Many Costa Blanca drivers leave their car ITV inspection until the last possible moment. However, waiting until the expiry date can be a risky strategy.
If your vehicle fails the inspection, or if you cannot secure an appointment in time, you may find yourself unable to legally drive your car. For that reason, many motorists now renew their ITV before the current certificate expires.
Can you renew an ITV early?
The simple answer is yes.
Spanish regulations allow drivers to present their vehicle for inspection before the existing ITV expires. In fact, booking an early inspection can help drivers avoid the risk of an expired certificate.
This option can be particularly useful if you have a long trip planned, spend part of the year abroad or have recently carried out modifications that need recording on the vehicle’s technical documentation.
The important 30-day rule
Drivers can renew their ITV up to 30 days before the expiry date without losing any validity.
If you complete the inspection within this 30-day window, authorities calculate the next expiry date from the original expiry date rather than the day you passed the test.
For example, if your ITV expires on 30 August and you pass the inspection on 10 August, your next ITV will remain valid until 30 August of the following year.
The government introduced this rule to encourage drivers to book inspections in advance and reduce the number of vehicles circulating with expired certificates.
What happens if you renew more than 30 days early?
If you arrange the inspection more than 30 days before the expiry date, different rules apply.
In that situation, authorities start the new validity period on the day of the inspection.
For example, if your ITV expires on 30 August but you pass the test on 20 June, authorities will calculate the next expiry date from 20 June. As a result, you lose part of the remaining validity on your current certificate.
Unless you have a specific reason, most experts advise against renewing too far in advance.
No extra paperwork required
Renewing early does not require any additional documentation.
Drivers simply need the standard ITV paperwork and should ideally book an appointment in advance. During busy periods, motorists who arrive without a reservation may find no appointments available that day.
Does an early ITV cost more?
The inspection fee stays exactly the same whether you complete the test before the expiry date or on the day it expires.
The biggest advantage of renewing early is peace of mind. It gives drivers extra time to fix unexpected faults and removes the risk of ending up with an expired ITV certificate.
Avoid unnecessary fines
Driving without a valid ITV can lead to significant penalties, with fines reaching up to €500 in some circumstances.
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