Buying and Selling a Car in Spain
Information on how, as a foreigner in Spain, you can buy a new or used car. Includes information on what forms to fill out and how to find your local traffic department (Jefatura de Trafico)...
A
foreigner may buy a Spanish-registered car in Spain provided they have one of
the following:
- an official
residency card (Tarjeta
de Residencia) or
- proof that
they are a Spanish home owner (by showing title deeds) or
- documentation
that proves the holder is a registered member of the local community,
the certificado
de empadronamiento (available from the Town Hall
/ Ayuntamiento)
issued within the three months prior to the purchase) or
- a rental
contract for a duration of minimum one year or
- an NIE/NIF number
(Foreigner's Identification Number) in Spain
Buying a New or Used Car in Spain
A new
or used vehicle bought (or leased) from a dealership will almost certainly have
the registration and ownership transfer handled by the dealer. The dealer may
also offer insurance contracts. Many dealerships will take the old vehicle as
part exchange.
Used
cars (coches de segunda mano / coches de occasion) are
available for purchase through dealerships or private sale. They may be
advertised in automobile magazines and journals such as Coche Actual, Mi Coche, Motor en Mano, and Anuncio Motor,
through classified advertisements in newspapers, or on websites such as Vibbo.
When
buying a second-hand used car it is important to see originals of all the
paperwork. This is particularly important when buying privately, to ensure that
the person selling the car has the right to sell it. Be sure to match the name
on the paperwork to those on the sellers' personal identification document.
It is
also advisable to request a vehicle report (Informe de Cargas) before buying a second-hand
car. This document will inform the purchaser of any outstanding debts or
embargoes the vehicle may have. The Informe
de Cargas can be requested by appointment at the xxx, by calling 060 or
online.
For
full details visit the Dirección General de Tráfico, (DGT) website
Once
the sale is agreed, the seller provides the following:
- Vehicle registration
document (Permiso
de Circulación)
- Proof of
roadworthiness (a valid ITV
test certificate)
- Receipt
for municipal
vehicle tax (Impuesto
Municipal sobre Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica)
- Personal
identification such as an NIE/NIF card (plus photocopy for the buyer)
The
buyer and seller should draw up a sale
agreement (Contrato
de Compraventa) or the seller may provide an invoice. Either
should note the details of the vehicle, names of buyer and seller, the sale
price agreed and date and time that the transfer takes place (this final
point is so that if there are traffic fines associated with the vehicle they
can be assigned to the correct person).
The
buyer provides a transfer
of ownership form (Solicitud
de Transmisión de Vehículos) which is signed by the buyer and the
seller. It is a duplicate form with the buyer and seller each keeping a copy.
Note:
Further documentation may be requested by some province or autonomous region
authorities.
- The transfer
of ownership form (Solicitud
de Transmisión de Vehículos) can be downloaded from the DGT (Dirección General de
Tráfico) website
Payment
A
bank cheque (Cheque
Bancario) is generally regarded as the normal way to make large
payments in a private transaction in Spain. Personal cheques are not
guaranteed.
Insurance
The
existing insurance may be transferred by the seller to the new owner. The
seller may instead choose to cancel the policy or transfer it to another
vehicle and the new owner may arrange their own insurance. The insurance must
be arranged before the new owner drives the vehicle.
Registration of the Change of Owner (Transferencia de Vehículos)
Transfer
of ownership is finalised at the Jefatura
de Tráfico. The buyer and seller may go together to submit
paperwork, or do it individually. It is possible to visit the traffic office in
person or to employ a gestor to
do so.
What the seller does
The
seller should notify the local Traffic Office (Jefatura de Tráfico) of sale or transfer.
Take a copy of the registration document and completed transfer of ownership
form to the traffic department.
Within
15 days of the sale, the buyer should be able to provide the seller with proof
that the paperwork has been completed. If this is not possible the seller
should contact the local Traffic Office to inform them that the car has been
sold (notificación de
venta).
Use
the Notificación
Transmisión de Vehículos form.
- Notification
of sale form Notificación Transmisión de Vehículos
(Spanish)
It is
important to make sure that the transfer is properly completed, otherwise the
seller may be held responsible for the unpaid tax or fines incurred by the new
owner. The seller may apply to the local Traffic Office for deregistration
papers (baja de vehículo)
to avoid later consequences.
What the buyer does
The
buyer must register the vehicle in their name at the vehicle registry (Registro de Vehículos)
at the local traffic department (Jefatura
de Tráfico).
This
transfer of the vehicle's registration document must be made within 30 days of
purchase. The cost of the transfer is currently 4 percent of the value of the
vehicle, however if a buyer chooses to use the help of a gestor, the buyer will
pay an additional fee for this service.
The
documents to supply are:
- The copy of
the transfer of ownership form (Solicitud
de transmisión de vehículos)
- The copy of
the sale agreement and a copy of the ID of the seller
- The relevant
paperwork provided by the seller:
- Vehicle
registration document (Permiso
de Circulación)
- ITV
certificate as proof of roadworthiness
- Receipt for
municipal vehicle tax
In
addition, a foreign buyer will need to provide the following documents to
complete the transfer:
- Proof of
habitation in Spain as outlined above (proof by means of residencia, NIE
certificate, local town registry document, Certificado de Empadronamiento,
property title deeds or rental contract)
Scrapping a Vehicle
A
vehicle can only be scrapped in an authorised centre (Centros Autorizados de
Tratamiento de Vehículos).
- Find a list
of authorised centres
Further Information
- Information
from the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT)(in
Spanish)