Buying a used car in Spain as a foreigner: the complete 2026 guide
Buying a second-hand car in Spain works differently from the UK, Germany or the Netherlands: debts can stay attached to the car, the buyer pays the transfer tax, and the paperwork goes through the DGT. Here is the whole process, in order, with the checks that save you from the expensive surprises.
What you need before you start
- NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero): the DGT registers the car under it.
- An address in Spain: the car's registered address goes on the registration document and is where fines and the local road tax are sent.
- A Spanish driving licence or a valid foreign one: EU licences are valid; residents from outside the EU usually have to exchange theirs within a set period.
- Insurance arranged from the moment you drive away. Driving uninsured in Spain is a serious offence.
Step 1: check the car by its number plate
In Spain, many problems stay with the car, not with the previous owner. If the seller owed money to the tax office and the car was seized, or a bank still holds retention of title because the loan is unpaid, the DGT will not transfer it to you until that is cleared.
Before you travel to see the car or pay a deposit, ask for the plate number and get the official DGT report. It shows:
InfoCoche gets it for you in English with just the plate and an email, for €19.97, and emails it in seconds. If you are deciding between this and carVertical or CARFAX, see our comparison of vehicle history checks for Spanish cars.
Compare the mileage
The report lists the mileage recorded at every ITV. If the odometer now shows less than an earlier ITV, or the car has barely moved between two inspections and then jumped, ask questions or walk away.
Step 2: inspect the car and its documents
Ask to see these originals and check that they match the report:
- Permiso de circulación (registration certificate): the owner's name must match the seller's ID.
- Ficha técnica / tarjeta ITV (technical card) with a valid ITV. The expiry date is also on the windscreen sticker. More in our guide to the ITV, Spain's MOT.
- The latest road tax receipt (Impuesto de Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica, paid to the town hall each year).
- Service history and invoices, if the seller has them.
Have an independent mechanic look at the car. No report replaces that.
Step 3: the sale contract
Sign a written contrato de compraventa. It should include both parties' names and ID or NIE numbers, the plate and chassis number (VIN), the price, the date and the time of the sale and the mileage. The time matters: fines and accidents after that moment are the buyer's responsibility, before it the seller's.
Pay by bank transfer so there is a record. Keep a copy of the contract signed by both.
Step 4: pay the transfer tax (ITP)
When you buy from a private seller, the buyer pays the Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales (ITP) to the tax office of the region where they live, usually with form 620 or 621. The rate is set by each region and is applied to the higher of the agreed price and the official taxable value the Treasury publishes for each make, model and age. Writing a lower price on the contract does not lower the tax.
If you buy from a dealer that issues an invoice with VAT, there is no ITP to pay.
Step 5: change of ownership at the DGT
- The seller notifies the sale to the DGT within 10 days. This protects the seller from your future fines.
- The buyer applies for the transfer within 30 days: online, at a DGT office with an appointment, or through a gestoría (a licensed agent who does the paperwork for a fee, very common in Spain).
- You need: your ID or passport with NIE, proof of address, the contract, the ITP receipt, the DGT transfer fee (tasa 1.5) and a valid ITV.
- The DGT issues the new permiso de circulación in your name.
How much it costs in total
| Item | Who pays | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle history check (DGT report) | Buyer | €19.97 with InfoCoche |
| ITP transfer tax | Buyer | A percentage of the official value, set by each region |
| DGT transfer fee | Buyer | Fixed fee set each year |
| Gestoría (optional) | Buyer | Varies by agent |
| Insurance | Buyer | From the first day |
Scams to watch for
- "I'm abroad, pay a deposit and I'll ship the car." The classic fake listing. Never pay before seeing the car and its documents.
- A car with a seizure or unpaid finance sold as clean. The DGT report shows it in seconds.
- Clocked mileage. Compare the odometer with the ITV readings in the report.
- Seller is not the registered owner. If the name on the permiso de circulación does not match the seller's ID, stop.
- Ex-rental or ex-leasing cars presented as "one private owner". The ownership history in the report says who owned it, and whether it was a company.
Get the official DGT report in English
Owners, ITV (MOT) history with mileage, liens and seizures of any vehicle registered in Spain. In your inbox in seconds.
Get the report — €19.97Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner buy a car in Spain?
Yes. To register the car in your name at the DGT you need an NIE (foreigner identity number) and an address in Spain. Non-residents can own a Spanish-registered car too, but the paperwork is simpler with an NIE and a registered address.
How do I check a Spanish car's history by its number plate?
Ask for the official DGT report (informe DGT). It lists every owner with dates, the ITV (MOT) history with mileage, registered liens and seizures, finance-company retention of title and technical data. InfoCoche emails it in English in seconds for €19.97, from the plate alone.
Who pays the transfer tax when buying a used car in Spain?
The buyer. It is the ITP (Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales), a percentage set by each region (around 4% in many of them) applied to the higher of the agreed price and the official taxable value the Treasury sets for that model and age. Buying from a dealer, VAT is included instead and there is no ITP.
How long does the change of ownership take?
The seller must notify the DGT within 10 days and the buyer has 30 days to complete the transfer. Done through a gestoría (agent), the new registration document usually arrives within a few days.
Can I drive a car with an expired ITV in Spain?
No. Driving with an expired ITV can be fined and can cause trouble with your insurer after an accident. Check the expiry date on the report or on the windscreen sticker before you drive it away.