Definition
The ITV is Spain's periodic roadworthiness inspection, and how often it falls due depends on the type of vehicle and its age, counted from the date of first registration. A private car is inspected four years after registration, then every two years until it turns ten, and every year from then on. The test can only be carried out at an ITV station, never at a repair workshop, and the registered keeper is responsible for it being done on time.
How often the ITV falls due, by vehicle
| Vehicle | First inspection | Afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| Private car (up to 9 seats) | 4 years after registration | Every 2 years up to 10 years; yearly after that |
| Motorcycles, three-wheelers, quadricycles and quads | At 4 years | Every 2 years |
| Two-wheeled mopeds | At 3 years | Every 2 years |
| Vans and goods vehicles up to 3,500 kg | At 2 years | Every 2 years to 6; yearly from 6 to 10; every 6 months after 10 |
| Buses and coaches | Yearly up to 5 years old | Every 6 months from 5 years old |
| Bicycles | No ITV | Not motor vehicles |
Key facts
- Private cars: first test at 4 years, then every 2 years to 10, then yearly.
- Motorcycles: first test at 4 years, then every 2 years. Two-wheeled mopeds: first at 3 years.
- Vans up to 3,500 kg: at 2 years, every 2 to 6, yearly to 10, every 6 months after that.
- Age is counted from first registration, and the test is only valid at an ITV station.
- A pass sticker showing the next due date goes on the top right of the windscreen.
Frequently asked questions
- How often does a car need an ITV in Spain?
- A private car is tested four years after first registration, then every two years until it is ten years old, and every year after that.
- Can the ITV be done at a garage?
- No. The inspection can only be carried out at an ITV station. A workshop may repair the faults found, but it cannot carry out the test.
Practice real questions on this topic
Free DGT 2026 test with exam-style questions and explanations. No signup. Or explore the free DGT test in English hub for everything in one place.
In the DGT exam
- In a private car that is not serving as an escort vehicle, must an additional reflective vest be carried for each passenger?
- A car uses a spare wheel as its provision for a puncture, with no alternative system. What must it carry to enable a wheel change?
- Which date is normally used to calculate the next periodic ITV inspection, and what exception applies when it is brought forward by up to 30 days?