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Pass the ITV for your car in Spain on the first go with these expert tips

Almost 20% of cars in Spain fail their vehicle inspection test (ITV) first time round

Just like annual tax and insurance, the ITV is a regular expense that comes part and parcel with owning a car in Spain, the equivalent of an MOT in the UK or the NCT in Ireland. Last year, a total of 21,829,740 vehicles were put through the ITV test, a 10% increase on 2020, which could indicate that people are keeping onto their cars longer, since the older a motor is, the more often it has to be tested.

Bringing your car in for an ITV can be a bit of a hassle, even more so if you fail and have to carry out additional maintenance. According to AECA-ITV, 18.5% of all vehicles that arrive at inspection centres leave with pending repairs to get the long-awaited sticker, with vans and trucks tending to turn up in the worst condition.

Generally speaking, the older the car, the more likely it is to have faults, but the experts at AECA-ITV have also listed the most common reasons for failing a test. If you want to pass your next ITV on the first go, check out their tips below.

4 most common reasons for failing an ITV test

1. Lights

Lighting defects make up 26% of all faults detected during an ITV test and are the main reason for not passing. The AECA experts have stressed the importance of having all of your vehicle’s bulbs in proper working order before the test.

2. Axles, wheels, tyres and suspension

Racking up 21% of all defects detected, this is the second most likely category to cause a fail. Luckily though, when it comes to tyres, most centres will allow you to put on a new set and will then pass the vehicle without needing a re-test.

3. Polluting emissions

16% of all ITV fails are caused by incorrect operation of polluting emission control systems.

4. Brakes

Posing a serious road safety concern, faulty brakes account for 13% of all major defects detected.

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Image: @infoMadridITV / Twitter

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