A car arrives at the used car dealership. The owner tells you it has a valid ITV and that everything is in order. You look at the windscreen sticker and it seems to check out. But when you go to process the change of ownership, it turns out the ITV expired two months ago. The transfer cannot be completed, the customer you had already closed gets impatient and you lose time and credibility.
This situation happens more often than you might think. According to the Spanish Association of Collaborative Entities of the ITV Administration (AECA-ITV), around 4 in 10 drivers are on the road with an out-of-date ITV. For a dealership, checking the ITV before any transaction is not an optional formality: it is a basic protection measure.
The good news is that doing it is quick, simple and, in many cases, free. You only need the vehicle registration number.
Contents
What the ITV is and why it is important to check it
How to check the ITV by registration number free of charge on the DGT
Full DGT report: what it includes and how much it costs
Checking the ITV from the miDGT app
Why a dealership should check the ITV of every car
Other ways to check the ITV status
What the ITV is and why it is important to check it
The Vehicle Technical Inspection (ITV) is a mandatory inspection regulated by Royal Decree 920/2017. Its purpose is to verify that vehicles on the road meet the minimum safety, emissions and technical condition requirements.
The inspection frequency for private cars follows this schedule:
Vehicle age | ITV frequency |
|---|---|
Less than 4 years | Not required |
From 4 to 10 years | Every 2 years |
Over 10 years | Every year |
The inspection can be brought forward by up to 30 days before the expiry date without changing the timing of the next inspection. In other words, you do not lose days by having it done early.
For a used car professional, knowing the ITV status of every vehicle that enters or leaves stock is important for several reasons: it affects the ability to transfer the car, insurance cover and the confidence of the final buyer. We have covered in detail all the ITV obligations that affect dealerships in a dedicated article.
How to check the ITV by registration number free of charge on the DGT
The most direct way to check whether a car has a valid ITV is through the reduced vehicle report on the DGT’s online portal. This report is free and available to anyone, whether or not they are the vehicle owner.
How to do it step by step:
Go to the DGT online portal (sede.dgt.gob.es), section "Vehicle report".
Select the reduced report option.
Enter the vehicle registration number (or the chassis number).
Check the result.
You do not need a digital certificate or Cl@ve for this report. Just the registration number.
What information is included in the reduced report?
The reduced report tells you whether the vehicle has any issue preventing its transfer or circulation. It also shows the date of first registration in Spain and whether there is any outstanding manufacturer recall notice.
What it does not include is the full detail: you will not see the exact dates of previous inspections, the specific result of each ITV or the recorded mileage. For that you need the full report.
Even so, for a quick first filter (for example, before going to see a car someone has offered you), the reduced report is more than enough. It lets you rule out vehicles with administrative problems before investing more time.
Full DGT report: what it includes and how much it costs
If you need detailed information about a vehicle’s ITV history, the full report is the right option. It costs €8.67 (fee 4.1) and requires identification using a digital certificate, electronic ID card or Cl@ve credentials.
Data included in the full report
The full report contains all the vehicle’s administrative information: owner identification, municipality of registration, full ITV inspection history (dates and results), recorded mileage at each inspection, number of previous owners, administrative liens, technical vehicle data, EuroNCAP score and, where available, maintenance information from the DGT electronic service record.
Channels for requesting it
You can request the full report in three ways: through the DGT online portal (with a digital certificate or Cl@ve), by phone on 060 (after paying the fee and verifying your identity) or from the miDGT app.
For a dealership that buys and sells several cars a month, the full report is worth it for every transaction. For €8.67 you get the ITV history, the official mileage and the vehicle’s lien status. Everything you need to decide whether a purchase is safe or whether something does not add up. To understand exactly what each report offers, we recommend reading our guide to the DGT history and Carfax when buying cars.
Checking the ITV from the miDGT app
The miDGT app, available for iOS and Android, lets you check the details of vehicles registered in your name. In the "My Vehicles" section you can see the ITV expiry date, the mileage recorded at the last inspection and the insurance details.
It is a handy tool for monitoring the status of the cars you already have in stock and that are registered to the company. With a quick glance on your phone you can check whether any vehicle’s ITV is about to expire before a sale is completed.
Important limitation: miDGT only shows the details of vehicles in your name. If you want to check the ITV of a car you have not yet bought (for example, one offered by a private seller or one you have seen at an auction), you need to use the reduced or full report from the online portal.
You can also download a copy of the vehicle’s electronic ITV card from miDGT. It is not valid for driving (the valid one is the original electronic version), but it serves as a quick reference.
