In short: the first-registration ITV is a ONE-TIME technical inspection for imported or new vehicles, distinct from the periodic ITV. For imported vehicles it produces the Spanish reduced technical sheet (ficha técnica reducida) — essential to continue with IEDMT and DGT registration.
In person or by representative? The vehicle must physically attend the ITV station to be inspected; there is no online alternative. Someone else can drive it there, but the car has to be present.
When: after customs clearance (with H1 certificate). Before IEDMT and DGT registration.
Where: any ITV station in your autonomous community. In Comunidad Valenciana the main operators are SITVAL, ITEVELESA, Applus+ Auto. All authorised stations do first-registration; some specialise in foreign vehicles — ask when booking.
Appointment: mandatory. Each station has its own booking system (web/phone). First-registration takes 1-2 hours (much longer than periodic ITV), allow time.
Required documents:
- H1 customs certificate (accepted DUA).
- Original registration certificate from the country of origin.
- CoC (European Certificate of Conformity) from the manufacturer — if available.
- If no CoC: prior individual homologation (done by an authorised lab such as Applus+, Idiada, etc.) producing a reduced sheet that the ITV uses to issue the Spanish technical sheet. Homologation cost: €200-500+, time: 1-3 weeks.
- Invoice or sale-purchase contract.
- ID document (TIE/DNI).
Process at the ITV station:
- You submit documents.
- Visual and mechanical inspection of the vehicle (lights, brakes, steering, emissions).
- The station verifies that the CoC/reduced sheet data match the physical vehicle (chassis number, engine).
- If correct: issues Spanish reduced technical sheet and returns stamped original documents.
Cost: ITV ~€50 (varies by region and station). Individual homologation separately: €200-500+ if no CoC.
Time: same day if everything is in order. If there are discrepancies or missing documents: new appointment, possibly with homologation corrections.
Official source: DGT — Import a vehicle from outside the EU.
Informational only; check the official source and your ITV station for your specific case.