V test must be done every two years. Then, when your car is over ten years of age, an inspection must take place yearly.
Motorcycles are treated differently, they are exempt from inspection for the first four years, then they have to take the test every two years.
Mopeds are exempt for the first three years and then must be tested every two years.
The rule for vans and goods vehicles is also slightly different. Once they reach the grand old age of ten years, they must have an I.T.V inspection done every two years.
Again with caravans (that are towed by vehicles) the rule differs. Once they reach six years of age they must be inspected every two years.
If your vehicle is an MPV/people carrier it may be classed as a Vehiculo Mixto Adaptable, which will mean the ITV is taken after two years, every two years up until six years old. Then every year between six and 10 years of age. After 10 years the ITV is taken every 6 months. Mixto vehicles that are registered as 'tourist vehicles' will only have to have an ITV every year after 10 years instead of every six months.
You can find out how often your vehicle is due the ITV test at the following address
http://www.veiasa.es/itv/cuando_pasar_la_itv
What Documents do I Need to Take With Me For An ITV Test In Spain?
When you go to the I.T.V testing station you will need to present certain documents. These include:-
You will also need to have the appropriate fee. Current rates can be found at http://www.veiasa.es/itv/tarifas
The test should also be carried out ten to fourteen days prior to the registration date, which can be found on the green Inspeccion Tecnica Card. At the top of this card you will also find the 'vehicle type'. These are represented as Tourismo (car), Furgon (van) and one that people get confused by, which is 'Mixto Adapta' or 'Vehiculo Mixto Adaptable'( 7 seater cars, that in Spain are classed as vans).
How Much Does an I.T.V Inspection Cost in Spain?
The cost of booking an ITV test does vary and depends greatly on the vehicle you drive. The prices below are the maximum and in Euros
You can see all the rates at http://www.veiasa.es/itv/tarifas
Where do I go to Get an I.T.V Inspection?
There are over 50 Spanish I.T.V test centers and stations in Andalucia alone, so there must be hundreds across the whole of Spain.
To find your nearest I.T.V Testing center, visit http://www.veiasa.es/itv/red_de_estaciones
Do I Have to Book an Appointment?
Luckily, things have changed and you no longer need to get to the testing center at the crack of dawn and wait in long queues. You are now able to make an appointment and this has sped things up quite a bit. You can book your I.T.V Inspection online at http://www.itvcita.es
You can also book via telephone with the number available on the website above.
Spanish ITV Opening Times
Opening times do vary very slightly depending on which region you are in. Most ITV testing stations do generally open nice and early from around 06:45 am in the morning. They also have reduced hours at weekends and around the holiday periods.
For specific opening times in your region, please check out the following page and click on your region and nearest testing station. http://www.veiasa.es/itv/red_de_estaciones
What is Tested During a Spanish ITV Test?
Now, actually getting the test carried out, can be quite daunting. If you feel a bit nervous about taking your car yourself, you will find many garages who will take it for you for a small fee.You just drop your car off at the garage and let them do the rest!
Unlike in the UK, where you take your vehicle into an M.O.T garage and leave it for them to do the checks, in Spain you are asked to perform certain tasks in the process.
When you take your car documentation into the I.T.V Office and have paid your fee, you will be given some documents. These are to be passed onto the mechanic, who is waiting to start the checks in another building.
You will then be asked to drive your vehicle through several different check points.
The first station check is generally for lights, wipers, indicators,hazards and seatbelts etc, the second station is for wheel alignment and the third station is for hand brakes and brakes and the fourth station is for omissions and oil etc.
You will then be told to park your car and come back for the paperwork.
What Happens if my Car Passes the Test?
If your car passes the inspection you will be presented with your test certificate and a small coloured sticker that has to be displayed in the right hand side of your windscreen. This shows the month and year of when the next test is due.
If you fail to display the sticker and get pulled up by the police, you will be fined on the spot and you will be given ten days to provide proof of passing the test.
