Failed the ITV: What to Do Now

A tick next to desfavorable on the inspection report, and your morning is ruined. The first thing anyone who has failed the ITV asks is: am I even allowed to drive home now? The short answer is usually yes, but only straight to the garage. The longer answer depends on which defect class the inspectors recorded. This post explains the difference between minor, major and dangerous defects, how much time you have for the re-test, what it costs on Mallorca and how to pass the second round without any nasty surprises. The basics on deadlines, stations and how the inspection works are in our ITV guide.

Minor, major and dangerous defects: the difference

The Spanish ITV distinguishes three defect classes, and only two of them really mean you failed. This is regulated in Real Decreto 920/2017, which applies to every inspection station in the country.

Minor defects (defectos leves) are small things like a worn wiper blade or a dim license plate light. The result stays favorable, you get the sticker and simply have to fix the points soon. There is no re-test.

Major defects (defectos graves) lead to the result desfavorable. This is the classic fail: a desfavorable is a negative ITV report because of at least one major defect. The vehicle may then only be driven to the garage and back to the inspection station, and it has to return for a re-test within two months, otherwise the full inspection is due again.

Dangerous defects (defectos muy graves) give the result negativa. Then driving yourself is over: the car has to leave the station on a tow truck or trailer. Typical cases are cracked brake lines, badly damaged suspension or structural parts rusted through.

Am I allowed to drive after failing the ITV? With the result desfavorable you may only drive to the garage and back to the ITV station, nowhere else. With the result negativa you may not drive at all, the vehicle has to be transported.

Two months for the re-test

From the date of the negative report, a deadline of two calendar months starts running. Within that time you have to get the listed defects repaired and present the car again. At the re-test the inspectors only check the defects listed in the report, not the whole vehicle.

If you miss the two months, the open procedure lapses. Then a complete inspection at the full fee is due again, and depending on the case a fine can come on top. Blowing the deadline never pays off in any scenario, especially since the re-test itself is quick.

For the re-test on Mallorca you book an appointment just like for the regular inspection, via itv.mallorca.es or by phone on 871 57 55 44. It makes sense to go back to the station where you failed, because that is where your inspection report is on file. Waiting times have eased considerably in 2026: according to the Consell de Mallorca you get an appointment within three days at most stations, in Calvià often on the next working day. Still, do not leave it to the last minute in case the garage has to order a part.

What the re-test costs on Mallorca

The ITV fees on Mallorca are the lowest in all of Spain. The regular inspection costs 17.01 euros for a petrol car and 30.92 euros for a diesel. For the re-test after a desfavorable, the Consell de Mallorca charges 30 percent of the regular fee, so around 5 euros for a petrol car.

It can even be free: if the listed defects can be checked without going through the inspection lane, for example a replaced bulb or a new tire checked visually, and you come back within 7 working days, there is no fee. The staff at the station will tell you at the first appointment whether your case qualifies.

The repair itself is almost always more expensive than the inspection fee anyway. For bigger items like brakes or shock absorbers, do get a second quote, the price differences between garages on the island are considerable.

Common defects and how to catch them before the appointment

The classic fails on Mallorca are the same as everywhere in Spain, with one island particularity: salty air and sun are harder on rubber and electrics than a central European climate. These points fail most often:

• Lights: blown bulbs, misaligned headlights, cracked lenses
• Tires: tread under 1.6 mm, sidewalls cracked from sun and age, mismatched pairs on one axle
• Brakes: uneven braking on the test rollers, worn pads
• Emissions: mainly on older diesels, often after lots of short trips
• Suspension: worn track rod ends and tired shock absorbers from the potholed roads inland

A pre-check at the garage, often called pre-ITV in Spanish, helps against most of these points. Many garages on the island offer it as a standard service: they go through the official inspection catalogue, adjust the headlights and replace wear parts before you drive to the station. When booking, ask explicitly for a revisión pre-ITV and give them the date of your inspection appointment so the garage can schedule the work accordingly.

If it turns out that an older car's repair costs more than the car is worth, the scrapyard is not the only option. What to consider when selling a car without a valid inspection is covered in our post on selling a car without a valid inspection in Spain.

Conclusion

Failing the ITV is annoying, but it is a clearly regulated intermediate step. You have two months, you may only drive to the garage and to the station, and you pay 30 percent of the fee for the re-test, or nothing at all in simple cases within 7 working days. It only gets critical if you let the deadline pass or drive anyway with a negativa result. Give the garage the original inspection report and book the re-test at the same station, and the matter is usually settled within a week. If you would rather not fail in the first place, invest in a pre-ITV at a garage you trust beforehand. What happens with a completely expired sticker is covered in our guide to the expired ITV.