Steps to register a foreign vehicle in Spain
1) Gather the necessary documentation
In all cases you will need this documents:
- The car purchase contract
- The technical data sheet
- Local town registration “padron”
- NIE/DNI
- Passport
- DUA (For cars coming from outside the EU)
- Original vehicle registration certificate
- Quality and Environmental Compliance Certificate
- Depending on the language, a sworn translation may be necessary.
There are 3 scenarios:
You are a resident in Spain and bought a foreign car
No other documentation is needed.
Spaniards returning to Spain with a foreign car
You will need a consular discharge or proof of residence for the last 2 years.
Taxes exemptionForeigner moving to Spain with their vehicles
The document that is required is a change of residency.
How to obtain a ‘change of residency’ condition.
If you are a foreigner moving to Spain with their vehicles, you will need:
- One year of ownership of the vehicle in the country of origin.
- You must be registered in the spanish local town registration “padrón” less than a year before the car import.
2) Passing the Technical Inspection of the vehicle
Once we have the necessary documentation to proceed with the registration of the foreign car in Spain, the next step is to pass the MOT. In Spain is know as ITV (Technical inspection of vehicles)
Even if the foreign car has already passed the Technical Inspection in its country of origin, the technical inspection of the vehicle will be obligatory and necessary in Spain.
*Cars imported from outside te EU may require some adaptation of the vehicle to pass the ITV.
How to calculate car registration tax in Spain?
The price of registration tax for a foreign car in Spain will depend on the characteristics of the vehicle and the province where it is registered.
We can calculate the registration tax for foreign cars in Spain by applying a depreciation for age to the taxable value of the vehicle (value of the vehicle based on its sale price) and adding a percentage according to its CO2 emissions.
- 0%: foreign cars with emissions of less than or equal to 120g/km of CO2
- 4.75%: foreign cars with emissions of more than 120 and less than 160 g/km of CO2
- 9.75%: foreign cars with emissions greater than or equal to 160 and less than 200 g/km CO2
- 14.75%: foreign cars with emissions of 200 g/km CO2 or more
4) Road tax
To do this, you will have to go to the municipal council in the town hall of the municipality in which the vehicle owner is registered.
5) Obtaining temporary registration plates
If you want to drive your car while the registration of the foreign car in Spain is being processed, temporary registration plates, known as “green plates“, must be applied for. These plates will allow the vehicle to circulate in Spanish territory while the definitive registration plates are being processed.
Can I drive a car with a foreign number plate in Spain?
No, you can’t. Without green plates or temporary registration plates, it is not possible to drive a foreign car in Spain. If the police stop you, they will fine you and confiscate the car, even if they see it parked in a place where you must drive it to reach.
How to apply for a temporary registration for a foreign car in spain?
- Application on the official DGT form
- Corresponding fee paid (20,20€)
- Identification of the owner and interested party in obtaining the temporary number plates.
Price of registering a foreign car in Spain
How much does it cost to register a foreign car in Spain? The price for the complete service of registration of a foreign car in Spain, would be around 1.590 € approximately, while requesting these services without ITV would leave the price of our vehicle registration services in Spain for 1.100 €.
