In Spain, MOT revisions are called Inspección Técnica de Vehículos (ITV). There are four ITV centres in Mallorca, all run by the Servicio de ITV del Consell de Mallorca, two in Palma de Mallorca, one in Inca and one in Manacor.

Overall, there are said to be 896,079 vehicles on the four Balearic islands, of which 257,292 were presented for an ITV review in 2009, an increase of 6.9 % over 2008.

In 2009, one in four vehicles in Mallorca failed their technical inspection (24.6 %), which is no surprise when one considers how many old vehicles there are in service on the island’s roads and tracks. Even more worrying is the fact that a large percentage of owners do not present their vehicles for revisions at all when they are legally obliged to. It is estimated, for instance, that only 40 % of motorbikes in Mallorca due for their MOT test last year turned up, of which 23.3 % failed the technical inspection.

Passenger cars in Spain are due for their first ITV revision after four years, and then every two years after that. Once a car is older than ten years, an annual ITV inspection is required. The vehicle registration plate gives a clue as to when the car is due for an inspection. If your number plate finishes with the figure 8, the test is due this month, if the last figure is a 9, the test will be due next month, in April. If in doubt, or to book a date for an ITV revision, telephone 902.300.368.

The photo was taken in Manacor, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: November 18th, 2009. The time was 12:26:40.