Questions and Answers About Everything You've Ever Wondered About Your Car's MOT

The vehicle technical inspection is a mandatory procedure that all vehicles must comply with to ensure road safety and environmental protection. Although the MOT was introduced in Spain in 1981 for industrial vehicles and in 1985 for all types of vehicles, there are still many questions surrounding it. The Spanish Association of Collaborating Entities of the Administration in the Technical Inspection of Vehicles, AECA-ITV, answers some of the most common questions.

Does the MOT expire on a specific day?

Yes, the MOT is valid until a specific day. Information about the exact expiration date of the inspection can be found on the back of the technical inspection card, in the latest technical inspection report, or it can also be checked through the miDGT app.

The MOT sticker only includes information about the month and year of the inspection's expiration, not the specific day.

AECA-ITV reminds that the MOT can be carried out from 1 day to a month before without affecting the date of the next inspection, meaning it is as if the MOT is done on the exact expiration day, but during the 30-day period before its expiration.

Can anyone take the vehicle for the MOT?

Yes, it is not mandatory for the vehicle owner to personally attend the MOT station. Anyone can do it, as long as they bring all the vehicle identification documents, namely the originals of the technical inspection card and the circulation permit. The make, model, chassis number, and registration of the vehicle must match those indicated in the documentation.

Can I be fined if I drive with an expired MOT but already have an appointment to renew it?

Yes, the deadline for the vehicle's technical inspection is the final date by which it must be carried out. In other words, there is no additional grace day to drive with an expired MOT. It is also not allowed to drive on the same day the inspection has expired, as it is considered the first day of that vehicle with an expired MOT, even if an appointment is already scheduled.

Does a parked vehicle also need to have a valid MOT?

Yes, the fact that a vehicle is parked on public roads does not mean it loses its registered status, thus it is considered a vehicle ready to circulate, and therefore it is required to undergo the mandatory MOT. The only way to avoid this obligation is for the owner to deregister it with the General Directorate of Traffic and remove it from public roads.

Does performing the MOT after the deadline incur an additional charge?

No, MOT stations cannot penalize a vehicle for undergoing the technical inspection after the deadline. However, traffic officers can impose a fine of up to €500 on the driver, in addition to the danger posed to road users by driving a vehicle without an MOT.

Do I have to take the vehicle for the MOT in the autonomous community where it is registered?

Not necessarily. The regulations allow the MOT to be performed in any autonomous community. An appointment can be made at the MOT station that is most convenient. Furthermore, if for any reason the vehicle does not pass the inspection successfully, the next inspection can be carried out at any of the nearly 600 MOT stations throughout Spain.

Can a garage perform the vehicle's technical inspection?

No, only MOT stations authorized by each Autonomous Community are permitted to conduct the technical inspection. Garages can only perform repairs and maintenance work on vehicles to ensure they meet the MOT requirements.