MOT inspections for caravans: when do they need to be done?

Caravans weighing less than 750 kg MAM do not have to pass the Technical Vehicle Inspection (ITV), whereas those with a higher MAM must pass it every two years.

More and more users are opting to buy a caravan or motorhome in order to enjoy their free time, and travelling by caravan is quite an experience. However, it is important to pay special attention to safety, which undoubtedly means passing the Technical Vehicle Inspection (ITV).

Before deciding to buy any type of motorhome or caravan, it is crucial to know that not all of them are required to undergo the checks carried out during the ITV, as those with a MAM of less than 750 kg are exempt from this inspection. The same applies to trailers: light ones do not have to pass the ITV, whereas heavy ones do.

Caravans over 750 kilograms must pass their first inspection six years after first registration, and the interval is then reduced to two years. Although caravans with a MAM below 750 kg do not have to pass the ITV, they must be kept in good condition to ensure safe travel.

ITV for caravans: when should it be done?

It is important to remember that motorhomes must pass the Technical Vehicle Inspection just like passenger cars. The first inspection is at four years, every two years up to ten years, and from that point on it becomes an annual appointment.

For a caravan to pass the ITV successfully, it must meet a series of requirements. Documentation must be up to date, as must the gas installation, the towbar, the light units and the tyres. Even if it is not used much, the tyres should be replaced every six years to avoid being failed at the inspection.

As for the price of the Technical Vehicle Inspection, it depends largely on the autonomous community where you live. The ITV price for motorhomes is usually similar to that for cars, while for caravans it ranges between 30 and 60 euros. Also bear in mind that not all stations carry out inspections for caravans, so this should be checked before going to the chosen station.

It is also recommended to have the ITV done at stations accustomed to this type of inspection, near caravan parking areas. It is also important to know how the Directorate-General for Traffic defines them: “a trailer or semi-trailer designed and fitted out for use as a mobile home, the living area being permitted to be used when the vehicle is parked.”

According to the ITV regulations for motorhomes, as with other vehicles, the ITV card (tarjeta de ITV) and the Permiso de Circulación (vehicle registration document) must be presented, provided the inspection is periodic.

Is it mandatory to display the ITV sticker?

Usually, for a trailer you are given an exterior sticker, although, as far as we have been able to find out, some places give interior stickers as for cars. In the latter case it would be placed on the front window of the caravan, but in the case of an exterior sticker, the instruction is to place it visibly in the lower left part of the caravan, that is, on the front locker on the driver’s side.

Being an exterior sticker, and as with motorcycles, since it is accessible, it is liable to be removed while the caravan is parked, so it is not mandatory to keep it displayed, although it is advisable. What is truly required is to carry the technical data sheet bearing the stamp and date of the last inspection.