Registering a foreign car in Spain: complete guide

If you live in a Spanish territory and want to bring your car to Spain, in this post of BMI Brokers’ blog we bring you a complete guide for registering a foreign car in Spain. 

We detail you how to register a foreign car in Spain and thus drive on the Spanish roads with your vehicle according to the regulations.

Documentation for registering a foreign car in Spain

Any national or foreigner who is resident in Spain has the obligation to register a vehicle, foreign or not.

When registering a foreign car in Spain, the following documents must be presented at the Provincial Traffic Headquarters (Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico) nearest to the place you reside:

• Application in official form, you can download it here or get it through specialized agencies, and proof of payment of the relevant fee (97.80€).
• ITV card (original and copies).
• Proof of payment of Road Tax (Impuesto de circulación). This procedure must be carried out at the Town Hall of the city where the interested party resides.
• Proof of payment of Registration Tax (Impuesto de Matriculación). This must be settled at the Tax Office by completing model 576.
• Identity card of the interested party. Individuals must present their ID card, driving license or residence card. In the case of legal entities, the tax identification card (NIF) and the accreditation of the representative signed by him/her. Depending on if it is a new or secondhand car bought in the European Union, or a car bought in countries outside the European Union, together with the documentation mentioned above, you will have to present the following documentation.
• In the case of a new car purchased in an EU Member State, you must provide the technical sheet of the car and the proof of the VAT (IVA) payment.
• If you are buying a second-hand car in a member state of the European Union, you must present the original documentation and the technical sheet of the vehicle, as well as the sales contract and an official translation into Spanish, and pay the corresponding tax.
• In the case of a foreign vehicle purchased in a country not belonging to the European Union, the interested party must present the original documentation and the ITV card indicating the importation of the car or the Unique Administrative Document (Documento Único Administrativo – DUA) issued by Border Control.

Registering a foreign car in Spain, step by step

These are the steps to follow when registering a foreign car in Spain:

Moving the vehicle to Spain

The first step is to transfer the vehicle to Spanish territory. Depending on the place of origin, the interested party should study which route is more economical: by road, by boat, by train… or you can drive to Spain yourself, but there are cases in which the journey can take more than one or two days.

ITV Test

It is likely that the vehicle has already passed the ITV test in its country of origin or an equivalent test, but in Spain the regulations state that foreign vehicles have the obligation of taking the ITV test in Spain, even if they have already taken it in their home country.

Vehicles from the European Union normally have no problem passing the ITV test. However, in some cases, vehicle components may have to be modified to comply with Spanish regulations.

For the ITV test you will need the technical sheet and the registration certificate or equivalent document from the country of origin. We recommend that you make an appointment in advance in order to avoid unnecessary delays.

Registration Tax for foreign vehicles

Once you have passed the ITV test, the next step in registering a foreign vehicle in Spain is to pay the registration tax (Impuesto de Matriculación).

To do this, as we indicated at the beginning of this post, you must pay the Registration Tax at the Tax Office by filling in model 576 and paying the corresponding fee.

In addition, in this same administration you can present model 300 corresponding to the payment of VAT, if the vehicle purchased is new, or model 309 corresponding to the Transfer Tax, if the purchase has been made between individuals and the vehicle is second hand. You must also present the Unique Administrative Document (Documento Único Administrativo – DUA) if the car is imported from a non-EU country.

Road tax

Once the model Registration Tax has been presented to the Tax Agency and the corresponding fees have been paid, the next step when registering a foreign car in Spain is to go to the City Council of the place of residence of the interested party and pay the road tax.

As the road tax is a function of the local council, the payment of the fees can vary.

Registering a foreign car in Spain

Once you have all the documentation gathered, and translated by an official interpreter if necessary, the interested party must present it to the Provincial Traffic Headquarters (Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico) and pay the corresponding tax.

With this procedure you will register the vehicle and obtain a new registration number to be able to put it on the car.

How much does it cost to register a foreign car in Spain?

There is no exact price for registering a foreign car in Spain. As you will have seen during the post, the payment of fees and other costs will depend on the different organizations involved in the process and the Autonomous Communities.

In addition to the other costs such as the translation of documents, the transfer of the vehicle or the arrangements that have to be made depending on the ITV test, among others.

Car insurance

Another aspect to take into account when importing and registering a foreign vehicle in Spain is to take out a car insurance, as it is compulsory according to Spanish regulations.

At BMI Spain, insurance broker, we can help you find the car insurance in Spain that best suits your needs. We will show you the best prices from the main insurance companies and advise you, without obligation, so that you can find the policy that you really need.

For more information, do not hesitate to contact us, we will be delighted to help you.