The Spanish ITV Inspection for Imported Cars Explained: What Is Checked and How to Pass

Why imported cars need a special ITV

The ITV pre-registration inspection (inspeccion previa a matriculacion) has two jobs. First, it verifies that the physical car matches its type-approval documents: the VIN, engine, dimensions, weights, tyre sizes, seats and emissions class must all match the Certificate of Conformity or the technical report. Second, it checks that the car is roadworthy under Spanish rules. The output is the ficha tecnica, the laminated technical card that will follow the car for the rest of its life in Spain, plus the ITV report the DGT needs. Cost is regulated by each region, 40-80 EUR for a passenger car in 2026.

What to bring to the station

• Certificate of Conformity (CoC) or the engineer's technical report for cars without one.
• Foreign registration document (both parts for German cars).
• Your NIE and passport or TIE.
• Purchase invoice or contract.
• For non-EU cars, the DUA customs clearance and the individual homologation report.
• Appointment confirmation: most stations require a booking for pre-registration inspections and some only do them on specific days.

The inspection step by step

Document and identity check

The inspector compares the VIN on the chassis plate and stamped on the body with the CoC and the registration document. Any mismatch stops the process. They check the engine code, the number of seats, the tyre sizes listed on the CoC against what is fitted, and the emissions class. A car whose CoC lists 225/45 R17 tyres but is wearing 235/40 R18 aftermarket wheels will fail unless the size is listed as an approved option.

Lighting

Headlights must dip to the right with the correct beam pattern, checked on the beam tester. This is where right-hand drive UK cars fail: sticker deflectors are not accepted, only LHD units or units with a mechanical beam switch. Rear fog light must be present and on the left or centre. Indicators must be amber. US cars with red rear indicators fail here.

Emissions

Petrol cars get a CO and lambda test at idle and fast idle; diesels get an opacity test. Limits depend on the Euro class listed in the CoC. A Euro 6 diesel that has had its DPF removed will fail outright. Cars with modified exhausts may also fail the noise check.

Mechanical and safety

Brakes on the roller tester (balance side to side must be within 30%), suspension, steering play, tyres (minimum 1.6 mm tread, matching sizes on each axle, EU marking), seat belts, wipers, horn, glass without cracks in the driver's field of view, and no fluid leaks. Windscreen tint must let 75% of light through; front side windows 70%.

Speedometer and labelling

The speedometer must show km/h. Most UK cars have a secondary km/h scale which is accepted. US cars with mph-only dials need a digital switch or a dial overlay. Tyre pressure labels and other stickers do not matter.

Most common failures by origin

• Germany: aftermarket wheels or tyres not on the CoC, lowered suspension without TUV documentation, missing rear fog on some older models, aftermarket exhausts.
• UK: headlight beam pattern (almost universal), rear fog on the wrong side, mph speedometer on older cars.
• USA: red rear indicators, DOT-only headlamps, missing rear fog light, missing side repeaters on some models, tinted glass below EU limits.
• Netherlands and Belgium: rarely fail; occasional issues with LPG conversions that need a separate certificate.
• Japan: no CoC, so a technical report is needed; JDM lighting and speedometer in km/h are usually fine.

After the inspection: the 60-day clock

A passed inspection produces the ITV report and the ficha tecnica. The report is valid for 60 days, within which you must file the IEDMT with AEAT (which itself has a 30-day deadline from the inspection) and register at the DGT. If the car fails, you get a list of defects and can re-present it; minor defects have a 2-month window, and the re-test is usually free or reduced within that period at the same station.

After registration, the car follows the normal Spanish ITV cycle: exempt until 4 years old from first registration (the original foreign date counts), then every 2 years until 10 years, then annually.

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose any ITV station?

Yes, any authorised station in Spain, not necessarily in your province. Some stations have more experience with imports and are faster with CoC-based files; importers tend to use the same ones for that reason.

Does a valid German TUV or UK MOT reduce what is checked?

No. The full inspection is carried out regardless. A recent TUV is a good sign the car will pass the mechanical part, but the document check and lighting are done in full.

What if the CoC lists different equipment from the car?

Minor differences (colour, radio) do not matter. Differences in tyre size, seats, tow bar, engine or emissions class require either restoring the car to CoC spec or a technical report legalising the change, sometimes with a laboratory certificate. Check this before buying the car abroad, not after.