From a certain age, all vehicles must undergo an MOT periodically. It is a mandatory procedure to guarantee that the specimens that circulate on our roads are in perfect condition. Although driving a car on public roads that has not passed these tests is punishable by a fine, too many drivers do so. According to the Spanish Association of Collaborating Entities of the Administration in the Technical Inspection of Vehicles Aeca-ITV, absenteeism is above 35%.
But beyond avoiding the financial penalty, going through this procedure also saves money in the long term because it allows you to identify and fix some mechanical problems that may end up leading to larger and, therefore, more expensive breakdowns.
To demonstrate the importance of an early diagnosis such as the one carried out by the ITV stations, the Spanish Federation of Automotive Workshop Employers (CONEPA) has carried out a study, taking into account passenger cars of the different brands that topped the registration rankings. beginning of the previous decade (2010-2012), in which the amounts (in average values) of some breakdowns detectable during the technical inspection of vehicles have been analyzed.
AECA-ITV has analyzed this report where an economic value has been given to defects or breakdowns in vehicles that, because they persist over time, have caused a failure that entails higher costs. To determine this value, it has taken into account standard category spare parts (neither the most expensive nor the cheapest), but recommended by the manufacturer, while a value of €45 per hour has been estimated for labor.
For example, the detection of braking forces in the front axle below the established range or the discovery through visual inspection of abnormal wear or incorrect fixation of the brake pads in a vehicle may only require the replacement of the brake pads. themselves.
Excessive wear of the brake pads applied over a long period of time can damage the discs. This may mean that, instead of a simple replacement, a change of brake pads and discs may be necessary over time. The cost of replacing the discs and pads (€386) is 3 times higher than replacing the pads alone (€130).
Another example is found in the convenience of locating an oil leak in time. This issue can be resolved with a small intervention, generally replacing the corresponding gasket. If not done, it can become an expensive repair, including replacing the engine.
The first element that is affected by a lubrication deficiency is the vehicle's turbo-compressor, if it has one. Replacing a turbo-compressor (€1,309) has a much higher cost than intervening in the leak by replacing the corresponding gasket (up to €100). If the fault persists, leading to damage to the engine assembly, its replacement (€6,383) is estimated to entail a much higher expense than the intervention of the corresponding gasket or 5 times that of replacing the turbo-compressor.
The managing director of AECA-ITV, Guillermo Magaz, has pointed out that "this data shows us, once again, how the ITV not only saves lives, but also allows drivers to save on costs." As he explains, the technical inspection carried out by the ITV centers helps detect those small breakdowns that could otherwise go unnoticed by vehicle owners; who would only notice them when they were a bigger problem and their repair was much more expensive.
