{"id":130,"date":"2022-12-28T17:10:22","date_gmt":"2022-12-28T17:10:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.amarmatconsulting.com\/?page_id=130"},"modified":"2023-01-31T09:42:05","modified_gmt":"2023-01-31T09:42:05","slug":"buying-or-selling-a-car-in-spain","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/dev.amarmatconsulting.com\/buying-or-selling-a-car-in-spain\/","title":{"rendered":"BUYING OR SELLING A CAR IN SPAIN"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you are intending to bring your own car to drive through Spain you must have with you your passport, current driving licence, valid insurance and vehicle registration document. The minimum driving age in Spain is 18.<\/p>\n

According to Traffic Regulations, it is mandatory that you keep the following equipment in your vehicle, you may be fined if you do not carry these<\/span>:<\/p>\n

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  • Set of bulbs and tools necessary to replace them.<\/li>\n
  • Two red warning triangles officially approved by the Internal Ministry (Ministerio de Interior).<\/li>\n
  • Spare tyre and tools necessary to replace it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Children aged under 12 must travel in the back seats of cars unless the front seat is fitted with an approved child seat.<\/p>\n

    You may bring into Spain your EU registered car without further formality but you may not use it in Spain for more than 6 months in a calendar year. If you spend more than 6 months in any year in Spain, you will be considered resident and consequently you must obtain full national plates and pay the special vehicle registration tax (impuesto municipal sobre circulaci\u00f3n de veh\u00ed\u00adculos).<\/p>\n

    You may also matriculate your foreign car on Spanish plates, you should do it within 2 months from the time of entry to Spain.<\/p>\n

    Driving licences<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

    All EU driving licenses are recognized in Spain. If you are a citizen from the European Union, you may drive in Spain until your EU license expires, then you must apply for a Spanish driving license and proof your residency in Spain (showing your NIE no. would be enough).<\/p>\n

    If you are from outside the EU and wish to drive throughout the Spanish territory for long periods, then your driving license must be translated into Spanish by an official translator. You can also drive on an international license. After 1 year, you must obtain a Spanish driving license as you cannot continue driving under your own license duly translated, nor under an international permit. You should then apply for a Spanish driving license for which you must proof your residency in Spain.<\/p>\n

    Once you get your Spanish driving license, your foreign license is returned to the issuing office of your home country.<\/p>\n

    Importation of your car<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

    The procedures relating to imports of cars into Spain are complex.<\/p>\n

    If you are Spanish resident importing a vehicle into Spain, be aware that you must register it with the local authorities in the Spanish province where you are resident: the local provincial traffic department (Jefatura Provincial de Tr\u00e1fico), this will grant you permission to drive your foreign plated car through the Spanish territory.<\/p>\n

    EU citizens moving to Spain to take up official residence may bring their own car with them exempted from import duties. If you are from outside European Union, you may get the exemption from Spain\u2019s 10 per cent import duties, under the following conditions:<\/p>\n

    You must have owned your car for at least 6 months prior importing it into Spain.<\/p>\n

    You must have paid VAT in your country of origin, otherwise this tax shall be paid in Spain.<\/p>\n

    A special registration tax (impuesto municipal sobre circulaci\u00f3n de veh\u00ed\u00adculos) must be paid in Spain. This tax is calculated on the vehicle\u2019s current value (based on the original market price in Spain). The imported car that EU residents had owned for at least 6 months in Spain is not subject to this tax.<\/p>\n

    You must obtain a certificate of non-residence from your home country.<\/p>\n

    Once the importation procedure is completed, you will be issued a temporary registration plate, which enables you to drive your imported car in Spain.<\/p>\n

    Any concession on the duty-free import of cars applies only to people who take out an official residence permit in Spain.<\/p>\n

    Buying a car in Spain<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Foreigners, whether from the European Union or not, may buy a car in Spain, either a second or a new one, and have their car to use in Spain for a total of 6 moths (it is not necessary a 6-month continuous period) in any calendar year.<\/p>\n

    In order to buy a Spanish-registered car, foreigners need to meet one of the following requirements:<\/p>\n

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    • Have a NIE number.<\/li>\n
    • Have Residence card.<\/li>\n
    • Registration with the Town Hall ( this certificate is named \u201cpadr\u00f3n\u201d in Spain).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      New car<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

      The price for the same new car may vary in Spain from a dealer to another. Also, if you give your old car to pay the new one, you will find the price highly reduced, depending on your old car value.<\/p>\n

      In the event that the car model you have chosen is not available at the time of your request, you should fill in a purchase order for a new car. Pitfalls to avoid:<\/p>\n

      Make sure that the purchase price cannot vary while you are waiting for your new car and that the deposit of money you give takes part of the car final price.<\/p>\n

      The purchase order shall contain the features of the car you have chosen, as well as the date of supply.<\/p>\n

      In case you give your old car as part of the new car price, ask for a copy of your old car\u2019s sales contract, in order to inform the Provincial Traffic Authorities (Jefatura Provincial de Tr\u00e1fico) and the Town Council (Ayuntamiento) about the new owner name of your old vehicle; otherwise you may be still liable for taxes payment and possible traffic fines.<\/p>\n

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      • Once you are given your new vehicle, the dealer shall supply the following documents:<\/li>\n
      • The vehicle circulation permit.<\/li>\n
      • The technical sheet corresponding to your new car.<\/li>\n
      • A written guarantee of the car.<\/li>\n
      • The instructions and maintenance manual.<\/li>\n
      • The purchase invoice of the car.<\/li>\n
      • You must contract the mandatory car insurance. Non-residents buying a car in Spain will be exempt from the Special vehicle registration tax (impuesto municipal sobre circulaci\u00f3n de veh\u00ed\u00adculos).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Purchasers must pay the VAT at a rate of 21 percent and the registration tax. Non-EU foreigners may purchase new cars in Spain avoiding the VAT and vehicle registration tax payment.<\/p>\n

        Second hand car<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

        If you buy a second-hand car in Spain, whether privately or from a car dealer, you should be provided with the following documents:<\/p>\n

        The circulation permit (permiso de circulaci\u00f3n) duly signed on the reverse of the document, together with the technical sheet of the car.<\/p>\n

        Receipt of the municipal vehicle tax (Impuesto Municipal sobre veh\u00ed\u00adculos de tracci\u00f3n mec\u00e1nica). This is a municipal tax, which varies from town to town, you should keep this with you in your car.<\/p>\n

        ITV test certificate, when applicable. ITV is the inspection for vehicles older than 4 years to verify its condition.<\/p>\n

        Check the vehicle history before buying any car, as the vehicle may have past debts and the creditor is entitled to use the car as an asset for seizure.<\/p>\n

        Either the seller or buyer, depending on what both parties agreed, shall apply for a new registration certificate, in order to transfer the ownership of the vehicle (notificaci\u00f3n de transferencia de veh\u00ed\u00adculos), obtainable from the provincial traffic department. Both parties must sign this document.<\/p>\n

        The buyer must pay:<\/p>\n