New ITV operation instructions come into force today in every ITV station across Spain, so your local one will be affected as well.

First of all, owing to Covid restrictions, the inspector will not get into the car for any reason, other than in exceptional circumstances.

As for things you can fail on, now it is the ABS system for your brakes, which is now classified as a major defect. This means that if the vehicle has ABS and the warning light indicating a fault remains on, the vehicle fails, whereas before it was a minor fault and would not get you sent back.

If your kilometre counter is defective; i.e., you cannot see the reading clearly or it shows the same reading as during your last ITV inspection, that’s a fail, too.

* Range-extended electric vehicles (REEV) will now be treated like other hybrid cars.

* Lights: if they’re set too high, that is a fail, whereas before you were just told to sort it out before the next inspection. However, under the new regulations, the inspector will give you the chance to adjust it there and then but if adjusting it doesn’t sort the problem out, that’s a fail.

* Brakes: in M1 and N1 category vehicles, which have electrical-activated handbrakes, they will not have to do the braking test  (braking on a rotating surface) but will instead be subjected to a closer inspection to check each wheel individually.

* Mopeds/Scooters: those that were made prior to the EU regulation 168/2013, the brake light must work by activating at least one lever/pedal.

As a consequence of Brexit, vehicles with British plates lose all of the EU vehicles considerations. UK homologation certifications are no longer valid, meaning that they will be treated as belonging to a third-party nation. In other words, importing your UK car and trying to get Spanish plates, which is an obligation if you want to use it here, will become a veritable headache.

Editorial comment: Thanks, all you pro-Brexiters! Hope you’re enjoying all those amazing benefits they promised you – wait! There aren’t any! It’s a bit late now, though, isn’t it. Where are the damned, eye-rolling emoticons when you need them?

(News: Spain)