ITV vehicle inspection prices to plummet in Andalucía

Along with the northern region of Asturias, Andalucía - in the south - is one of only two regions whose governments have total control over ITV testing, Spain's answer to an MOT.

And it has announced plans to slash prices in a bid to encourage more vehicle-owners to get their tests carried out.

ITV tests are compulsory by law every two years for all cars of four years old or over, or less than four years old where they have been hire cars, and every year for cars over 10 years old.

Although not carrying out the tests means the owner can be fined, more and more drivers are choosing to run the risk because they cannot afford the tests - potentially increasing the number of unroadworthy cars in use and increasing the likelihood of accidents.

Now, in addition to up to 45 per cent off the current price, motorists in Andalucía will get a further 10 per cent off if they have their ITV tests carried out before the deadline, which is two years to the month of the previous one or the same month each year for older cars.

Price reductions apply to cars of up to 1.6L, motorbikes and mopeds of up to 125cc, and industrial vehicles of less than 3.5L as well as agricultural vehicles, and the extra fee paid by those who use mobile ITV units when these come to visit their town as opposed to travelling to their nearest station will now be axed.

In total, around 70 per cent of vehicle-owners will pay lower prices next time they go for their ITV test.

The new move will mean tests in Andalucía are among the lowest in the country.

But residents in other regions cannot travel to the south to cut the cost of their tests - an ITV is only valid where it is carried out in the region of residence of the car-owner.

This was highlighted recently after ITV stations in the region of Murcia reported residents in the Torrevieja-Orihuela area of the province of Alicante, in the region of Valencia, were hopping over the border to cut the price of their ITV.

ITV stations are obliged to tell owners that their test may not be valid where they do not live in the same autonomous region as the centre.

It is not essential, however, to carry out the test in the same province as the owner lives, meaning a person living in the south of the province of Valencia, where their nearest test centre is Gandia, is not barred from travelling into the north of the province of Alicante, where the nearest test centre is in Ondara.

Prices are the same throughout each region, meaning the only gain through travelling to a different province within the same region is convenience.