As we know, putting stickers on the car is a simple, cheap and fast way to distinguish it from the rest. The General Traffic Regulations do not prohibit placing them, although article 19 only establishes that “the glazed surface of the vehicle must allow, in any case, clear visibility of the driver on the entire road on which it circulates, without interference from sheets or adhesives ». It is what is appreciated with the ITV sticker. However; whatwhy does it change color?
ITV stickers and their various colors
Something typical for everyone, and that we all have with the ITV sticker, is that it indicates that the car that carries it has obtained a favorable result in your last Inspection Vehicle Technician, complying with the minimum vehicle safety conditions.
In it, we also find the expiration date of the ITV, that is, the month in which, at the latest, said vehicle must pass the inspection again. In short, all cars that have obtained a favorable ITV receive this sticker.
However, and as something that we probably did not know, it is quite common for us to find cars that have different stickers of various colors. But,you know why it happens and why these colors?
They indicate the year that the term expires
With this appreciation, in theory, stickers on the bodywork are allowed and those that, placed on the crystals (both windshields, side windows and rear-view mirrors), do not hinder visibility of the driver.
So yes; Depending on the circumstances, we can find stickers that vary in color. Or what is the same; this identifier is not of the same tone. It is then that we can find three possibilities: yellow, red and green, which is what the background can have.
In them what is indicated is the year in which the term expires of the ITV and thus the authorities will be able to see, quickly, if the technical inspection is in force or not. The calendar is set in this order: first yellow, then red, and finally green. Each one is assigned to a certain year. For example: the yellow stickers correspond to those ITVs that expire in 2023, 2026, 2029 and so on. The red ones are those that have expired in 2021 and will expire in 2024, 2027, 2030… and the green ones in 2022, 2025, 2028, 2031.
Other data contained in the ITV
It is also worth mentioning that this label or sticker also includes other information about the vehicle. The data that stands out the most is the year in which the ITV expires, the last two digits of it are placed on the sticker.
There are also some Roman numerals that indicate the Expiry month, which is perforated before being delivered by the inspector. In addition, it identifies station number of ITV that made the inspection and the shield of the autonomous community in which it is located.
Something important to assess about the same Technical Inspection sticker is that not carrying the ITV sticker on the car entails a fine, hence it is considered a minor infraction, for which the driver may be penalized with a sum of 100 euroswithout the withdrawal of points.