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Need an I.T.V?
I.T.V (the Spanish MOT) You can take your car to
a garage and have them do it, or be a little adventurous and have a go
yourself and save some cash too.
The nearest ITV station is at Algarrobo and you can see the big ITV sign
from the motorway.
As you drive in follow the road round to the front of the building and
join the queue to start the whole process.
Simply handover your documents along with 27.72€ and you will be handed
a receipt, and your documents back in a plastic folder. You then wait
until they call your registration number out and the lane number you
have to go to.
Drive round to the side of the building and an engineer will be waiting
for you, hand him the plastic folder. he will then ask you to switch
your engine off and put your headlights on (he then checks the alignment
of each headlight, asking you to dip/full as necessary) you then are
asked to put your washers and wipers on.
next is seat belts, with a hand through the window and a little tug on
the driver and passenger seat belts to make sure they lock. Then he will
then ask you to drive forward until your front wheels are on the rolling
road. Switch off your engine, as he applies the test he will ask you to
brake a little and then harder.
Same deal for rear wheels using the foot brake and then handbrake. Then
you drive on to another set of steel plates and he will place a type of
two way radio on your dash board, through which he talks to you while he
is under the car.
The plates sort of shake the wheels from side to side when he asks you
to brake, and then he asks to move the steering wheel from side to side.
Then you are asked to drive forward until your rear wheels are in place
and he asks you to brake.
You then drive forward to where a sensor is placed in your exhaust pipe
to test emissions.
All being well you then wait five minutes while he prints you a new ITV
sticker along with the necessary stamp on your documents.
sept2002
Driving in Spain
If you have never driven on 'the wrong side' of the road, these tips
may make it a bit easier for you
Always carry your driving license, car registration, ITV
and insurance documentation and passport with you. These need to be the
originals, photocopies are only accepted if they have been stamped as
authentic copies. There are regular spot checks in Spain.
It is also a requirement to have two, yes two warning triangles that
must be used in case your car breaks down. One to placed in front and
one behind the vehicle at least 20 metres from the vehicle.
The first time my wife and I drove on the right, at traffic lights or
T-junctions when things can go wrong, we used to say to each other "we
are driving on the right, driving on the right" sounds daft but it
definitely helped!
Turning left on to a main road: sometimes a filter lane is provided in
the middle of the road you are about to join, the first time you see one
of these it can be slightly daunting as to how to proceed, if you are
fortunate enough to be behind a queue of traffic you will have the
luxury of watching the 'locals' do it. If not here are some guidelines.
The traffic on the road you are joining has priority.
Be aware that anyone that is approaching from your right and is turning
left into the road you are leaving, as they will not generally give way
to you.
Try to time your exit so that any traffic heading the same way as you
wish to go is aware of you
Do not swing too wide as you enter the filter lane
When you are in the filter lane use your right indicator to confirm your
intentions to other road users.
Do not rely on your mirrors to judge when to join the main flow of
traffic, use the 'life saver' a look over your right shoulder makes sure
you haven't missed a vehicle.
Speeding: some of the roads are absolutely brilliant here and the
temptation to enjoy those sweeping bends or even follow the car in front
at the same speed is downright stupid. That next bend tightens up so
quickly. In the last six months I have seen two fatalities, the
cause....Speeding!
Get to know the roads and take notice of the warning signs and speed
limits, the Spanish are not good at road signs for directions, but they
know how dangerous the roads can be and those speed limit 40km, 60km
signs are there for good reason.
Parking more & more you will see people waving you into parking spaces,
and then demand money from you, unless they have identification (as at
Burriana beach) then these are not licensed parking attendants and are a
type of beggar.
It's up to you whether you pay them, but it is quite intimidating to try
to not pay. |
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