Although the Technical Vehicle Inspection (ITV, equivalent to MOT) is mandatory, data from Corve indicates that 27% of drivers in the Girona region are avoiding it. Jordi Solà, president of the association, states that the main deterrent is not the inspection fee (around 50 euros), but the high cost of necessary repairs identified during the check.
“"We are approaching a 15-year average when before the pandemic we were at 10 years, not to mention Europe's goals for fleet electrification."
This aging of the car fleet, now averaging 15 years, five more than pre-pandemic, means many owners find the repair costs disproportionate to the vehicle's value. Consequently, some garages advise clients to undergo the inspection first, allowing them to focus only on “what is essential” to pass the ITV.
An additional concern arises during the holiday season. Joan Costa, Head of Traffic for the Girona Traffic Police Region, explained that nearly 40% of broken-down vehicles on Girona roads are foreign, often traveling long distances from northern Europe. Vehicles like motorhomes, which are often stationary for weeks without maintenance, are particularly prone to failure during long journeys.
According to Solà, the most common failures include degraded tires that burst and mechanical faults that can lead to vehicle fires. The clear message is that a lack of preventive maintenance ultimately generates much more significant and dangerous breakdowns.
