Quick question - I'm sure the checks are bi-annual not annual as in the UK.

Please tell me I'm right.

I am sure someone will come along with the correct information however I believe cars are exempt for the first 4 years and then every 2 years until they are 10 years old then annually. However the rules for vans etc or taxis are different. My friend was fined as she had a Berlingo and classed it as a car but under Spanish law it is a van.

Yes, depends on the vehicle. Some "mixed use" vehicles are annual from the get-go and then become 6 monthly once they reach the age of 10 years.
Your vehicle's paperwork will tell you when its first or next ITV is due plus you might (if you're lucky) receive a reminder in the mail.

The Cameron Government in UK have just released a proposal to increase the time between MOT tests to two years and start after the 4th year from new. They justify this on the grounds of much improved initial safety and design improvements to new cars. So for once UK is coming into line with Spain.

So higher speed limits and more bangers on the road, and with the relaxed passport checks ( Oh yes she did!), more illegals to drive them. My permenant move to Spain can't come soon enough!
Pete

When you buy a vehicle like the Kangoo/Berlingo you can choose how you register it. It is cheaper to register it as a "Mixto" which is why many people do that. The downside is a 100kph limit and frequent ITVs. It is possible to change it to a "Tourismo" later.

Up until the car is 10 years old the ITV is every 2 years and after that its once a year......as far as we know....

Absolutely correct! After another period of time which I am not sure of the car is exempt from ITV altogether...so its worth just keeping it on the road until it falls apart then you dont need to worry!

http://www.itvandalucia.com/frecuencia.htm

We had our Seat Alhambra people carrier matriculated onto Spanish plates. The first ITV was for two years. Once this expired the car was was more than ten years old and now has to be done every six months. It is registered as Mixto Adaptable.

Thanks very much for the replies everyone. Glad I was right about the 2 years

That's a myth. You can only apply for exemption from ITVs if your "classic" (or "historic")car is over 25 years old and forms part of a "collection" - the autonomous community in which the car is registered can decline your application or set certain restrictions (i.e. the car is not to be used on the road).

It's road tax from which vehicles over 25 years of age are normally exempt (again, depending on the community...)

If those are your criteria I'd stay where you are: The speed limits are higher in Spain (120 kph), there are many more bangers on the road, there are no passport checks whatever on most land borders and there are many more immigrants

plus loads of illegal UK plated cars that have no tax, valid insurance or ITV.