Why a dealership should check the ITV of every car
Checking the ITV is not just a formality. It has direct consequences for your daily operations and for the risk of each transaction.
The ITV affects the ownership transfer. The DGT links the validity of the new registration document to the vehicle having a valid ITV. If the car’s inspection has expired, you will not be able to complete the change of name. This means delays in handover, extra costs (taking the car to the test centre, possible repairs) and a negative experience for the buyer. If you want to make sure you do not miss anything, review all the mandatory paperwork for selling a used car.
Driving or having a car in stock without an ITV carries a fine risk. The penalty for driving with an expired ITV is €200 (reduced by 50% for early payment within 20 days). If the ITV is failed, the fine rises to €500 and the vehicle is immobilised. Even a car parked on a public road with an expired ITV can be fined, although this point is currently the subject of recent legal debate.
Insurance may not cover damage. If a vehicle in your stock suffers damage or is involved in an incident without a valid ITV, the insurer may refuse to cover the own damage and may even claim third-party costs from the owner. It is a risk that is not worth taking.
Checking the ITV when buying avoids surprises. When you buy a car from a private seller, at auction or from another professional, checking the ITV lets you: confirm that the transfer can be completed without problems, detect whether the car has had recent poor results (which may indicate mechanical issues) and verify that the mileage recorded on the ITV is consistent with what the seller tells you. Before closing any purchase, consult our pre-purchase inspection guide for cars to resell.
At Dealcar you can request DGT reports directly from each vehicle’s record in your stock, without leaving the platform and with preferential rates. The report is linked to the car, accessible from your phone and ready to share with the customer or attach to the sales file. It is a way to build this check into your workflow without it becoming an extra step.
Other ways to check the ITV status
In addition to the DGT’s official channels, there are other ways to verify a vehicle’s ITV status.
ITV card or technical data sheet. If you have access to the car’s physical documents, the ITV card shows the dates of the inspections carried out and the date of the next inspection. It is the most immediate check when the vehicle is already on your forecourt. Bear in mind that for some years now the windscreen sticker has only been indicative (it shows the month and year, not the exact day) and that the electronic technical data sheet is the official reference.
Private vehicle history services. Platforms such as CARFAX, Inforcar or similar collect data from various sources (insurers, workshops, records from other countries) and can offer complementary information about the car’s history. They are especially useful for imported vehicles or those with complex histories, where the DGT report may not reflect the car’s full past. You can also review all the documentation needed to buy a used car in our updated guide.
ITV test centres. Some test centres allow you to verify the validity of an inspection if you provide the registration number or chassis number. It is not the most practical route for a dealership managing many vehicles, but it can help if you are at the test centre with a car and need to confirm a specific detail.
In conclusion, checking the ITV by registration number is an action that takes less than two minutes and can save you real problems: blocked transfers, fines, denied insurance cover or stock cars with hidden issues. The DGT reduced report is free and does not require a digital certificate. For any professional sales transaction, the full €8.67 report is a minimal investment compared with what it could cost you not to do it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you check the ITV of a car that is not mine?
Yes. The DGT reduced report is free and available to anyone, not just the vehicle owner. You only need the registration number. For the full report you can also request it without being the owner, although you will need to identify yourself with a digital certificate, electronic ID or Cl@ve and pay the relevant fee.
How much does the full vehicle report cost at the DGT?
The full report costs €8.67 (fee 4.1). It includes the ITV history, mileage recorded at each inspection, number of owners, administrative liens and technical vehicle data. It can be requested from the online portal, by phone (060) or from the miDGT app.
Can I sell a car with an expired ITV?
In practice, no. The DGT requires the vehicle to have a valid ITV in order to complete the change of ownership. If you sell a car with an expired ITV, the transfer will be blocked until the vehicle passes the inspection. In addition, the buyer will not be able to drive it legally until the ITV is in order.
How often does a car need to pass the ITV?
The first inspection is at 4 years from first registration. After that, every 2 years until the car is 10 years old. From 10 years onwards, the inspection is annual. It can be brought forward by up to 30 days before the expiry date without losing days on the calendar.
What happens if a car has a failed ITV?
If the result is a fail, the vehicle may only be driven to the workshop where the faults found will be repaired. The owner has a maximum of two months to fix the problems and present the car for inspection again. If they do not do so within that period, the fine rises to €500. Driving with a failed ITV for any purpose other than going to the workshop is fined €200.
More than 500 dealerships already use Dealcar.
From the platform you can request DGT and CARFAX reports at preferential rates, with no minimums or hidden costs, and link them directly to each vehicle record in your stock. Everything is accessible from the app and ready to share with your customer. If you want to simplify this process, request a demo with our team now.
