IF YOU ARE NOT MOVING TO SPAIN WITH YOUR CAR, NO AMERICAN/CANADIAN CARS PRIOR TO 2015 CAN BE REGISTERED IN SPAIN (except classical vehicles)

How to register a foreign car in Spain?

There are two procedures to register a foreign vehicle in Spain, and it depends on whether the owner is a resident in Spain and it is a commercial import, or he has moved to Spain and the car was already his property and he wants to bring it as part of his estate. In the first case you will have to pay import taxes, while if it is a change of residence or move you will be exempt from paying these taxes.

Types of registration of foreign cars in Spain

Register a foreign car due to change of residence

In this case, vehicles registered prior to 2015 CAN be registered in Spain.

The most important thing when registering a foreign car due to a change of residence is that you are exempt from paying import taxes.

This requires documentation that proves that you are transferring your residence to Spain: consular deregistration from the country of origin, contract or original invoice for the vehicle, data that you have moved to Spain, registration contract. work or rent a home in Spain.

Register a foreign car without change of residence

The purchase of a car prior to 2015 to import to Spain does not allow registration, except for classic vehicles (more than 30 years old).

If you are Spanish or a resident in Spain, what you are doing is a commercial import, and you will have to pay import taxes, in addition to the registration procedures that must be done with each vehicle (imported or not).

Upon crossing the border we will make an Import Clearance at Customs, which will issue a DUA where the amount to be paid for the vehicle Import tax will be collected.

What is the vehicle registration tax in Spain for change of residence?

Those who transport their foreign car to Spain and want to register it for a change of residence or move will be exempt from paying certain taxes.

In other words, for the registration of foreign vehicles in Spain due to a change of residence, the registration tax will NOT be paid.

Documentation to register a foreign car in Spain with change of residence

In the case of wanting to move to Spain and bring your car or vehicle, this is the documentation that we must provide to register the foreign car due to change of residence:

for the Owner

NIF/DNI/Passport of the owner

Consular withdrawal of the owner

for the Vehicle

Technical sheet and circulation permit

Purchase invoice or Purchase and sale contract

for the Relocation

DUA Single Administrative Document

To justify the change of residence Customs can request an employment contract, a house contract in Spain, etc.

What is the vehicle registration tax in Spain WITHOUT change of residence?

Those who want to bring their car or motor vehicle to Spain without a change of residence will be required to pay the vehicle registration tax.

The car registration rate in Spain will depend on the make and model of the vehicle, cylinder capacity and, most importantly, gas emissions.

In addition, to obtain final registration plates, you must pay a fee 98.78 €.

Documentation to register a foreign car in Spain without change of residence

If you want to import a foreign car to Spain without a change of residence, it will be a commercial car import.

In that case, this is the documentation that we must provide to register a car purchased abroad:

for the Owner

NIF/DNI/Passport of the owner

for the Vehicle

Technical sheet and circulation permit

Purchase invoice or Purchase and sale contract

for the Relocation

DUA Single Administrative Document

To justify the change of residence, Customs can request an employment contract, a house contract in Spain, etc.

Calculation of car import tax in Spain

What is the customs tax for commercial import of vehicles in Spain?

Before registering a foreign car in Spain WITHOUT change of residence, the corresponding import taxes must be paid at Customs, as it is considered a commercial import.

Car import to Spain tax calculator

The amount to pay at Customs is 21% VAT plus 10% Tariffs on the value of the vehicle. The Value of the Vehicle is calculated with the tables of BOE-A-2023-26631 Order HFP/1396/2023.

That is, the approximate amount of import taxes results from multiplying the Residual Value of the Vehicle by 21% and then by 10%.

For example, according to spanish Treasury tables, the value of a BMW M5 Competition xDrive, registered in November 2022, is €116,300.

Then you have to calculate the depreciation of the vehicle, which according to the same tables corresponds to 84% of the initial value.

The BMW M5 has a residual value of €97,692.

This car would pay import taxes, by tariff (10%): €97,692 x 10% = €9,769

then added the amount of VAT (21%): €97,692 + €9,769 = €107,461 * 21% = €22,566

This must be paid by transfer to the customs agent who is in charge of import clearance (obtaining the DUA). Who will also have to pay for their administrative services, between €200 and €250.

Request green plates at the DGT

In the case of non-intra-community vehicles (from outside Europe), in order to take the vehicle to pass the ITV (Technical Vehicle Inspection) we have to request temporary registration plates or green plates.

They are also necessary if it is a new vehicle purchased in Europe, because import license plates are only valid for 30 days. If in those 30 days we can bring the car to Spain and pass the ITV, the green plates are not necessary.

ATTENTION: we are fast and efficient and rarely take so long to pass the ITV. Yes, we are that good.

How long does it take to have green plates?

Normally between 1 and 2 weeks we can have the plates in our possession, which depends on the DGT, and it is valid for circulation for 30 days.

What does it cost to request green plates from the DGT?

The administrative cost is €21.61 in 2026, and you must pay the 1.4 tax document, but it is something that is included in the service we provide to register your foreign car in Spain.