Changes to the ITV affect emissions control and other developments you should know about

When a car reaches four years, it begins the period in which it must undergo the Technical Vehicle Inspection, the well-known ITV, to make sure that everything is in order and ready to be driven without problems or restrictions. Since this year there are new developments in the regulations governing this type of inspection, without which we cannot drive. Times change, cars evolve, and inspections have to be different and receive different treatment.

One of the most important changes concerns emissions. We all know that in recent years there have been problems that have made emissions a problem for several brands. The dieselgate scandal has led to the idea of carrying out this type of control, and the workshops that carry out the ITV will have electronic devices to monitor the exhaust, which will complement the probe currently fitted.

Emissions controls and electronic components

In addition, ITV technicians will be trained to inspect the electronic systems that newer models incorporate. These new cars include systems that drivers rely on to improve control of the car, so better diagnostics are needed to determine whether they actually comply with current regulations. Through this electronic diagnosis, elements such as the airbag, ABS, ESP and other electronically operated components of the vehicle will be checked.

This will mean that the time needed to pass the ITV will be somewhat longer, although it is not known exactly how much. It will start to apply to inspections from 2018, with a gradual rollout depending on each Autonomous Community, although probably during the coming year the review of these components will be more informative than punitive, so the results will not be effectively taken into account until 2019.

Changes to the deadlines for the second inspection

The rules for the second inspection are also changing, in case the first one is not passed. Until now, it was required that the second inspection be carried out at the same ITV station where the first had been done, but from now on it can be done at another one, provided no more than one month has elapsed since the previous one. This may be of little relevance to users, since in many cases, within those deadlines, the second inspection can be done at no extra cost.

Alignment with European regulations

With the new Royal Decree there will be greater exchange of information between the administration and the ITV. In addition, it will be possible to use an ITV certificate from other European countries to register the car in Spain, although this may be limited to the mechanical inspection only and documentary checks will still have to be carried out to prove ownership of the vehicle.

And this is where the question arises. Will this new regulation have an impact on the fees we pay for the ITV? It is too early to say, since this depends on each Autonomous Community, so it will be each one of them that has the power to increase the cost of these fees.