know before you go
ITV: Vehicle Inspection in Spain
What the ITV is, how often you need it, what it costs, and a scam to watch out for — covering the north and central Costa Blanca.
What the ITV is, how often you need it, what it costs, and a scam to watch out for — covering the north and central Costa Blanca.
Watch for fake booking sites. The only official appointment system for the Comunitat Valenciana is sitval.com — book directly at sitval.com/#/cita_previa. Fraudulent lookalike sites have repeatedly appeared charging for appointments that are never actually granted.
| Vehicle type | First inspection | After that |
|---|---|---|
| Cars (turismos, campervans under the car/M1 category) | At 4 years | Every 2 years until 10 years old, then every year |
| Small bikes / mopeds (ciclomotores, up to 50cc) | At 3 years | Every 2 years, indefinitely |
| Big bikes (motorcycles over 50cc, quads) | At 4 years | Every 2 years, indefinitely |
| Vans & light commercial (under 3,500kg) | At 2 years | Every 2 years to 6 yrs, then annually to 10 yrs, then every 6 months |
The one thing that catches people out: unlike cars, motorcycles and mopeds never move to annual inspections — they stay on a 2-year cycle for life. And commercial vans follow a stricter schedule than cars once they pass 10 years old, moving to twice a year rather than once.
| Vehicle | Price |
|---|---|
| Petrol car (catalysed) | €41.47 |
| Petrol car (non-catalysed) | €34.49 |
| Diesel car | €56.15 |
Prices are set regionally and do change — treat these as a starting point and confirm the current fee when booking at sitval.com. Motorcycle and moped fees are lower than car fees but weren’t independently confirmed for this page; check at booking.
A pass. No further action needed until your next due date.
Faults found, but fixable. Minor faults need fixing and a re-check, usually quickly. Major faults give you up to 2 months to repair and re-book, paying the fee again.
The worst outcome — the vehicle is considered unsafe to drive at all. You can’t drive it away yourself; it has to be towed from the station.
Driving with an expired ITV is a DGT-sanctioned offence carrying a fine of €200, reduced to €100 with prompt payment. Importantly, simply having a future appointment booked does not protect you — if your current ITV has already expired, officers can still immobilise the vehicle on the spot until it’s inspected. Book and complete your renewal before the expiry date, not just before you plan to drive somewhere important.
A common source of confusion for the Costa Blanca’s international community:
A valid periodic inspection certificate from another EU member state is generally recognised in Spain, provided it meets Spain’s own inspection frequency rules.
Since Brexit, the UK is treated as a non-EU country for this purpose. A UK-plated car cannot have its MOT-equivalent inspection done at a Spanish ITV station — it needs its MOT done back in the UK. Visiting on UK plates is time-limited (broadly up to 6 months within a 12-month period); residents are not permitted to drive long-term on foreign plates and must import and re-register the vehicle in Spain, at which point it follows the standard Spanish ITV schedule.
A newly-imported vehicle (from inside or outside the EU) typically needs an “ITV Reforma” inspection as part of the import/registration process, separate from a routine periodic check — a gestoría can be worth it here given the paperwork involved.
Demand in the Comunitat Valenciana has run high recently — booking several weeks ahead, especially in summer, gives you a much better chance of a convenient slot. Some stations have offered limited walk-in service without an appointment during periods of high demand, but this isn’t guaranteed everywhere — booking ahead is the reliable option.
You’ll need the vehicle’s registration document (permiso de circulación) and technical datasheet (ficha técnica/tarjeta ITV), plus your ID. The car itself must be insured to legally drive to and from the station, though proof of insurance generally isn’t required to be shown as part of the test itself.
Lights, tyre tread, windscreen condition, wipers, and seatbelts are common, easily-fixed reasons for a fail — worth a quick check before you go.
The simplest way is the sticker on your windscreen from your last inspection, which shows the next due date. Your ficha técnica also records your inspection history, and the DGT’s own app/portal can confirm your vehicle’s status if you’re unsure.
These are permanent stations, not temporary mobile units. This guide currently covers the north and central Costa Blanca — a South Costa Blanca page (Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Pilar de la Horadada, Elche) is planned separately.
The region’s main station, serving Alicante city and the southern coast.
Nearest fixed station for Benidorm, Albir, Finestrat, and Villajoyosa.
Known for longer waits — book earlyNearest fixed station for Calpe, Altea, Benissa, and Moraira. Altea sits roughly equidistant between Calpe and Benidorm by road — worth checking both for the earliest slot.
Nearest fixed station for Dénia, Jávea, and Benitachell.
Known for longer waits — book earlyExact addresses, hours, and live appointment availability are only accurate on the official site — book directly at sitval.com rather than relying on an address found elsewhere, since stations occasionally relocate.
Exempt until 4 years old, then every 2 years until 10 years old, then every year. Motorcycles and mopeds follow a different schedule — see the frequency table above.
For cars in the Comunitat Valenciana: around €41.47 (petrol, catalysed), €34.49 (petrol, non-catalysed), or €56.15 (diesel). Confirm the current fee at sitval.com, as prices do change.
Book at sitval.com/#/cita_previa. Some stations have offered limited walk-in access during periods of high demand, but this isn’t guaranteed region-wide — booking ahead remains the reliable route.
See the station list above — Alicante, Benidorm, Calpe, or Ondara depending on your town.
Minor faults (desfavorable, leve) need fixing and a quick re-check. Major faults (desfavorable, grave) give you up to 2 months to repair and re-book. A “negativa” means the vehicle can’t be driven at all and must be towed away.
You risk a €200 fine (€100 with prompt payment) and possible on-the-spot immobilisation — even with a future appointment already booked. Get it renewed before the expiry date, not just before you need to drive somewhere.
EU-plated cars can generally rely on a valid home-country inspection. UK-plated cars cannot be inspected at a Spanish ITV station at all — the MOT has to be done in the UK, or the car needs to be properly imported and re-registered in Spain first.
The only official site is sitval.com. Always check the exact URL before entering payment details — fraudulent lookalike domains have repeatedly appeared.
Registration document (permiso de circulación), technical datasheet (ficha técnica), and your ID. Make sure the car is insured to legally drive there.
The inspection itself is typically a short, structured process at your appointment time — the bigger time factor is how far ahead you can get a booking, especially at busier stations.
Prices, waiting times and station status last verified: September 2026. These change — confirm current details directly at sitval.com before your visit.