The ITV vehicle inspection: intervals and checks
A private car in Spain takes its first roadworthiness inspection four years after registration, then every two years until it is ten years old, and annually from that point onwards.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- First inspection at 4 years, then every 2, then annual from 10 years.
- The fee for a car is typically 35 € to 55 €.
- Driving with an expired inspection is a serious offence carrying a 200 € fine.
- Hire vehicles follow a shorter cycle because of their intensive use.
Half an hour at a testing station decides whether a car may be driven. On a second hand purchase, the sticker in the windscreen is also the fastest summary of how the vehicle has been kept.
The calendar
For private cars, the first inspection falls 4 years after registration. Between 4 and 10 years the interval is 2 years. From 10 years the inspection is annual. Vehicles used to carry more than 9 passengers, hire vehicles and ambulances follow shorter cycles from the first year, precisely because of the intensity of their use.
| Vehicle | Age | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| Private car | 0 to 4 years | exempt |
| Private car | 4 to 10 years | every 2 years |
| Private car | over 10 years | annual |
| Hire vehicle | 0 to 2 years | exempt |
| Hire vehicle | 2 to 5 years | annual |
| Hire vehicle | over 5 years | every 6 months |
| Motorcycle | over 4 years | every 2 years |
| Typical fee for a car | 35 to 55 € |
What is tested
Identification of the vehicle against its documents. Lighting and signalling, including headlamp aim. Brakes, with efficiency measured on a rolling road. Steering and suspension. Tyres, checking the minimum tread depth of 1,6 millimetres. Emissions, with a gas analyser or opacity meter. And safety items such as seat belts, mirrors and wipers.
The three results
Favourable, and the vehicle may be used until the next date. Unfavourable, with 2 months to rectify and return, during which the vehicle may only be driven to a workshop and back to the station. Negative, where the defect prevents circulation and the vehicle must be removed on a recovery truck. Around one in five inspections comes back unfavourable, most often for lighting, tyres or emissions.
The second visit within the 2 month window is charged at a reduced rate, commonly between 0 € and 15 € depending on the station.
What it means in a hire car
The inspection is the owner's responsibility, but driving with it expired is an offence recorded against the driver at the roadside. Before leaving the parking bay, check the windscreen sticker: the large figure is the year and the marked position is the month of expiry. If the date has passed, ask for a different vehicle at the desk rather than after setting off.
Frequently asked
+When does a new car take its first inspection?
Four years after registration for a private car.
+How often after that?
Every 2 years between 4 and 10 years of age, and annually from 10 years.
+What does it cost?
Typically 35 € to 55 € for a car, varying by region and station.
+What if the result is unfavourable?
There are 2 months to rectify and return at a reduced fee, driving only to a workshop and back.
+Who is responsible in a hire car?
The company owns the obligation, but the penalty for driving with it expired falls on the driver.
Sources
- 1Dirección General de Tráfico, Ministerio del Interior (August 2026)
- 2Boletín Oficial del Estado, BOE (August 2026)