ITV stickers are also known as V-19 stickers and rotate in colour between green, yellow and red each year.
What Happens if my Car Fails the ITV Test?
Hopefully it won't, but if it does fail, you will be given back your documentation and the test sheet with a rubber stamp displaying the word 'Disfavorable' and with the reasons for failure. These are not normally discussed with you, so you may need to get out the Spanish/English dictionary if your Spanish is minimal.
You are then given one month to return to the test center with all failures fixed.
If you can get them done and return on the same day, you will not be charged again and if you return with the faults mended within 15 days you will normally be given a discount on the previous test price. If you fail to return within this period you will be charged the full test fee again.
It is important that you do return to a test center, as if you don't they will inform the Department of Traffic that your car is on the road without I.T.V. In other words 'illegally!'
Note that from October 2017, you no longer have to take the vehicle back for a re-test at the same ITV station. You can use any ITV station for the retest.
Also note that if your ITV has expired, you must not drive the vehicle on the road, period. No exception. Even if it is to get it to the ITV testing station. If it has expired, you will need to get the vehicle to the testing station on the back of a grua truck.
How Long Can You Drive Your Vehicle For Once Your ITV Has Expired?
Many people falsly believe that you can drive for one month after your ITV has expired before being fined, but this is not true.
If you check your ITV card/certificate, there will be a date stamped on the back. This is the deadline that you can officially drive the vehicle without being fined.
You can take a vehicle for an ITV test up to one month prior to the expiration of the ITV certificate and this does not affect the expiry date of the current ITV. So for example, if your current ITV is due to expire on the 31st of December, you can have an ITV done on the 1st of December. If the vehicle passes, the ITV will still expire on the 31st of December the following year rather than on the 1st.
Foreign Vehicles
Foreign vehicles can have the I.T.V test carried out but will be issued with a 'Voluntary Certificate'. The ITV station will also not issue a sticker for the windscreen, but the certificate itself will serve as proof that the vehicle is roadworthy.
It is important to note though that under Spanish law this is NOT classed as a valid ITV!! A technical inspection certificate is only valid when done in the country of registration.
A vehicle that doesn't have a valid ITV is illegal. It may not be safe to drive on the road and may also invalidate any insurance cover.
Generally speaking, a foreign vehicle must have a legal ITV/MOT in the country in which it was registered. A foreign vehicle can have a full and legal ITV in Spain only if it has been correctly imported and has been transferred to Spanish plates. You can read more about this via ourImporting a Car or Other Vehicle Into Spain. If you are driving your UK registered vehicle in Spain, you may want to read our other article, Driving Your UK Registered Car In Spain and The Dangers of Driving a UK Car in Spain
Important: If a vehicle is in Spain for more than six months it is considered to be permanently imported and must be re-registered on Spanish plates.
Important Changes to the ITV Test from 20th May 2018
Useful vocabulary to help you when getting an I.T.V test
It's worth noting that if your Spanish is not too good and the idea of taking your car for an ITV here in Spain fills you with fear, there are a number expat garages up and down the country that will be only too pleased to take the car to the ITV test centre for you. For a small fee of course !
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 12:34pm
Helpful member
Yes you can book on line but you do need a Spanish phone number to do so.
You could also just turn up and wait or drop in to the ITV station a day or two before and book a slot in person
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 5:16pm
Legendary helpful member
I've never needed to input a phone number when booking appointments.
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Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 5:30pm
Helpful member
I tried several times with my uk mobile number and the web site would not allow me to book with it and it would also not allow me to book without a phone number, eventually I went to Ondara and booked in person. Perhaps I didn't understand the website
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 5:48pm
Legendary helpful member
David, just had a look and it's obviously different in your area. I assume you tried 0044 in front of your mobile number.
You will often find that Spanish websites will not recognise UK or Irish mobile numbers.
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 10:52pm
Helpful member
You can book on http://tuitv.es/cita-previa/
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