Driving with a trailer that lacks a technical data sheet is punishable with a fine of up to 500 euros, according to traffic sanction regulations. The question is so common that it appears as an official question on DGT tests. The short answer is yes: all of them. In this guide, you’ll find the complete explanation, with the exact documentation required for each type of trailer in Spain.
- Yes. All trailers and semi-trailers must have a technical inspection card, including light trailers up to 750 kg MMA.
- Trailers up to 750 kg (category O1) do not undergo periodic inspections but must carry their technical data sheet on every trip.
- Those over 750 kg require their own red license plate, circulation permit, independent insurance, and annual ITV until 10 years old (biannual thereafter).
- Driving with a trailer without a technical data sheet is punishable by up to 500 euros; doing so without mandatory insurance, from 600 to 3,000 euros.
- Recovering the card for a trailer purchased without papers requires a simplified manufacturer's data sheet or one from a competent technician, and sometimes costs more than the savings from the purchase.
Direct answer: yes, all must have a technical inspection card
The General Vehicle Regulations mandate that every trailer and semi-trailer must have its own ITV card, regardless of its maximum authorized mass. This includes light trailers up to 750 kg, which many owners believe are exempt from any paperwork. The confusion arises from mixing two different concepts: having the card, which is always mandatory, and passing the periodic inspection, which depends on the weight.
In driving school tests, the question is answered with "yes, all." On the road, the Civil Guard can ask for the trailer's card at any checkpoint, just as they ask for the car's. Always carry it with you, in paper or electronic format.
What is the technical inspection card (and what documents are confused with it)
The technical inspection card, also called the technical data sheet, functions as the technical ID of the trailer. It includes the make, chassis number, homologation code, MMA, dimensions, and notes from each inspection the vehicle undergoes. It is issued by the manufacturer for new trailers and managed by the ITV station throughout its useful life. Since 2016, it has been issued in electronic format (eITV) for new vehicles.
It is worth separating three documents that are commonly confused. The ITV card identifies the trailer and its characteristics. The circulation permit authorizes driving and only exists for trailers over 750 kg. The periodic inspection is the physical examination at the station; how to pass it is explained in the guide to passing the trailer ITV the first time. Having a card does not imply passing an inspection: light trailers have the first but not the second.
A fourth document appears upon purchase: the European Certificate of Conformity (COC). It certifies that the model complies with community homologation and expedites registration. Serious manufacturers provide it as standard; if the seller doesn't have it, be suspicious.
How to read the trailer card: the four important data points
Before buying, renting, or selling a trailer, take two minutes to review the card. Four fields concentrate almost all subsequent problems. The first is the chassis number: it must match letter for letter the one engraved on the chassis. If it doesn't match, the document does not belong to that trailer, and the ITV will reject it.
The second is the homologation code, which certifies that the model was approved for circulation in the European Union. The third, the MMA and axle masses, which determine how much you can legally load and what license you need. The fourth are the reform annotations: hitches, tipping systems, or body changes must be listed there. An unannotated reform makes the trailer irregular even if the rest is up to date.
With these four data points verified, you know what you are buying and what obligations you are assuming. 90% of scares with used trailers are detected in this prior reading, according to the experience of workshops and inspection stations.
Light trailers (up to 750 kg): documentation required by the DGT
A category O1 trailer, with MMA equal to or less than 750 kg, is not registered separately. It circulates with a plate that reproduces the license plate of the towing vehicle and is usually covered by the towing vehicle's insurance. Confirm this with your insurer before the first trip, as some basic policies exclude it.
This simplicity does not exempt it from the key document. The light trailer must have its technical inspection card, and you must carry it when driving. In addition, the car's hitch is a modification that must be legalized in the ITV of the towing vehicle and noted on its data sheet. Without this annotation, the combination is subject to penalty even if the trailer is in order.
The 750 kg limit refers to the MMA, not the weight you load that day. A light trailer for the quad or motorcycle rarely approaches the limit, but a platform loaded with firewood or construction material does. Before buying, calculate how much your car can tow: we develop this with real examples in MMA and useful load: how to calculate it without exceeding limits and without fines. Exceeding the MMA invalidates insurance and homologation for practical purposes.
Trailers and semi-trailers over 750 kg: independent vehicle
From 750 kg MMA (categories O2, O3, and O4), the DGT treats the trailer as a vehicle independent of the car. Documentary obligations multiply:
- Own red-background license plate, with format R 0000 BBB, placed in addition to the towing vehicle's plate.
- Own circulation permit, issued by the Traffic Headquarters upon registration.
- Technical inspection card, same as for light trailers.
- Own third-party liability insurance: the car's policy does not cover trailers over 750 kg.
- Periodic technical inspection at an ITV station, with an independent schedule from the car.
The periodicity is set by Royal Decree 920/2017: trailers over 750 kg undergo annual ITV until 10 years old and biannual thereafter. Category O2 caravans have their own regime (exempt until 6 years, biannual thereafter), but a machinery carrier or a container carrier follow the general schedule.
These trailers are equipped with mandatory inertia brakes, which increases the cost and capability of the unit. If you're wondering whether to stay below or above 750 kg, compare costs and obligations in trailer with brakes vs. without brakes: when it's worth paying more. For professional use, a machinery carrier of 2,700 or 3,500 kg MMA recovers the extra paperwork with each haul.
