Registration · Moving to Spain
Register your car when you move to Spain, tax-free
If you take up residence in Spain and bring your vehicle, you must register it here. The good news is that, if you meet the requirements, you can be exempt from registration tax. Handling this exemption is one of our specialities, and it is where most mistakes are made.
Usual requirements for the exemption
- Having had your usual residence outside Spain for at least 12 months before the move.
- Having owned and used the vehicle for at least 6 months before moving.
- Not selling or transferring the vehicle for 12 months after registration.
- Applying for the exemption to the Spanish Tax Agency (form 06) before registration. You have 60 days from when you start using the vehicle in Spain.
Every case has its nuances. We review your situation before we start and tell you whether you qualify for the exemption.
Documents you need
- Vehicle documents from your country of origin and Certificate of Conformity (COC), if you have it; if not, we can help you get it.
- Proof of the purchase date or of how long the vehicle has been in your name.
- Consular deregistration certificate, which is what is usually requested (or, failing that, proof of deregistration from the residents’ register of your previous country), registration on the Spanish town hall register (padrón) and documents proving you have owned and used the vehicle for at least 6 months (registration certificate, insurance).
- Your NIE or DNI and your Spanish padrón certificate.
Important: photos are enough for the quote, but to register the vehicle we need all its documents in original. Copies and photocopies are not accepted.
If you are coming from outside the European Union
If you bring the car from the UK, Switzerland or another non-EU country, it also has to clear customs. If you meet the requirements for a change of residence, it is also exempt from customs duty and import VAT, provided you import it within 12 months of taking up residence in Spain.
Why choose us
The change-of-residence exemption is one of the procedures with the most requirements and paperwork. If it is not filed correctly, the exemption is lost and the tax has to be paid. We have been handling vehicle paperwork for over 30 years and regularly resolve complex exemptions.
Timeframes, green plates and delivery
- Green temporary plates: in 3 days at most. They only allow you to drive in Spain while registration is completed, and always with short-term (per-day) insurance, which we can also arrange for you.
- They are not always needed. It depends on the documents, the plates the vehicle arrives with and the type of sale. When you send us the documents, we tell you whether you need them.
- Permanent registration: 3–5 working days from when we receive the original documents at our office. The DGT usually issues the temporary authorisation quickly, but takes longer to issue the permanent registration certificate.
- Delivery: we send you the plates and the permanent registration certificate together, in a single courier delivery. If you need the plates sooner, ask us and we can arrange an earlier delivery with the temporary authorisation.
Issues that can come up during registration
They are not common, but it is worth knowing about them before you start:
- Tax Agency check. The Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT) may review the import before authorising registration. Checks are random, but more likely with high-value vehicles. They usually ask for the invoice and the bank transfer receipt for the payment to the seller, and for proof of how the vehicle was brought to Spain: the CMR if a transport company moved it, or tickets, fuel receipts and tolls if you drove it yourself. If it happens, we guide you through the whole process and prepare and submit the documentation for you.
- Vehicles without a COC. If you do not have one, we obtain it through our partner engineer, without you having to travel. Some vehicles, especially older ones, cannot obtain it and therefore cannot be registered in Spain. That is why we confirm feasibility from your documents before starting any procedure.
- Later modifications. The vehicle must not have any modification made after the date of its COC or documents: if it does, those documents are no longer valid.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to register my car in Spain?
As a general rule, you have 30 days from when you start using the vehicle in Spain to file the registration tax; if you apply for the change-of-residence exemption, 60 days. It is best to start as soon as possible.
Can I sell the car later?
Yes, but not during the 12 months after registration if you used the exemption.
Can you do it if I live outside Valencia?
Yes, we work with clients all over Spain.
Do you also register motorbikes, vans, motorhomes and commercial vehicles?
Yes. We register all types of vehicles: cars, motorbikes, vans, motorhomes and commercial vehicles. The documents are very similar and, if anything differs, we will tell you with the quote.
Does it take longer if the car is registered in the Basque Country?
Yes. The regional tax offices there usually ask for the original documents to settle the taxes, so it takes longer and the cost changes. We will show it in your quote.
Get your fixed quote
- Reply within 24 working hours.
- Chartered Gestores Administrativos.
- The whole process done remotely.
Prefer to chat? Message us on WhatsApp (messages only) at +34 661 81 17 33 or email us at gestoria@asesoriagimeno.es. We reply in English, and you are also welcome to visit our office in Silla.