The ITV system in the Valencian Community has been facing a months-long collapse, turning vehicle inspections into a near impossible feat for many. People trying to book through Sitval’s website repeatedly encounter the message that there are no available slots, regardless of the station chosen. This has created a high-demand context that is fueling a black market for appointments right at the doors of several inspection centers.
It’s a situation confirmed to this newspaper by Vicente Inglada, secretary general of the Unió de Consumidors in the Valencian Community. He notes that stations such as Vara de Quart have already received complaints about questionable practices, including individuals who personally offer a slot for 20 euros. The problem is compounded by prior complaints from the administration about platforms that impersonated Sitval to profit from the system. These incidents helped spur the planned introduction, initially set for the 15th, of a new appointment system that will require payment of the inspection fees at the moment the reservation is made.
Complaints about unbooked ITV appointments
Beyond the shadow market, Inglada adds that the administration has been receiving 20 to 30 calls weekly from people who have spent hours queuing in the vicinity of stations to pass the ITV without an appointment. Many succeed eventually, but after spending four or five hours in line. He argues that the industry ministry has raised expectations too high and that services are being strained as a result.
Union sources corroborated the chaos yesterday, noting that centers like Massalfassar sometimes have to close the queue of walk-ins because they cannot handle the volume waiting to be served. A citizen who spoke on condition of anonymity described how queues at both the Massalfassar and Catarroja stations had halted for the day because the demand simply overwhelmed capacity.
New administrative staff surge
The situation unfolds while the administration prepares to bring in 220 temporary inspectors who are being recruited through a temporary employment pool. These reinforcements are expected to help manage the spike in activity typical of the summer period. The Diario Oficial de la Generalitat published the job bases yesterday for the temporary expansion that will add up to 50 administrative staff as part of another one of these support pools, intended to facilitate the process and alleviate the bottlenecks in the ITV service.
Officials stress that the goal is to restore normal operations by increasing staff on the ground and by implementing the new appointment system that links booking with fee payment. The changes are designed to reduce opportunistic practices and to streamline the experience for people who simply want to comply with the inspection requirements.
In parallel with the staffing push, workers and residents alike are watching closely as the ITV centers adapt to the demand. The elevated volume in the summer months magnifies the pressure on the system, underscoring the need for effective queuing management, transparent appointment practices, and accessible service for all motorists in the region.
Overall, the events in Valencia underline how essential it is for public services to align capacity with demand. The coming weeks will reveal how well the new staffing measures and the revised appointment process perform in practice and whether they can curb the illicit booking activity that has emerged at the doors of some inspection stations.
— This report draws on statements from consumer groups and regional officials, with attribution to the Unió de Consumidors and the administrative bodies involved in ITV oversight.