Living in Spain 
Motoring Buying a Car
Motoring Buying a Car
Buying a Spanish Car
Whilst hiring a car is convenient, if you are going to be spending a considerable amount of time in Spain, it can start to become costly. With new car prices and fuel costs considerably lower in Spain than the UK many people opt instead to buy a car. Remember that second hand, or used, cars in Spain hold their value more than their UK counterparts, resulting in them costing somewhat more than you would expect to pay in the UK.
In order to purchase a car, new or second hand, you have to either own a property in Spain or have a rental contract for one year or more. You also need to be registered as an inhabitant of your municipality and be in possession of an NIE number or certificate of residencia.
Road tax in Spain is paid to the local authority between March and May of each year, and is known as ‘impuesto municipal sobre vehiculos de tracción mecánica.’ Rates are set by individual municipalities, and are based on a combination of the ‘fiscal horsepower’ of the vehicle and number of residents in the municipality; the larger the town, the higher the rate will be. As with all Spanish taxes, the onus is on you to ensure that it is paid. Should you try to sell a car that has not had its road tax paid; you will be in for a nasty shock as the accrued fines and interest for non payment are very steep. Similarly, if you buy a car without confirming that all taxes have been paid you may well discover that you are liable for a substantial amount.
All cars over 4 years old need to be checked regularly to confirm that they are roadworthy. This test is carried out at government run ITV centres, which can be found in larger towns and cities. Once a car has passed its ITV, it will be issued with a sticker stating when the next test is due. If you are caught without a current ITV sticker, you will be liable for a fine of between €90 and €300. Your license could also be confiscated for up to 3 months or until you produce proof of the vehicle passing the ITV.
How often should vehicles be tested?
Private Vehicles
Up to four years old - exempt
Four to ten years - every two years
Over ten years - every year
Caravans
Up to six years - exempt
Over six years - every two years
Motorcycles
Up to five years old - exempt
Over five years - every two years
If you are buying either a new or used car from a dealership, all the necessary transfer paperwork should be done for you, however if you are buying privately it is important to check the following:-
Does the car have a valid ITV certificate?
Has it been involved in a major accident?
Does the chassis number tally with the registration document?
Have you received the transfer of ownership document?
Has the road tax been paid?
Who is going to pay the transfer of ownership tax? This is frequently paid by the owner, who has already incorporated it into the asking price.
If you have confirmed that all is well you then have 30 days in which to register the car in your name. For a comprehensive guide to the documentation required, along with the procedure for transferring a car into your name follow this link.
In order to purchase a car, new or second hand, you have to either own a property in Spain or have a rental contract for one year or more. You also need to be registered as an inhabitant of your municipality and be in possession of an NIE number or certificate of residencia.
Road tax in Spain is paid to the local authority between March and May of each year, and is known as ‘impuesto municipal sobre vehiculos de tracción mecánica.’ Rates are set by individual municipalities, and are based on a combination of the ‘fiscal horsepower’ of the vehicle and number of residents in the municipality; the larger the town, the higher the rate will be. As with all Spanish taxes, the onus is on you to ensure that it is paid. Should you try to sell a car that has not had its road tax paid; you will be in for a nasty shock as the accrued fines and interest for non payment are very steep. Similarly, if you buy a car without confirming that all taxes have been paid you may well discover that you are liable for a substantial amount.
All cars over 4 years old need to be checked regularly to confirm that they are roadworthy. This test is carried out at government run ITV centres, which can be found in larger towns and cities. Once a car has passed its ITV, it will be issued with a sticker stating when the next test is due. If you are caught without a current ITV sticker, you will be liable for a fine of between €90 and €300. Your license could also be confiscated for up to 3 months or until you produce proof of the vehicle passing the ITV.How often should vehicles be tested?
Private Vehicles
Up to four years old - exempt
Four to ten years - every two years
Over ten years - every year
Caravans
Up to six years - exempt
Over six years - every two years
Motorcycles
Up to five years old - exempt
Over five years - every two years
If you are buying either a new or used car from a dealership, all the necessary transfer paperwork should be done for you, however if you are buying privately it is important to check the following:-
Does the car have a valid ITV certificate?
Has it been involved in a major accident?
Does the chassis number tally with the registration document?
Have you received the transfer of ownership document?
Has the road tax been paid?
Who is going to pay the transfer of ownership tax? This is frequently paid by the owner, who has already incorporated it into the asking price.
If you have confirmed that all is well you then have 30 days in which to register the car in your name. For a comprehensive guide to the documentation required, along with the procedure for transferring a car into your name follow this link.
