The first ITV (MOT) on a car is due after 4 years. After that it is up to the examiner to decide when the next ITV is to be done. Typically we have found from talking to people that this is after another 2 years. Although I guess if the car is very old or in a bad state they might say after a year. You know by the length of the license they give you pass.

The nearest place to Almerimar that does ITVs is close to Balanegra which is about 10 minutes down the motorway. You join the E15 motorway at the Copo junction (409km) heading towards Malaga. Ignore the first sign for Balanegra and keep going until you reach the 398km exit. This is signposted to a petrol station and ITV centre. Go up the sliproad and turn left at the roundabout, cross over the motorway and turn left at the next roundabout heading towards Balanegra. You will see the petrol station and ITV centre below you on your right. The entrance is about 100m along on the right. Drive past the garage and park in the car park for the ITV centre.

You do not need to make an appointment to have you car ITVed, but it helps. You can do this by phoning 950 406 300 or if your spanish is not very good it might be worth popping along there or getting a spanish speaking friend to phone.

The appointments are booked in half hour slots and the opening hours are Mon-Fri 8am to 6.45pm and Sat 8am to 12.45pm. Closed Sun.

The only paperwork you need to take with you is the ITV sheet that for us came with the car when we bought it second hand. This is an A5 card with details of the car and an area where the examiner can sign and date to show that you have a valid ITV.

One difference compared to the UK is that you sit in your car and assist the tester while he is checking your car.

During the test you drive in a line through the garage, stopping when the tester tells you to and doing what he says. The first check is on the emissions. They put a pipe in the exhaust and check the gases with a meter. At this point they leave a small walkie talkie on your dashboard to be used in a later part of the test.

You then drive on about 10 metres and stop. They then check the lights, windscreen wipers/washers and seat belts. You sit in the car signalling left and right, putting on the headlamps, turning on full beam etc. The tester walks around the car making sure all is OK. He also comes in the car to check all of the seat belts.

Next you drive another 10 metres and they check the brakes and handbrake. You drive the car into a couple of dips in the ground with circular rollers in them. You start the car up and they start the rollers. They then tell you to apply the brakes and check some readings on a screen.

The final part involves a test where you park you car over an inspection pit, start it up and they bounce the car around checking it from underneath. The man going down into the inspection pit takes the walkie talkie from you dashboard (for safety reasons I guess). Once this test is completed they ask you to park outside the far end of the garage and wait for the results.

About Almerimar

Almerimar is located in the region of Andalucia, Spain. The nearest airport is 30km away in Almeria. Other airports that are within 3 hours include Malaga, Murcia, Granada, and Alicanti. Other holiday resorts in the region include Mojacar , Aguadulce and Roquetas de Mar

Almerimar is also one of the largest marinas in Spain with over 2,000 births and excellent boatyard facilities.