A car arrives at the used car dealership. The owner tells you it has a valid ITV and that everything is in order. You look at the windscreen sticker and it seems to check out. But when you go to process the change of ownership, it turns out the ITV expired two months ago. The transfer cannot be completed, the customer you had already closed gets impatient and you lose time and credibility.
This situation happens more often than you might think. According to the Spanish Association of Collaborative Entities of the ITV Administration (AECA-ITV), around 4 in 10 drivers are on the road with an out-of-date ITV. For a dealership, checking the ITV before any transaction is not an optional formality: it is a basic protection measure.
The good news is that doing it is quick, simple and, in many cases, free. You only need the vehicle registration number.
Contents
What the ITV is and why it is important to check it
How to check the ITV by registration number free of charge on the DGT
Full DGT report: what it includes and how much it costs
Checking the ITV from the miDGT app
Why a dealership should check the ITV of every car
Other ways to check the ITV status
What the ITV is and why it is important to check it
The Vehicle Technical Inspection (ITV) is a mandatory inspection regulated by Royal Decree 920/2017. Its purpose is to verify that vehicles on the road meet the minimum safety, emissions and technical condition requirements.
The inspection frequency for private cars follows this schedule:
Vehicle age | ITV frequency |
|---|---|
Less than 4 years | Not required |
From 4 to 10 years | Every 2 years |
Over 10 years | Every year |
The inspection can be brought forward by up to 30 days before the expiry date without changing the timing of the next inspection. In other words, you do not lose days by having it done early.
For a used car professional, knowing the ITV status of every vehicle that enters or leaves stock is important for several reasons: it affects the ability to transfer the car, insurance cover and the confidence of the final buyer. We have covered in detail all the ITV obligations that affect dealerships in a dedicated article.
How to check the ITV by registration number free of charge on the DGT
The most direct way to check whether a car has a valid ITV is through the reduced vehicle report on the DGT’s online portal. This report is free and available to anyone, whether or not they are the vehicle owner.
How to do it step by step:
Go to the DGT online portal (sede.dgt.gob.es), section "Vehicle report".
Select the reduced report option.
Enter the vehicle registration number (or the chassis number).
Check the result.
You do not need a digital certificate or Cl@ve for this report. Just the registration number.
What information is included in the reduced report?
The reduced report tells you whether the vehicle has any issue preventing its transfer or circulation. It also shows the date of first registration in Spain and whether there is any outstanding manufacturer recall notice.
What it does not include is the full detail: you will not see the exact dates of previous inspections, the specific result of each ITV or the recorded mileage. For that you need the full report.
Even so, for a quick first filter (for example, before going to see a car someone has offered you), the reduced report is more than enough. It lets you rule out vehicles with administrative problems before investing more time.
Full DGT report: what it includes and how much it costs
If you need detailed information about a vehicle’s ITV history, the full report is the right option. It costs €8.67 (fee 4.1) and requires identification using a digital certificate, electronic ID card or Cl@ve credentials.
Data included in the full report
The full report contains all the vehicle’s administrative information: owner identification, municipality of registration, full ITV inspection history (dates and results), recorded mileage at each inspection, number of previous owners, administrative liens, technical vehicle data, EuroNCAP score and, where available, maintenance information from the DGT electronic service record.
Channels for requesting it
You can request the full report in three ways: through the DGT online portal (with a digital certificate or Cl@ve), by phone on 060 (after paying the fee and verifying your identity) or from the miDGT app.
For a dealership that buys and sells several cars a month, the full report is worth it for every transaction. For €8.67 you get the ITV history, the official mileage and the vehicle’s lien status. Everything you need to decide whether a purchase is safe or whether something does not add up. To understand exactly what each report offers, we recommend reading our guide to the DGT history and Carfax when buying cars.
Checking the ITV from the miDGT app
The miDGT app, available for iOS and Android, lets you check the details of vehicles registered in your name. In the "My Vehicles" section you can see the ITV expiry date, the mileage recorded at the last inspection and the insurance details.
It is a handy tool for monitoring the status of the cars you already have in stock and that are registered to the company. With a quick glance on your phone you can check whether any vehicle’s ITV is about to expire before a sale is completed.
Important limitation: miDGT only shows the details of vehicles in your name. If you want to check the ITV of a car you have not yet bought (for example, one offered by a private seller or one you have seen at an auction), you need to use the reduced or full report from the online portal.
You can also download a copy of the vehicle’s electronic ITV card from miDGT. It is not valid for driving (the valid one is the original electronic version), but it serves as a quick reference.
