How to guide needed for ITV

[Wicksey]

We have always taken our cars (and friends cars we look after) to our usual garage who does a pre ITV check and then to the test centre. I have never done it myself and so don't know where to start booking it online, or how it works when you get there. I remember friends saying they used to call out your matriculation when it was your turn which was very hard to hear and understand. Also they used to be under the car calling instructions to press the brake pedal etc but we don't hear that well especially when there's background noise, and I wonder if we can cope with doing it ourselves

Our 'new' petrol car is coming up to 4 years old and will need its first ITV next month. It has only done 12k kms and is still like new so I really don't think it needs a pre ITV check unlike our older previous diesels did.

[Enrique]

Hi Wicksey,
Before you take the car for ITV, do the Basics.......
Check all lights work , don't forget Number Plate light
Horn
Check tyre pressures
Topup screnwash and wipers work.

The ITV Station at Alcalá la Real........yours will be similar.
On arrival .........
Check in on Screen,
There will be a large sceen outside and one inside with the "Lines" and the current vehicle going down that line.
When it's your turn the screen will change and and your registration will flash up and it will indicate which Line to procced to.
as you procced down the line......... first emmissions --> Lights --> brakes , first keep guage needle in the orange band then you will be asked to do crash stop,
Same with hand brake.
Next the fun part.........over the pit......with mic,,,,,,hopefully the tester may have an assistant who will translate the crackle , if not just blag it.
If Tester is not happy he will get an assistant to help you out.

With a new car you'll breeze through.............

[olive]

Then you drive out of the building and wait a few minutes while the guy writes up the paperwork . Then he( or she) brings over your sheet and the windscreen sticker.

[Wicksey]

That's great thanks. I've managed to book an appointment online OK. I know in the past there's been problems getting them but there was good availability for early February, and reasonable times as we're not early risers!

[Lyric]

At Algorobbo (I assume) inside the reception area there are two machines to log in the machine gives you a ticket, when your number comes up go to the desk and pay with a card only. Go sit in your car and your number will come up on the big screen.
Quite a few of the testers have rudimentary English, with that and mime it's easy. You know me and my level and I have always done our cars.

[gerryh]

Assuming you have booked at the Algarrobo ITV centre then now it is very easy there.
When you arrive park in the car park.
Go into the office where you will see 3 booking-in units in front of you.
Pick one and change the language to English if you want to.
Follow the simple instructions and pay for the test with a bank card.
You will be issued a ticket and receipt.
On another screen inside or a bigger one outside wait until you see your reg number displayed and the number of the line you need.
Drive around the corner and wait at the indicated line.
Hand over your Inspeccion Technica de Vehiculos document to the tester.
He or she will guide you through the test.
Some of the speak English but they are all very patient and used to dealing with those of us who are not fluent Spanish speakers.
The whole system is far easier than it used to be.
Cheers
Gerry

[Wicksey]

Thanks very much chaps A great help knowing exactly where to go and what to do at Algarrobo.

When we had much older diesel cars then it was worth getting our garage man to take them. In all the years he's been taking ours and our friend's car we've never had a failed ITV. With our newer car then I am more confident there won't be any problems, especially as it seems to be easier to do these days

[spanish_lad]

in all the years he's been taking ours and our friend's car we've never had a failed ITV.

'It's not what you know it's who you know'

While this is good in some cases, I fear that is why some old bangers are still on the road. (Not talking about your car specifically, just some of the old sheds you see driving about. Surely they realise its dangerous ? )

I'm at malaga ITV 10-15 times a month. I've had cars passed with brakes grinding metal, no wipers, wrong tyres.. they just tell me 'hey, you know this yeah? Get it sorted asap'

[Wicksey]

Judging by the belching black smoke coming from some cars, I guess there's a lot that get through that shouldn't!

[olive]

Service then an Italian tune up ( I do five miles on the motorway in a lower gear at 4000 rpm) does the job.

My 4x4 failed emissions one year when the service was due the next month! The difference post service was amazing.

[spanish_lad]

The difference post service was amazing.

Theres alot to be said for maintanance. Even just an oil change in some cases.

[Wicksey]

Gerry, I just had another look at your instructions as the ITV is later this week. What do you mean by the ITV document? Is that the form they sent me when I booked the test, or something else (not the green Permiso document)? I have a white form when we bought the car that shows the date the first ITV is due.

[Enrique]

Hi Wicksey,
As it's your first test you don't have that document. They will issue it after the test.

[Wicksey]

Ahhh .... thanks Enrique

[gerryh]

Sorry about that.
Only ever bought old cars here in Spain.
Cheers
Gerry

[Cádiz]

Sorry about that.
Only ever bought old cars here in Spain.
Cheers
Gerry

Gerry,

You will likely know this.
If we present car for test that has been off the road for some time what's the expiry date.
Say if i present today will it expire Feb 8th 2024?

Thanks.

[Enrique]

Hi Cádiz,
Last time I took a car in that had been off the road for some time it had full year from when taken for new ITV.

[Wicksey]

Well, we managed it today, thanks for all your help.

Went to the checking in machine and got a ticket to wait to be called to a desk (no option to pay at the machine). Lady took the green permiso and a white form that we did have in our collection of paperwork, and she took payment. Sat outside in the car and was called to the lane bang on time. Drove into the first area, the tester spoke English and was very patient with us. We did lights, indicators and windscreen wipers (he must have thought we were thick as we couldn't find the fog lights .... never used them). He got into the driver's seat to do the emissions test, keeping the revs at about 2500. Then drove onto the rolling road thingy to test the brakes on front wheel then drove forward to test the rear ones. Then given the walkie talkie and drove over the pit, the radio was quite clear actually. Now we've done it and know how it works, we feel pretty confident to do our other car next year.

[Enrique]

Hi Wicksey,

Well done........... easier than you first thought .............

"we couldn't find the fog lights"..........naughty..........guess you never checked through the basics before the test......

[Wicksey]

Just fear of the unknown, Enrique

Saved us 50€ too, although our old diesel 4x4 was a different beast and we did like to have that checked over and taken. No reason why our almost new (mileage wise) petrol car should have failed. (Although, rather embarrassed as the low tyre pressure warning was flashing away like mad. We'd pumped up the tyres to what they should be but the warning won't go away, it usually rights itself. Can't over-ride it with the computer setting either ..... we hate all these gizmos on cars )