There is a new book out called 'In The Garlic' www.inthegarlic.com it's an informative and interesting look at the more quirky side of Spanish living.  For example, the following is an entry in the book:

ITV (Pronounced ee-tay-OO-vay). Not a defunct television channel, but Inspección Técnica de Vehículos and the Spanish equivalent of the MOT. On a new car it's four years before you are required to roll up at your local ITV depot, take a number, and wait nine hours to put your car through the hoops. You probably won't understand any of the instructions, most of which consist of utterances such as: “da-lay, da-lay, da-lay” (give it one, i.e. switch on the windscreen wipers, squirt the water spray, beep the horn etc.), tee-ra, tee-ra, tee-ra (keep going back), and “¡Para! (Stop!)”. If all goes well, the car's ficha técnica (technical specifications card) will be stamped and you'll get a nice sticker for your windscreen. Otherwise, you have two months to get the vehicle into roadworthy condition. Driving without an up-to-date ITV will lose you four points off your licence under the new points system.

The book is well worth a read as it unravells some of the mysteries we are confronted with on a regular basis.

Nigel