Delays for ITV inspections on the rise again in Alicante province: Up to 45 days in Benidorm!

Drivers are advised to book early or look elsewhere for stations with sooner appointments to avoid being fined for an expired ITV

Waiting times for ITV (MOT) vehicle inspections are increasing in Alicante province again, significantly in Benidorm, where it is 30-45 days, and particularly in Alcoy and Ondara, where the delay is even longer.

As of Thursday this week, more than a third of the testing stations in the Valencian Community were not offering appointments for June.

Post-deprivatisation chaos

The process of reverting ITV services to public management in the Valencian Community resulted in testing stations becoming almost completely overwhelmed.

The regional Department of Industry blamed the previous regional government, accusing it of carrying out the change without taking the necessary measures or providing the appropriate resources.

Last summer, after fulfilling the previous administration’s commitment to equalise salaries across different stations, the workforce was reinforced with 221 new workers for Valencia province, 23 for Castellón, and 59 for Alicante.

At the same time, a new website was launched to streamline the service and prevent fraud, in response to the emergence of platforms unaffiliated with Sitval, the public company set up by the regional government to manage the ITV service.

Although these measures significantly improved the situation at almost all stations, apart from occasional problems at peak times, the issues have now returned.

The regional government has assured that appointments are being scheduled on time in most of Alicante's stations, with wait times under 30 days, including Novelda, Orihuela, Redován, Villena, Alicante, Elche, Pilar de la Horadada, and Torrevieja.

Staff shortage

Unions are blaming  a shortage of staff and warn that the situation could worsen with the arrival of summer, when demand increases, especially along the coast. They estimate the deficit at around 100 workers, roughly 10% of the total workforce.

Worker representatives are also mooting a possible strike by the end of the month, over the lack of progress on a labour agreement that would eliminate the disparities between stations.

Meanwhile, the Industry Department’s planned reinforcement of staff with around 100 new workers is still awaiting authorisation from the Budget Department.

No excuses to avoid fines for expired ITV

Drivers whose vehicle inspections are overdue can still be fined, even if they couldn’t get an appointment in time. The Road Safety Law is clear and makes no exceptions for there not being any appointments available. The fine is €200, which can be reduced to €100 for prompt payment.

The only solutions are either to schedule the appointment well in advance, or go to a different station offering shorter wait times in the province or even in neighboring provinces, such as Albacete or Murcia.

Image: GVA