The first time we had the ITV test due we gave the car to a local mechanic to take it through for us. This saved us time our of the office, and gave us reassurances that it would all be done correctly. But… as with most thngs, the next time it was due, we took the car up with a friend who is pretty good in Spanish, as his ITV was due about the same time. If you get a Spanish speaker to book an appointment for you on the test centre number – 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 car paperwork with you, and of course the money to pay for the test. As opposed to an MOT test, it is very 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 few 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 then it is 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 two weeks to get it sorted, and then it is retested for free.

My personal view is that it is not anywhere as strict as the MOT, and 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 focus placed on those specifics that make a car safe to drive or not…

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

Good luck!