The Canary Islands, known for having one of the highest vehicle-to-population ratios in Spain, are facing a significant issue with vehicle inspections. With more than 800 automobiles per 1,000 inhabitants, the region had 1,845,111 vehicles on the roads in 2023, including cars, trucks, and motorcycles, according to data from the Canary Islands Institute of Statistics.
Out of this substantial number, 146,587 vehicles do not have a valid ITV (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) inspection, as reported by Informes Mecánicos based on 2023 data from the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT).
This means nearly 10% of vehicles in the Canary Islands are circulating on our roads without this mandatory requirement, the same as an MOT in the UK, making the archipelago the sixth Spanish region with the highest number of vehicles with expired ITV certifications.
The study's figures pertain to vehicles under 25 years old that lack a valid ITV inspection or have not been officially deregistered. This includes vehicles still in use with an expired inspection and those that might be unused or abandoned.
Nationally, the Canary Islands rank sixth for the proportion of vehicles without a current ITV inspection, trailing behind the Balearic Islands (16.7%), the Valencian Community (12.3%), Catalonia (11%), Andalusia (10.3%), and the Region of Murcia (10.2%).
In the Canary Islands, the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Tenerife and the smaller islands) has the highest number of vehicles without a valid ITV, with 76,180 vehicles (10.7%) not up to date. Comparatively, Las Palmas (Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura) has 70,407 vehicles (9.1%) without a valid inspection.
In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the breakdown includes 37,818 cars, 15,238 motorcycles, and 23,124 other types of vehicles. In Las Palmas, there are 32,222 cars, 15,655 motorcycles, and 22,530 other types of vehicles with expired inspections.
Informes Mecánicos highlights specific localities in the eastern province where this issue is most prevalent, all within the island of Gran Canaria. Las Palmas leads with 17,705 vehicles lacking a valid ITV, followed by Telde with 5,491, and San Bartolomé de Tirajana with 4,981.
The ITV inspection is a crucial process to ensure vehicles meet safety and emissions standards, aiming to reduce accident risks and protect the environment.
Driving with an expired ITV inspection is subject to fines, which vary based on how long the inspection has been expired. Fines can reach up to 500 euros and result in the loss of three points from the driver's license.
In 2022, driving with an expired ITV was the second most common traffic violation in Spain. In the Canary Islands, fines for this infraction increased by 38% between 2016 and 2022.
