ITV Inspeccion Tecnica de Vehiculos

The ITV – Inspección Técnica de Vehículos – Spain’s Vehicle Technical Inspection

by CarsDriving in SpainITV

In Spain, the periodic road worthiness inspection, is the ITV. (Inspeccion Tecnica de Vehiculos – Vehicle Technical Inspection).  Like the UK MoT test, it’s mandatory for all road going vehicles, and driving without a valid ITV can result in fines.

When Does The ITV have to be done?

The frequency of the ITV test depends on the age and type of vehicle.  New cars are first tested after 4 years and must be inspected every 2 years thereafter, until they reach 10 years of age. Any car over 10 years of age has to be tested annually.

Motorcycles, mopeds and quad bikes are first tested after 5 years, after which the test is due every 2 years. Caravans are first tested at 6 years, after which the test is due every 2 years.

If a vehicle has been involved in a serious accident, it also has to undergo an ITV assessment after being repaired, to confirm its road worthiness.

Registering a UK car in Spain

Register a UK Car in Spain

by BrexitCarsInformation

The UK is no longer in the EU and the process and costs to register a UK car in Spain are a lot more than they were before Brexit.

This is because UK cars now are now treated as vehicles from third countries and must clear customs, have import duty and VAT paid, or get a waiver if your car qualifies for customs exemption.

The process you follow will depend on your situation, as will the cost.  You’ll need to budget for costs of around €1,500 with taxes as applicable on top.

Passing the ITV in Spaiin

Passing the ITV

by CarsDriving in SpainITV

In Spain all vehicles are subject to regular safety checks through a road worthiness test, known as the ITV, Inspecciòn Tècnica de Vehiculos, – Vehicle Technical Inspection.

New cars are tested after 4 years, and are then required to be inspected every 2 years until the car is 10 years old.

New mopeds, quads, and motorcycles are tested after 5 years, and then every 2 years until they reach 10 years.

Any vehicle over 10 years is required to be inspected and tested every year.

All vehicles being imported to Spain are also subject to an initial special inspection before the vehicle can be registered in Spain.  This inspection has a few more checks, as along with roadworthiness, the technicians are checking that the vehicle conforms with standards.

Before undergoing the technical inspection of your vehicle, you should carry out some basic checks that can prevent the result from being unfavorable.  The list below covers the standard test and as well as the extended import inspection.

Historic licence plates for classic cars in Spain

Historic Number Plates for Classic Cars in Spain

by Cars

Registering Classic Cars in Spain

The process of assigning a registration number to a Classic Car in Spain is more or less the same as that for a normal car.  However the car will have to go through more vigorous checks before it can be passed.  There is no differentiation in regard to age of vehicle and the registration number issued.  So a 50 year old classic Ferrari brought to Spain from another country, and a brand new Nissan Micra, could end up with consecutively numbered plates.

This is quite different to the UK for example, where vehicle registration numbers have a year marker, so you can know the cars are from the number plate.  Spanish vehicle registration numbers have no age identifier.

From a Classic Car perspective, this means that, if you’re bringing your pride and joy 1964 Mercedes SL to Spain, when you register it, you will end up with a registration number that doesn’t fit with the age of the car.  The registration will be just like any other regular new cars registered at the same time. Not great for prestige.

Exchanging a UK or EU driving licence for a Spanish one

Exchanging Your UK or EU Driving Licence for a Spanish Driving Licence

by with No Comment Cars

If you hold a UK or EU driving licence from outside of Spain are expected to exchange it for a Spanish one when you become resident in Spain.

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Exchanging your licence

If you change your residence to another EU country, you don’t usually have to change your driving licence. You can use your current licence as long as it remains valid.

If you wish, you can voluntarily exchange your licence for an equivalent one in your new country of residence.

You will have to prove that you are a resident of that country and that you meet the conditions for having a driving licence (e.g. you have reached the minimum age, your state of health permits you to drive, etc.).

Before the authorities exchange your driving licence, they will contact the authorities in your previous country of residence to check that your driving licence has not been restricted, suspended or withdrawn.

Obligatory exchange

When living abroad, you will have to exchange your driving licence for a local one:

  • if your licence is lost, stolen or damaged
  • after 2 years of usual residence, if you have a driving licence valid for life (only if required by the country where you live)
  • if you commit a traffic offence in the country where you live
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Many non-EU countries, UK included, have a reciprocal agreement with Spain to exchange licenses.  Where this is the case, you follow the same procedure as a EU citizen when you become resident and exchange your licence.   The only difference is, driving licences from non-EU countries are only valid to use for 6 months from the date of getting residency, so the exchange of licence needs to be done within that time.

Register a vehicle form a non-EU country in Spain

Import and Register a Car From a Non-EU Country in Spain

by Cars

The are quite a few steps and costs involved to import and register and car from a non-EU country in Spain.

First and foremost EU conformity, import and registration costs must be taken into account as these can make the import and registration in Spain impossible or too expensive to be worth while.

This said, under EU rules if you are moving from a non-EU country to live in an EU country, such as Spain, you can bring your possessions including cars, and avoid paying the costly duties and taxes and having to pay for expensive EU conformity certification.

These transfer of residence rules give you up to12 months form the date you get your residency to import your car and avoid paying customs and VAT.  However you only have 60 days from the date you take up residency, to register your car and avoid registration tax (if it applies).  

Importing a High Value Car from the UK to Spain Post Brexit

by with No Comment BrexitCarsInformation

Importing a high value car from the UK in Spain post Brexit, now comes with added costs.  As the UK is no longer in the EU and the standard process to import and register a UK car in Spain now involves customs.

This means on top of the registration tax which in most cases will be 17% of the vehicle value, 10% customs duty and 21% VAT will apply, unless you can find away around it.

Paying nearly £50k to register a £100k motor is simply not a consideration.  There are however various ways these huge costs can be avoided, bringing the cost of importing and registering high value cars in Spain down to a few thousand Euros, rather than tens of thousands.

Vehicle Taxes Spain

Vehicle Tax in Spain

by Cars

When you own or register a vehicle in Spain, you almost always have to pay some form of vehicle tax.  The type and amount that applies depends on the vehicle.

Local Vehicle Tax

IVTM Impuesto sobre Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica is the Spanish equivalent of what we refer to in the UK as road tax.  Almost all vehicles driven on public roads in Spain, are subject to this tax, which is administered and collected locally by the Town Hall.

The tax is set by the municipal authorities, and varies from area to the next. IVTM is paid to the local authority and can be paid in person at the relevant Town Hall office (Ayuntamiento), at a bank or by direct debit.

Vehicle Tax When Registering a Vehicle in Spain

When you register a vehicle in Spain, either new or used, in all cases locally collected road tax‘ – IVTM (Impuesto Sobre Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica), must be up to date.

There are 3 main circumstances and taxes that apply when registering a vehicle in Spain. These are:

  • Purchase of a new vehicle
  • Buying a second hand vehicle or changing ownership
  • Importing or registering of a foreign vehicle

Tax – New Vehicle Purchase

New vehicle purchases in Spain are subject to IVA (Impuesto sobre el Valor Añadido), Spanish VAT – currently 21% of purchase value.

In addition, when a vehicle is first registered in Spain, it may be subject to an additional registration tax.

This vehicle tax is based on the new value of the vehicle and it’s CO2 emissions.  Vehicles with CO2 emissions below 120g/km are exempt from the tax, and the rate increases with the level of emissions as follows:

  • 121g/km – 159g/km = 4.75%
  • 160g/km – 199g/km = 9.75%
  • 200g/km or higher = 16.75%