There are three documents that are mandatory when driving your car on Spanish roads: the driving license, the circulation permit and the Vehicle Technical Inspection or ITV card. The latter is achieved if the vehicle has satisfactorily passed said mandatory periodic inspection. Among other things, ITV inspectors check that the car model and chassis number match those that appear in the car’s documentation, that some elements of the vehicle such as turn signals and brakes work correctly, that the seats are perfectly fixed or that the seat belts comply with current regulations. Although it is true that it is mandatory to undergo the inspection of the ITV when it is the turn of the vehicle, it is also advisable to pass the voluntary ITV if you are thinking of buying a second-hand car.
The voluntary ITV could be defined as a preventive method that ensures that the car you are thinking of buying does not have any problems and is in optimal condition to circulate. The procedure to request a voluntary ITV is very simple. You simply have to go to an ITV station prior request for an appointment.
Once requested, keep in mind that there are two types of voluntary ITV: full review or partial review. The complete voluntary ITV is the one that you would pass if the vehicle had to pass the inspection. For its part, the partial voluntary ITV is one in which only “the correct functioning of a specific element or system of the vehicle is verified, for example, the brakes, steering or emissions” as indicated by the Spanish Association of Entities Collaborators of the Administration in the Technical Inspection of Vehicles, AECA-ITV.
If you are going to buy a second-hand car, requesting a voluntary inspection at an ITV-approved center can be a good way to confirm that, indeed, the vehicle you are thinking of buying is in perfect condition. Moreover, AECA-ITV affirms that this type of inspection “is a key tool when purchasing a pre-owned vehicle”. Not in vain, if it passes the ITV it will give you guarantees that the car works correctly.
In addition to passing the voluntary MOT, it is advisable to look at the vehicle’s license plate, in the maintenance book to find out the vehicle’s mechanical history as well as test the car running to make sure it drives perfectly.
