No, this not a report by the major British TV channel about the far-right "Nazi" party in Germany, the AfD (Alternative fur Deutschland).
It's about my Spanish MOT (Inspeccion Tecnica de Vehiculos - ITV) early this morning on April Fools' Day, April 1st.
[Photo courtesy of La Razon]
What happened?
Well, my six-year-old Peugeot 2008 passed, although not with flying colours, I have to say. I have a few bodywork issues to attend to in the next two months.
As is the case here in Andalucia, the driver takes the car through the inspection and is required to respond to the instructions of the test examiner. Very different to the UK, where you leave the car at the MOT-testing centre and collect it later (or sit in the waiting room, drink free coffee and flick through dodgy magazines).
[Photo: Paul Whitelock]
In Andalucia, at least, the cost is fixed. In the UK, it's a competitive market. If you shop around you can get an MOT test for "threepence ha'penny". Other autonomous regions in Spain may have different arrangements and regulations. Spain is a federal country, so many states, ie regions, are able to make changes to national policies emanating from Madrid.
Also the frequency of the test is different. In Andalucia your first ITV "test" is due after four years from first registration, and then every two years up to 10 years. After that it's an annual requirement.
In the UK, the first MOT kicks in after three years and thereafter it's annual.
[Photo courtesy of Carwow]
Interesting links:
April Fool! - Only Joe King, Eye on Spain
April Fools' Day - Wikipedia
© Diary of a Nobody
Photos:
Carwow, La Razon, Paul Whitelock
Tags:
AfD, AFD, Alternative fur Deutschland, April Fool's Day, Carwow, Diary of a Nobody, Eye on Spain, ITV, Independent Television, Inspeccion Tecnica de Vehiculos, La Razon, MOT, MOT-testing centre, Only Joe King, Paul Whitelock, Peugeot 2008, Wikipedia