Your ITV due date is not based on when you bought the car or when it last visited a workshop. For an ordinary privately used passenger car, the inspection schedule is calculated from its first registration. Knowing the intervals helps you book ahead and avoid driving after the inspection has expired.
The usual schedule for a private car
A passenger car is exempt during its first four years. Once it is more than four years old, it must be inspected every two years. After it is more than ten years old, the inspection becomes annual. In short: exempt for the first four years; every two years from over four to ten years; and every year after ten years.
These intervals apply to a privately used M1 passenger car. Do not automatically apply them to a van, taxi, driving-school vehicle, ambulance, historic vehicle or vehicle used for school transport. Its vehicle category or use may lead to a different schedule. Check the vehicle documents and the rules that apply to that vehicle.
How to work out the next date
Find the first registration date in the vehicle registration document or official records. The vehicle’s official age is counted from that recorded date, not from the purchase date or the day you became its owner. Apply the interval for its age, then check the validity date printed on its ITV card or previous inspection report.
For example, a private car first registered six years ago is in the two-year interval. A car that is eleven years old is in the annual interval. If you are unsure of the date or the vehicle has a special use, confirm the details before booking.
A quick check before your appointment
The inspection checks items linked to road safety and the environment. Before attending, check that the headlights, indicators and other lights work; that the tyres have suitable tread and pressure; and that you can bring any documents the inspection station requires. Also check the wipers, mirrors and dashboard warning lights.
A simple check can help you spot an issue early, but it does not replace the inspection or guarantee a pass. If the vehicle has had a significant modification, ask whether it needs approval or to be recorded before its next ITV.
A useful reminder
The schedule above is for private passenger cars. Spanish rules set different inspection intervals for several vehicle classes and uses, so first identify the category shown in the documents. Save the due date and set a reminder in advance; this gives you time to find an inspection station and deal with a defect without leaving it until the last moment.
An ITV inspection does not replace regular maintenance. A vehicle may need attention between inspections even while its ITV remains valid. For questions about intervals, exceptions or a particular vehicle, check the legal text and ask the competent authority in your autonomous community.
Official sources
Rules and procedures checked on 25 September 2026. Check the official sources for any later changes.