Why a dealership should check the ITV of every car
Checking the ITV is not just a formality. It has direct consequences for your daily operations and for the risk of each transaction.
The ITV affects the ownership transfer. The DGT links the validity of the new registration document to the vehicle having a valid ITV. If the car’s inspection has expired, you will not be able to complete the change of name. This means delays in handover, extra costs (taking the car to the test centre, possible repairs) and a negative experience for the buyer. If you want to make sure you do not miss anything, review all the mandatory paperwork for selling a used car.
Driving or having a car in stock without an ITV carries a fine risk. The penalty for driving with an expired ITV is €200 (reduced by 50% for early payment within 20 days). If the ITV is failed, the fine rises to €500 and the vehicle is immobilised. Even a car parked on a public road with an expired ITV can be fined, although this point is currently the subject of recent legal debate.
Insurance may not cover damage. If a vehicle in your stock suffers damage or is involved in an incident without a valid ITV, the insurer may refuse to cover the own damage and may even claim third-party costs from the owner. It is a risk that is not worth taking.
Checking the ITV when buying avoids surprises. When you buy a car from a private seller, at auction or from another professional, checking the ITV lets you: confirm that the transfer can be completed without problems, detect whether the car has had recent poor results (which may indicate mechanical issues) and verify that the mileage recorded on the ITV is consistent with what the seller tells you. Before closing any purchase, consult our pre-purchase inspection guide for cars to resell.
At Dealcar you can request DGT reports directly from each vehicle’s record in your stock, without leaving the platform and with preferential rates. The report is linked to the car, accessible from your phone and ready to share with the customer or attach to the sales file. It is a way to build this check into your workflow without it becoming an extra step.
Other ways to check the ITV status
In addition to the DGT’s official channels, there are other ways to verify a vehicle’s ITV status.
ITV card or technical data sheet. If you have access to the car’s physical documents, the ITV card shows the dates of the inspections carried out and the date of the next inspection. It is the most immediate check when the vehicle is already on your forecourt. Bear in mind that for some years now the windscreen sticker has only been indicative (it shows the month and year, not the exact day) and that the electronic technical data sheet is the official reference.
Private vehicle history services. Platforms such as CARFAX, Inforcar or similar collect data from various sources (insurers, workshops, records from other countries) and can offer complementary information about the car’s history. They are especially useful for imported vehicles or those with complex histories, where the DGT report may not reflect the car’s full past. You can also review all the documentation needed to buy a used car in our updated guide.
ITV test centres. Some test centres allow you to verify the validity of an inspection if you provide the registration number or chassis number. It is not the most practical route for a dealership managing many vehicles, but it can help if you are at the test centre with a car and need to confirm a specific detail.
In conclusion, checking the ITV by registration number is an action that takes less than two minutes and can save you real problems: blocked transfers, fines, denied insurance cover or stock cars with hidden issues. The DGT reduced report is free and does not require a digital certificate. For any professional sales transaction, the full €8.67 report is a minimal investment compared with what it could cost you not to do it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you check the ITV of a car that is not mine?
Yes. The DGT reduced report is free and available to anyone, not just the vehicle owner. You only need the registration number. For the full report you can also request it without being the owner, although you will need to identify yourself with a digital certificate, electronic ID or Cl@ve and pay the relevant fee.
How much does the full vehicle report cost at the DGT?
The full report costs €8.67 (fee 4.1). It includes the ITV history, mileage recorded at each inspection, number of owners, administrative liens and technical vehicle data. It can be requested from the online portal, by phone (060) or from the miDGT app.
Can I sell a car with an expired ITV?
In practice, no. The DGT requires the vehicle to have a valid ITV in order to complete the change of ownership. If you sell a car with an expired ITV, the transfer will be blocked until the vehicle passes the inspection. In addition, the buyer will not be able to drive it legally until the ITV is in order.
How often does a car need to pass the ITV?
The first inspection is at 4 years from first registration. After that, every 2 years until the car is 10 years old. From 10 years onwards, the inspection is annual. It can be brought forward by up to 30 days before the expiry date without losing days on the calendar.
What happens if a car has a failed ITV?
If the result is a fail, the vehicle may only be driven to the workshop where the faults found will be repaired. The owner has a maximum of two months to fix the problems and present the car for inspection again. If they do not do so within that period, the fine rises to €500. Driving with a failed ITV for any purpose other than going to the workshop is fined €200.
More than 500 dealerships already use Dealcar.
From the platform you can request DGT and CARFAX reports at preferential rates, with no minimums or hidden costs, and link them directly to each vehicle record in your stock. Everything is accessible from the app and ready to share with your customer. If you want to simplify this process, request a demo with our team now.
