The Spanish ITV — Spain's Version of the MOT
A plain-language guide to Spain's compulsory vehicle inspection: what it is, how often, what it costs and what's new for 2026.
What the ITV actually is
The ITV — Inspección Técnica de Vehículos — is Spain's compulsory periodic roadworthiness test. Every country runs its own version: the MOT in the United Kingdom, the TÜV in Germany, the APK in the Netherlands, the contrôle technique in France. The purpose is identical; the intervals and the paperwork are Spanish.
To be clear about who we are: we are not an ITV station and not an official inspection body. We take your car to the station, sit through the inspection and hand the paperwork back — that is our ITV concierge service: 125 € plus the station fee.
Does your car still have foreign plates?
Then it is not a normal ITV: the car has to be registered in Spain first.
How often it is due, and what the station charges
The 4 / 2 / 1 rule
A private car needs no ITV for its first 4 years. From 4 to 10 years old it goes every 2 years. From 10 years old, every year.
The station fee
In the Comunidad Valenciana the 2026 SITVAL tariff is €41.47 for a petrol car with a catalytic converter and €56.15 for a diesel; without a catalytic converter, and for electric cars, it is €34.49. That is the station's own charge, paid separately from any assistance service.
Letting it expire
Driving without a valid ITV is not allowed and the fine is €200. After an accident your insurer can also refuse the claim or reduce the payout.
What the inspection covers
It is a safety and emissions check, not a mechanical service. A standard test goes through:
The braking system and its balance, plus the full steering system.
Headlights, indicators and brake lights; the exhaust and its emission levels.
Suspension and shock absorbers, tyre wear, bodywork and chassis.
Windows and visibility, seat belts, and whether the car matches its documents.
The import ITV is a different procedure
If you are bringing a car in from abroad, the first ITV you need is not the periodic one. It is the inspection that lets a foreign vehicle onto Spanish plates, and it runs together with the homologación — the vehicle's approval for Spain — and the ficha técnica reducida issued with it. After registration, the periodic ITV is counted from the car's date of first registration.
V16, and where we work
New since 2026: the car must carry a connected V16 beacon certified by the DGT, Spain's traffic authority. Without one the inspection is recorded as desfavorable — a fail. The old warning triangles are being phased out.
We cover from Gandía in the north to Benidorm in the south. Again — we are not an ITV station; we take your car there and handle the paperwork for you.
ITV in Spain — the questions expats ask
What is the ITV in Spain?
The ITV (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) is Spain's compulsory periodic roadworthiness test — the Spanish equivalent of the UK MOT, and the same idea as Germany's TÜV or the Dutch APK. Without a valid ITV your car can't legally be on the road.
How often does a car need the ITV?
A private car is exempt for the first 4 years after registration, then needs an ITV every 2 years until it turns 10, and every year after that.
How much does the ITV cost in Spain?
The official station fee is set regionally. Here on the Costa Blanca (Comunidad Valenciana) the 2026 SITVAL tariff is €41.47 for a petrol car with a catalytic converter and €56.15 for a diesel; without a catalytic converter, and for electric cars, it is €34.49. That is the station's own charge — separate from a done-for-you service.
Is the ITV the same as the MOT, TÜV or APK?
The purpose is identical — a mandatory safety and emissions check. The ITV is Spain's direct equivalent of the UK MOT and plays the same role as the German TÜV and Dutch APK, though the administration and intervals differ by country.
What does the ITV check?
Brakes, lights, tyres, steering, suspension, chassis, exhaust emissions and safety items, plus your documents. It's a preventive safety inspection, not a full mechanical service.
What happens if my car fails?
You get a defect report and a period to fix the issues, then a re-inspection (usually reduced or free if done soon at the same station). You can't drive on a 'negative' result until it's resolved.
Do I need an ITV for an imported or foreign-plated car?
A car on foreign plates must first be registered in Spain (matriculación) and put on Spanish plates; the first Spanish ITV is part of that process and costs more than a routine one.
What's new for the ITV in 2026?
Since January 2026 every car must carry a connected, DGT-certified V16 beacon; the old warning triangles no longer count. It isn't part of the inspection itself — the official ITV procedure manual doesn't list it — but driving without one is an offence.
What do favorable, desfavorable and negativa mean?
Favorable means the car passes and you drive on. Desfavorable means the defects must be repaired and the car brought back, normally within 2 months, with the re-inspection charged at a reduced rate. Negativa means the car may not move under its own power.
What do I need to bring to the ITV?
The permiso de circulación (the vehicle's registration document), the ficha técnica — the tarjeta ITV with the car's technical data — and valid insurance. For an imported car, add the documents proving its origin.
Don't want to deal with any of this?
We take care of your ITV on the Costa Blanca: we collect the car, check it over, book the appointment, take it to the station and bring it back to you. €125 (VAT included) for our service; we pay the ITV station fee there ourselves and add it to your invoice, with the receipt.
Take my car to the ITV →Prefer email? Write to info@itv-costablanca.es
Three ways to reach us
We answer during business hours, Monday to Friday, 9:00–18:00.
ITV Costa Blanca · Import Trade Vehicles Costa Blanca · sole trader · C/ Sant Josep, 16, 03700 Dénia (Alicante) · Service terms