Widespread ITV delays across Alicante province spark long queues and appointment shortages

In the early hours, drivers report struggling to reach a scheduled ITV inspection, with queues stretching for hours in major cities across the province. Alicante, Elche, Benidorm and Ondara have seen all website slots for Sitval, the public company running the service for about a year, sell out by March, and the April calendar has remained closed. This ongoing problem, unresolved for months, keeps both motorists and workshop teams awake at night as facilities open around 7:30 a.m. or even earlier. People without an appointment try their chances online first thing, only to face endless lines that persist into the afternoon, and occasionally inspections are moved off-site.

In some parts of the province, such as Alcoy, the situation is marginally better. Yesterday, a March appointment could still be booked, and by April a slot for the same month opened up. Novelda offered a Saturday slot in February and most days in March. Orihuela reportedly allowed online bookings as of February 21, with similar patterns in Pilar de la Horadada, Redován, Torrevieja and Villena, according to local reports.

One reader described arriving at Elche at 7:40 a.m. to begin the process before a planned trip, saying they could not secure an appointment online or by phone after weeks of trying. Behind them, a minibus owner waited at dawn with the same goal. The message was clear: early attempts to shift schedules are common, and many must rely on luck when attempts to secure a slot.

Meanwhile, the Technical Vehicle Inspection Association of Valencia notes that even when appointments are not visible online, some become available occasionally. They advise checking the website periodically and calling 960 88 22 00 to snag openings as soon as they appear.

Nevertheless, these alternatives have not provided adequate relief for frustrated users. A driver in Alicante described arriving at dawn and discovering a line of about 25 vehicles ahead, with the morning hours slipping away while officials warned that it might still be possible to pass without an appointment. This sentiment reflects a broader frustration felt by many in the sector.

After waiting several hours, the line of vehicles stretches as ITV inspections continue in Elche

Most aggravating aspect

For many mechanics, the daily impact is the hardest to bear. In some workshops, five vehicles are inspected on the same day, but the online booking system remains largely blocked. People simply head to the stations with no appointment and endure long queues. A workshop employee in Elche reported arriving at 7:30 a.m. and leaving by 9:30 a.m., then returning at 10 a.m. and waiting until around 1 p.m. with about ten cars ahead. The feeling across the sector matches this frustration.

A common view among industry workers is that the service was slower but more predictable when private management prevailed. Now, with a public system, staff levels appear lower, and some technicians arrive without shifts, exacerbating delays.

The Elche Metal Association (AEME) is joined by the Valencian Community Association of Vehicle Repair Workshops (ASTAC-Xativa) and the Association of Automobile Repair Shops of Marina Alta and related workshops (ASETRAMA). Together, these groups press Sitval and regional authorities for a sustainable solution that relieves appointment saturation and protects both individuals and shops when vehicles must undergo mandatory inspections. The consensus is that ongoing obstacles are unacceptable and harming business.

Looking ahead, concerns grow that February could bring further issues. In Elche, mechanics report that only those with a specific license plate appointment will be able to pass inspections, with a limit of two vehicles per day, a policy the Department for Industry and Innovation confirmed as a means to prevent block bookings tied to future shifts. The ministry also hinted at a policy to collect ITV fees in advance when appointments are scheduled.

Users queue at Alicante ITV in the early hours on a busy Tuesday

Greater access in smaller towns across the province prompts many to travel to shorten the wait time, yet the long distances make the process unprofitable for some and still lead to lengthy queues in the workshops.

Steps toward a resolution

The regional administration acknowledges the saturation in the busiest ITV stations over recent months. Nuria Montes, speaking to the press, confirmed plans to start a new contract and deploy computer software aimed at streamlining the appointment system. Officials estimate the upgrade could be operational in February.

It is useful to note that a lack of available appointments online does not guarantee there are none by phone.

The Ministry of Industry has also announced a plan to double the number of call-center operators, with targets to expand from 11 to 22 staff to improve service. This is expected to occur in February. In addition, five temporary lines were announced for 2024, backed by an investment of 700,000 euros, intended to relieve congestion in Alicante, Benidorm, Novelda, and Vega Baja, though implementation has lagged.

What led to ITV’s current difficulties? The publicly listed company has managed Technical Vehicle Inspection stations in the Valencian Community for nearly a year after the Generalitat canceled the prior arrangement in February 2023. The main challenge, according to labor unions, lies in equipment shortages and staffing constraints. Publicly owned Sitval inherited a large contingent of temporary workers, with many supposed to be permanent staff, who ended up on the street.

Unions also point out that, before this phase, extra staffing and overtime were common during peak seasons like Christmas and summer. Sitval has proposed a new works board, but discussions have stalled pending preliminary checks not required for private firms. The Ministry of Industry says that apart from temporary reinforcements in June, ongoing efforts focus on the five lines in five municipalities, with emphasis on recruiting personnel. Vehicle workshops, the most frequent ITV customers, notice more pronounced staffing reductions. A Elche workshop complained that three people now work on a single line, slowing inspections and pushing some customers to travel to other cities where more facilities exist.

Overall, the narrative suggests a need for reliable staffing, improved booking systems, and smarter scheduling to prevent ongoing gridlock at ITV stations across the province.