Vehicle Registration & DGT Service

Drive legally in Spain without the stress.

Whether it is importing, re-registering, or getting your Spanish driving license – we handle the Spanish traffic authority (DGT) for you.

Professional, fast & legally secure.

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Why is Spanish vehicle registration essential?

As a resident in Spain, you are legally required to re-register your foreign vehicle within a certain period. We handle the paperwork for you.

Vehicle Import & Re-registration (Matriculación)
Exchange of foreign driving licenses
Change of ownership for used cars
Payment of vehicle taxes & fees
Technical inspections (ITV)
Vehicle deregistration (Baja)

Everything About Vehicle Imports & DGT Rules

1. Technical Specs Sheet

We work with registered engineers to create the Ficha Técnica Reducida (Reduced Technical Sheet). This translates your vehicle's domestic technical parameters into standard EU values required by Spanish authorities.

2. The Import ITV Test

Every imported vehicle must pass a specific technical inspection (ITV) at a local test station. We prepare the paperwork, check that your vehicle is compliant (e.g. headlamp alignment), and help coordinate this mandatory test.

3. Paying Spanish Road Taxes

We calculate and process the necessary taxes: the municipal road tax (IVTM) at your local town hall, and the Spanish Registration Tax (IEDMT - Modelo 576), which depends on your vehicle's CO2 emissions.

4. Final DGT Registration

Once all taxes are paid and the ITV sheet is issued, we present the application to the DGT (Tráfico) to register your vehicle. We secure the new registration document (Permiso de Circulación) and print your physical plates.

Driving Time Limits in Spain

As a tourist, you can drive a foreign-registered vehicle for up to 6 months per calendar year. If you become a resident or stay longer than 183 days, you must re-register the vehicle within 30 days of residency.

Matriculation Tax (IEDMT)

This tax is calculated based on your vehicle's CO2 emissions (using the official WLTP/NEDC values). Rates vary from 0% (below 120g/km CO2) up to 14.75% (or 16% in certain autonomous regions) of the vehicle's depreciated value.

Tax-Free Relocation

If you are relocating to Spain and applying for residency, you may be completely exempt from the Matriculation Tax. You must apply within 60 days of obtaining your Padron, and must have owned the vehicle abroad for at least 6 months prior.

Campers & Motorhomes

Importing campervans and motorhomes requires strict European Certificate of Conformity (CoC) validation. RHD models and custom modifications require additional gas/electrical safety certification to pass the inspection.

Trailers & Towbars

Light trailers (under 750kg) use the towing vehicle's plates but still require their own Ficha Técnica. Heavy trailers (over 750kg) must be independently registered with the DGT and carry a distinct red registration plate.

Historic Vehicles (Oldtimers)

Vehicles over 30 years old can be registered as Historic. This status grants access to Low Emission Zones (ZBE), extends the ITV inspection intervals to up to 4 years, and qualifies the vehicle for classic car insurance discounts.

Green Plates (Transit Plates)

If your foreign registration or MOT expires while your Spanish registration is being processed, we can obtain 60-day temporary green plates (Placas Verdes) so you can drive legally to test centers.

Transfer of Ownership

Buying or selling a Spanish-registered vehicle? We handle the entire transfer process (Transferencia de Vehículos) at the DGT, ensuring the buyer is registered and the transfer tax (Modelo 620/621) is paid.

Environmental Stickers

Low Emission Zones (ZBE) are mandatory in Spanish municipalities with over 50,000 residents. We check your vehicle's emissions class and register/issue the corresponding DGT Environmental Sticker (Distintivo Ambiental).

Headlamp Realignment

Right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles from the UK must have their headlamps realigned or replaced so they dip to the right. Without this mechanical adjustment, the vehicle will fail the Spanish ITV test.

Detailed Vehicle Importation Guide & FAQ

Learn everything about import duties, the ITV test process, tax exemptions, and driving limits in Spain.

Can I drive a foreign-registered car in Spain indefinitely?
No. The rules depend strictly on your residency status:
  • Non-Residents / Tourists: You can drive a foreign vehicle in Spain for a maximum of 6 months (183 days) in a calendar year. The vehicle must remain fully roadworthy and legal in its home country (e.g. have a valid MOT, road tax, and insurance).
  • Residents: Once you establish residency in Spain (or obtain your Padrón certificate), you must begin the re-registration process within 30 days. If the vehicle is not registered or in the process of registration after this time, you face severe fines and vehicle impoundment.
What are the risks of driving an illegal or unregistered vehicle?
If the local police (Guardia Civil / Policía Local) stop you and determine your vehicle is overstaying or that you are a resident driving on foreign plates, they will **impound** the vehicle.

To recover your vehicle from the municipal pound, you will have to pay substantial towing charges, daily storage fees, and an administrative fine (often between €500 and €2,000). You will also be forced to initiate the Spanish registration process and present proof of Spanish insurance before the vehicle is released.
How much tax will I pay to import my vehicle?
Importing a vehicle involves three main tax components:
  • Customs Duty & VAT (Outside EU): If importing from a non-EU country (like the UK post-Brexit, Switzerland, or USA), you must pay 10% customs duty and 21% Spanish VAT (IVA), calculated on the vehicle's current market value, unless you qualify for a transfer of residence exemption.
  • Registration Tax (IEDMT): This is a state-level tax based on CO2 emissions. Vehicles emitting less than 120g/km pay 0%. Between 121g/km and 160g/km the rate is 4.75%. Between 161g/km and 200g/km it is 9.75%. Above 200g/km, it ranges from 14.75% to 16% depending on your region.
  • Municipal Road Tax (IVTM): Paid annually to your local town hall, based on the vehicle's fiscal horsepower (Caballos Fiscales).
What documentation do I need to prepare?
To register your vehicle, you must provide:
  1. The **original vehicle registration document** (e.g. V5C Logbook for the UK, Fahrzeugbrief/Fahrzeugschein for Germany).
  2. A **purchase invoice** or sales agreement (with Spanish translation if required).
  3. Your passport, NIE, or Spanish residency card.
  4. The **Certificate of Conformity (CoC)** or a *Ficha Técnica Reducida* created by a registered engineer.
  5. **Proof of entry date** (e.g., ferry booking, shipping document, toll receipts) to confirm compliance with time limits.
How does the ITV Import Test differ from a standard inspection?
Unlike a standard annual safety test, an import ITV checks that the vehicle complies with European safety and environmental regulations for entry into the Spanish database. The station verifies chassis numbers, noise levels, emissions, dimensions, and homologation codes.

UK Right-Hand-Drive Cars: You must realign or replace the headlamps so they dip to the right. Additionally, the rear fog light must be positioned on the left side or center of the vehicle; if it is positioned only on the right, it must be mechanically rewired to the left.
Can I register trailers, motorhomes, and caravans?
Yes, but they are treated differently:
  • Trailers under 750kg: They do not require a separate license plate (they use the towing car's plate) and do not pay registration taxes, but they must have an official Spanish Ficha Técnica card.
  • Trailers over 750kg & Caravans: They require separate registration, their own red license plates, separate annual ITV tests, and independent insurance coverage.
  • Motorhomes: Must have standard European Type Approval. Non-EU imports require individual technical projects. Gas and electrical installations must be certified by a Spanish technician.

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Translations

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