MOT expired: these are the fines you could receive

As you probably know, vehicles must pass the Vehicle Technical Inspection (ITV) every year if they are a car, or every six months if they are a mixed-use vehicle. However, more than a million vehicles have not passed the ITV in the last month. It should be noted that keeping the ITV up to date helps improve road safety and reduces road accidents, not to mention that it avoids fines.

During last year, 2020, driving without an ITV became the second most common reason for drivers to be fined by the police. Although inspections and maintenance are essential for everyday driving on the roads, many vehicles are still being driven without them. The Spanish Association of Entities Collaborating with the Public Administration in Vehicle Technical Inspection has stated that more than 2,100,000 vehicles have not passed the ITV in the last month.

While it is true that during the first state of alarm there was great confusion and, to this day, there are vehicles without an appointment at ITV stations due to saturation, many drivers are unaware that their ITV has expired.

Expired ITV: these are the fines you face

The Traffic Regulations classify not having a valid ITV as a serious or very serious offence, and during last year more than 434,479 fines were imposed for this reason. According to the Traffic Regulations themselves, having an expired ITV can result in a fine of between 200 and 500 euros.

Expired ITV

If you drive or have the vehicle parked on the street without having passed the Vehicle Technical Inspection by the date due, you face a fine of 200 euros and the immediate obligation to pass the ITV.

ITV unfavourable

If you go for your ITV and the result is unfavourable, you may only drive to the workshop. Continuing to drive the vehicle once serious defects have been detected carries a fine of 200 euros. The vehicle owner is obliged to repair the faults within a maximum period of two months.

ITV negative

If you continue driving the vehicle knowing it has very serious defects, the penalty is 500 euros. In these cases, it is not permitted to leave the ITV station under your own power, and the vehicle must be removed by tow truck within two months.

It is important to note that if you drive with an expired ITV and an accident occurs, the insurance company will not cover it, so very high costs can arise depending on the seriousness of the incident.