Summary table: obligations depending on the trailer's MMA
| Obligation | Up to 750 kg (O1) | Over 750 kg (O2, O3, O4) |
|---|---|---|
| Technical inspection card | Yes, mandatory | Yes, mandatory |
| License plate | Of the car, duplicated on rear plate | Own, red (R 0000 BBB) |
| Circulation permit | No | Yes |
| Insurance | Normally covered by car's insurance (verify policy) | Mandatory own policy |
| Periodic ITV inspection | Exempt | Annual up to 10 years, biannual thereafter |
| License | B (if the combined weight does not exceed 3,500 kg) | B, B96 or B+E depending on combined MMA |
What to do if your trailer does not have an ITV card
The typical case: you buy a used trailer "without papers" or recover one that has been sitting on a property for years. Without a card, you cannot register it, insure it, or drive it legally. Recovering it is possible, but the cost can exceed the savings from the purchase.
A duplicate is requested at an ITV station. For light trailers, you need the manufacturer's simplified data sheet, which includes the homologation code, or a simplified technical data sheet signed by a competent technician if the manufacturer no longer exists. If the trailer has an electronic eITV, the duplicate is requested directly from the DGT's electronic headquarters. A custom-made trailer without homologation requires a single-unit homologation: an engineer's project, tests, and several hundred euros.
Before paying for a used trailer, demand to see the card and verify that the chassis number engraved on the chassis matches the document. We review all prior checks in new vs. used trailer: when it makes sense. Subtract from the price what it will cost to legalize it: that is the real figure of the operation.
Fines: what you risk by driving without proper documentation
Penalties depend on whether the document exists but you don't carry it, or if it simply doesn't exist. This is the table applied by officers at a checkpoint:
| Infraction | Indicative Penalty |
|---|---|
| Not carrying the card (if it exists) | Minor, up to 60 € |
| Driving with a trailer without a technical data sheet or homologation | Serious, up to 500 € |
| Expired periodic ITV (over 750 kg) | 200 € |
| Driving with unfavorable ITV | Up to 500 € and immobilization |
| Without mandatory insurance (over 750 kg) | From 600 to 3,000 € |
In addition to the fine, the immobilization of the vehicle combination at the checkpoint may occur. With a boat, a mini-excavator, or professional cargo on board, the real cost includes towing, impound fees, and lost work days.
A common aggravating factor in summer: specific trailer checks on routes to the coast. A vehicle combination stopped on a Saturday in July with a boat behind it ruins the entire weekend, in addition to hitting the wallet. Checking the document folder takes two minutes; retrieving a trailer from impound takes several days and several hundred euros.
Buying with documentation resolved from day one
The cheapest way to solve all of the above is not to have to solve it. All Remolque.es trailers come with European homologation and technical inspection card included, ready to drive (up to 750 kg) or to be registered with a red plate (above). The PTAC can be configured up to 3,500 kg according to your license and your vehicle.
The mechanics complement the paperwork: hot-dip galvanized chassis, 2 mm steel compared to the standard 1.5 mm, and 2 years warranty on manufacturing defects. Plus, you always deal with the same person: Arnaud advises you on selection, registration, and after-sales, without going through a call center.
If you move machinery, modules or goods, start with the range of cargo trailers. For 10 or 20-foot shipping containers, the container carriers come with complete documentation and the certificate of conformity in the document box. Consult without obligation: we will confirm what paperwork applies to your specific case before purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
Does a trailer under 750 kg need to pass the ITV?
It does not undergo its own periodic inspection. However, it must have a technical inspection card and carry it on every trip. Furthermore, the car's hitch must be legalized and noted on the towing vehicle's technical data sheet. The rear plate reproduces the license plate of the car towing it.
What is the difference between an ITV card and a circulation permit?
The ITV card describes the trailer's technical characteristics and its inspections. The circulation permit authorizes its use on public roads and only exists for trailers over 750 kg MMA, which are registered with their own red license plate. Light trailers only need the card.
Does the technical inspection card expire?
The document itself does not expire. What expires is the periodic inspection noted on it, which only applies to trailers over 750 kg: annual until 10 years old and biannual thereafter. For light trailers, the card accompanies the trailer throughout its life without renewals.
How do I get a duplicate if I have lost the card?
At any ITV station, by presenting the manufacturer's simplified data sheet with the homologation code or a simplified data sheet prepared by a competent technician. If the trailer has an electronic eITV, the duplicate is requested from the DGT's electronic headquarters.
What license do I need to tow a trailer over 750 kg?
It depends on the MMA of the combination. With a B license, you can tow it if the car and trailer together do not exceed 3,500 kg. Between 3,500 and 4,250 kg, you need the B96 authorization. Above that, and up to 7,000 kg for the combination, the B+E license.
Do semi-trailers also need a technical inspection card?
Yes. The obligation applies equally to trailers and semi-trailers, without exception by type or use. Semi-trailers always exceed 750 kg, so they require a red license plate, circulation permit, their own insurance, and an annual periodic inspection until 10 years of age.
Does a new trailer come with the card included?
Yes. The manufacturer provides the technical inspection card (or electronic eITV) along with the European Certificate of Conformity. With these two documents, a light trailer can be driven from day one, and one over 750 kg can be registered with Traffic without additional procedures.
