New ITV checks have come into being with tighter controls, thanks to the OBD scanner (On-board diagnostics) and stringent emissions checks.

Up till now, around 18% of vehicles fail first time round on their ITVs, mainly for problems with the lights (brake, fog & indicators) but fails will probably increase.

The OBD scanner will be searching for, amongst other things, tampering, especially where emission control is concerned and will check against the real emissions coming out of the exhaust pipe.

But there’s good news, too, such as that if you fail the first time round, you can take it to a different ITV centre for the second revision, if you want.

Even the mechanics on the ITV lines will have to go through refresher courses every three years.

The EU-wide regulations concerning the ITVs, when it does come into force, it will be simultaneously and EU-wide, and will mean that you can get an ITV certificate in another EU country and it will be valid here in Spain.

(News: Spain)