New traffic cameras can detect vehicles without a valid ITV or insurance

Big Brother is watching you, or at least is checking whether your vehicle has an up-to-date ITV certificate (MOT) or valid insurance as the DGT is determined to put a stop to people driving without them, and has new methods of doing so. Apart from the risk of being caught in a simple spot check by the Guardia Civil, there are now cameras that can detect whether or not a moving vehicle has an ITV.

In 2021, more owners failed to take their vehicle for this obligatory test of roadworthiness, which is the same as the MOT in the UK, than ever before: 40% according to figures from the Department of Traffic, that’s four out of every ten cars, a remarkably high proportion.

The fines for not having an up-to-date ITV seem high enough to make anyone think twice about not complying with the law, even if they are not worried about whether or not their vehicle is roadworthy. It can be between 200 and 500 euros, and the car doesn’t even have to be driven. Fines can be issued for vehicles that are parked if their ITV is out of date.

These new cameras can read the number plate of a vehicle and compare it with the DGT’s database to see whether it is registered as having passed its ITV, which means nobody has to ask drivers to stop and produce their documentation. When the cars pass the radars, they can then cross-check the ITV situation, and also see whether they have valid insurance. If either is not in order, a fine will be issued.

The DGT already has 225 of these new cameras in different places across Spain, and they are about to be installed in more locations, including the Balearic and Canary Islands, with 60% of them on secondary roads.