How to Pass the ITV Test in Spain: Your Complete Help Guide from Register-Your-Car.com
Clear and complete instructions on passing the ITV test in Spain. Driving around, living, or residing in Spain means one thing: you will most certainly come across the Inspección Técnica de Vehículos (ITV), which loosely translates to the technical inspection of vehicles and simply means vehicle inspection or MOT test, as it is called in the UK. This mandatory inspection should ensure your car is good enough to go on the road and fit with the environmental standards set by the Spanish government. However, for many expats, and even many locals, getting through an ITV test could be a bit daunting if one is not sure about what requirements or steps to adhere to.
That is where Register-Your-Car.com comes to the rescue. This service is specialized in registering cars in Spain by foreign residents and ensuring they pass the ITV test by all the standards. So, finally, we conduct the following walk-through through all you need to know about passing the ITV test in Spain and how Register-YourCar.com can make it so much smoother for you.
What Is the ITV Test?
The ITV test in Spain is, therefore, a methodology to fulfill the vehicle inspection obligation so as to comply with safety and emissions specifications. This helps in making sure that all vehicles plying on the road are in perfect working condition and do not pose any environmental or safety hazard.
Frequency of the ITV Test
- New vehicles: In many of the new, conventional cars, the first ITV test is carried out after four years.
- Vehicles aged between 4 and 10 years: Once the vehicle turns four, you have to get it inspected by ITV every two years.
- Vehicles more than 10 years: Once the vehicle turns ten, you will have to pass the ITV check every year.
If you have a special vehicle, such as a taxi or a commercial vehicle, the ITV may vary in frequency. Check the type of the vehicle in your possession for requirements.
Preparing for inspection
Passing the ITV test demands more than just arriving at the inspection center. Indeed, much previous preparation must be carried out to assure both compliance with the safety and emission standards required. The following are some of the crucial steps to take:
1. Check the Basic Functionality of Your Vehicle
The ITV test checks a long list of things: lights, brakes, suspension—the lot. Before you set off to the ITV testing centre, check over your car’s key functions carefully.
Lights: All exterior lights, including headlights, indicators, fog lights, and brake lights, shall be in a serviceable condition. All light bulbs shall be in working order, and lenses shall be clean and free from cracks.
- Brakes: Ensure that your brakes function properly with no squeal or grind versus your pedal and that they should reach a full, firm pedal without the pedal feeling mushy. You also need to inspect your brake fluid level.
- Tires: Tires will need to have no damage and will have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm. Also, ensure that all four tires, including the spare, have the correct pressure.
- Windshield and Wipers: The windshield may not have any major cracks or chips. The wipers will have to work, and your level of windshield washer fluid has to be good.
- Mirrors: Every mirror should be in good condition, with no cracked or missing elements visible.
- Horn: Your vehicle must have an operational horn – small item but crucial for the test.
2. Sort Out All Emergency Indicators on the Instrument Dash Panel
If there are any warning lights on your vehicle—like the check engine light or the ABS warning light—you’re already showing signs of there being something wrong with your vehicle. These lights won’t pass an inspection, so you wouldn’t want to ignore them. Take your car to a mechanic to diagnose and fix any problems before the ITV test.
3. Make Sure the Emissions System Is Up to Code
One of the most important elements included in any ITV test is the emissions test. Your vehicle needs to be able to pass for not emitting pollutants that exceed the allowed amount. If the vehicle emits too much smoke or has leaking from its emissions system, you will receive an ITV fail.
Here are some things you can do to help pass an emission test:
- Drive your car a while before your ITV so that the motor is heated and achieves its maximum output.
- Change the oil, air filters to clean the carbon deposits in engines. These carbon deposits cause trouble in the emission system.
- Purchase high quality fuel from well-known gas stations along with fuel additives which clean your engine.
4. Document Verification of Vehicle
Make sure to carry these documents while heading towards your ITV:
- Permiso de Circulación (Vehicle Registration Document): This proves your vehicle is legitimately registered in Spain.
- Ficha Técnica (Technical Inspection Card): Every technical detail of your vehicle is handwritten on this document and must have a stamp from your previous ITV test results, provided you previously were required one.
