Drivers in Spain face tougher ITV tests under sweeping EU reforms
The new rules will bring stricter inspections to Spain and could even allow motorists to get an ITV abroad
Drivers in Spain could soon face a very different, and possibly more stressful, ITV inspection as the European Union moves ahead with plans to modernise vehicle testing rules across member states.
The ITV, Spain’s equivalent of the UK MOT, is the compulsory roadworthiness test that vehicles must pass to legally stay on the road. It checks key safety and environmental standards, and drivers can be fined if their ITV has expired.
Now, Brussels wants to overhaul the system for the first time since 2014 to reflect how much modern cars have changed, particularly with the rise of electric vehicles and advanced onboard technology.
Under the proposed reforms, ITV centres in Spain would begin carrying out specific checks on electric vehicle batteries and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which include features such as emergency braking, lane assist, parking sensors and airbag systems.
The EU believes that the current inspection rules are outdated and no longer properly reflect the technology found in modern vehicles.
The reforms would also introduce more sophisticated emissions testing, including stricter monitoring of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate emissions to identify faults that currently go unnoticed. Remote sensing technology could also be used to measure pollution and noise levels from vehicles on the road without needing to stop them.
Another major focus is cracking down on odometer fraud in the second-hand car market. The proposal includes the creation of national mileage databases, where garages and manufacturers would be required to record odometer readings during major repairs and servicing. The aim is to make it far harder for sellers to tamper with mileage records.
One of the biggest proposed changes would allow drivers to carry out an ITV in another EU country if they are living or working abroad temporarily. Under the plan, motorists could obtain a temporary inspection certificate valid for six months without needing to return to the country where the vehicle is registered.
The reforms are still being debated by the EU, but once approved Spain would have up to three years to implement the new system.
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