- Proof of Insurance: Proof that your vehicle is now insured may also be required. 5. Get an Inspection Before the Inspection
If one is lost in the state of their vehicle, seeking the services of the local mechanic or service station for a pre-ITV check would be a sensible idea. This is where Register-Your-Car.com comes in very useful: They can help guide you to trusted mechanics who can do this pre-inspection to make sure your car is ready to pass the official ITV test. This way, you’ll save yourself from failing the test and having to go back for retesting, which will eventually cost you even more and take a lot of time.
The Process of ITV Testing
Having gotten your vehicle ready, it’s about time to make an appointment for the ITV test. Many ITV centers in Spain offer online appointment schedules, which eventually saves time when compared to first-come-first-serve reservation time spent showing up.
Here is the expected process:
- Aparición y Registro
Upon arrival to the ITV center, you will be required to check in with your vehicle’s documents. After submitting the documents, you will then be guided to the right lane where the inspection on your vehicle will be carried out.
2. The Visual and Functional Inspection
The visual check of the aspects would involve the bodywork, tires, lights, mirrors, and windshield. Inspection would be done for the seatbelts, dashboard warning lights, horn, among other interior aspects.
3. Testing Mechanical Systems
Your car will be driven onto a platform where the brakes, suspension, and steering are tested. The whole purpose of the test is to make sure your vehicle is safe for use on public roads. The performance of your exhaust system may also be monitored for any leaks.
4. Emissions Test
The emissions test is an essential part of the ITV. This is the part where the inspector will measure the level of pollutants being emitted from your exhaust using special equipment. If it does not meet the standards, then with this test, you will fail.
5. Results
At the end of the inspection, you will then be told whether your vehicle has passed or failed the ITV test.
- If your car passes, the inspector puts a sticker on your windshield showing the next date you’ll be required to take the ITV.
- If your car fails, you will get a report indicating the reasons why. You must solve these problems before repeating the test.
What Happens If You Fail the ITV Test?
Though do not worry, if you fail the ITV test, it’s not the end of the world, but you certainly need to act quickly. In most cases, there will be a period of up to one month within which you are expected to put everything in order and come back for a retry.
Even if the said vehicle failure was due to minor reasons, it can be something like a faulty light, a worn tire, or anything of that sort. The same will be allowed to get rectified and appear for retest. Complicated issues, say emissions failure or any other technical reason, it would be advisable to approach a professional mechanic for a solution. Register-Your-Car.com. can set you up with technicians known for offering solutions to problems with ITV testing.
Re-tests are usually much quicker than a full ITV test and often free within a certain amount of time; usually 15-30 days depending on the ITV center.
How Register-Your-Car.com Can Help
This can be a very anxious time for those expats who have either just imported their vehicles to Spain or who are feeling a bit bewildered by the language and shifting regulations as they pertain to passing the ITV test. Register-Your-Car.com provides services that can render the exact process easier from entering your car into the vehicle register in Spain to making sure that it is prepared for the ITV inspection.
Here are some of the ways we can take the stress out of registering your car in Spain:
- Vehicle Registration: If you’ve imported your vehicle from a foreign country, the registration process in Spain can be quite confusing. Register-Your-Car.com shall complete the paperwork, and other bureaucratic paperwork needed to have the vehicle registered correctly, and it should be allowable in the ITV test center.
- Pre-ITV Checks: Their network of trusted mechanics can carry out detailed pre-ITV inspections. That way, if there is any problem, they will get you sorted before you get to the real ITV center.
- Help with Repairs: If your vehicle doesn’t make it through the ITV, Register-Your-Car.com can put you in touch with factories that specialize in the types of repairs that commonly cause vehicles to fail their ITV.
- ITV Appointment Scheduling: They can help you go through the hoops of scheduling your appointment. In addition, they also extend translation services during all the appointments that regard an ITV.
Conclusion: Passing The ITV Test In Spain
Be ready to pass the ITV in order to drive legally in Spain. When making the effort to gather your car’s condition, papers, and consult the professionals, such as those found at Register-Your-Car.com, your ITV visit will be smooth.
In any event, staying ahead of your ITV appointment is key in avoiding fines, and, possibly, the prohibition on driving. With the right help and proper preparation, getting through the ITV test will help keep your car in good and safe roadworthy condition in Spain. Have a good journey!