carVertical vs CARFAX vs the official DGT report: which one for a Spanish car?
carVertical and CARFAX are the names most people know for a vehicle history check. But for a car registered in Spain, the official record is held by the DGT, Spain's traffic authority. Here is what each option gives you, what it costs, and when each one makes sense.
Side-by-side comparison
Single-report prices checked in October 2026. carVertical and CARFAX prices change with offers and bundles.
| InfoCoche | carVertical | CARFAX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data source | Official DGT report | 1,000+ databases in many countries | Workshops, manufacturers, public bodies and others |
| Price per report | €19.97 (DGT fee included) | About €32 | €29.99 |
| What you need | Plate number and an email | Plate or VIN | Plate or VIN |
| Language | Report in English, Spanish and 13 more languages | Several languages | Several languages |
| Every owner with dates, company or private | Yes | Number of owners, depending on sources | Number of owners |
| Liens, seizures, retention of title | Yes, as registered with the DGT | Depending on availability | Financial charges and restrictions |
| ITV (MOT) results and mileage | Yes | Mileage from several sources | Yes |
| Insurance damage records | No | Yes, depending on sources | Yes, with estimated cost |
| History outside Spain | No, Spain only | Yes | Yes |
| Delivery | PDF by email in seconds, 24/7 | Online | Online |
Why the DGT report is the baseline
The Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) keeps Spain's Vehicle Register. Every change of owner, every ITV inspection, every de-registration and every seizure ordered by a court or the tax office is recorded there. Any other service that tells you about a Spanish car relies, directly or indirectly, on part of that information.
Only the DGT report guarantees the things that can stop the car being transferred to your name:
- Seizures (embargos) registered by a court, the tax office or Social Security.
- Retention of title (reserva de dominio) by a finance company: the car is theirs until the loan is paid off.
- De-registrations, temporary or permanent, and whether it is reported stolen.
- The ownership history with dates, to spot a car that changed hands too often or was a rental or leasing car.
- Every ITV with its result and the mileage recorded at each one: the most reliable way to catch a clocked odometer in Spain. More in our guide to the ITV, Spain's MOT.
The DGT report does not include insurance claims or what happened to the car outside Spain. That is where the aggregators come in.
carVertical: strengths and limits
carVertical is a Lithuanian company that combines data from national registers, insurers, police and workshops across many countries. Since 2022 it lets you search Spanish cars by plate.
- Best for: imported cars (especially from Germany and Eastern Europe), declared damage, photos from old listings and mileage alerts.
- Limits: coverage depends on which sources hold data on that particular car, and it does not replace the official DGT check of liens and seizures. It is the most expensive of the four for a single report.
CARFAX: strengths and limits
CARFAX is a US brand that has sold reports in Spain since 2011. Its report covers accidents recorded in Spain, Germany, Italy and other countries with an estimated repair cost, plus mileage, number of owners, ITV and financial charges.
- Best for: damage history with estimated cost and data from other European countries.
- Limits: it tells you how many owners the car had, not the full history with dates; and the official source for liens is still the DGT.
Which one for your situation
Car that has always been in Spain
The DGT report. It tells you whether the car can be put in your name without surprises. With InfoCoche, €19.97, in English, no digital certificate.
Imported car
Start with the DGT report for liens and owners since it arrived in Spain. Then carVertical or CARFAX for its life abroad.
Worried about a serious accident
CARFAX or carVertical may show declared damage. Neither replaces having a mechanic inspect the car.
Buying as a foreign resident
Read our step-by-step guide to buying a used car in Spain: NIE, transfer tax, paperwork and scams.
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
What is the best alternative to carVertical in Spain?
For a car registered in Spain, the original source of ownership, liens, seizures and ITV (MOT) records is the DGT, Spain's traffic authority. InfoCoche delivers that official DGT report in seconds from the number plate, in English, for €19.97, with no Spanish digital certificate needed. carVertical and CARFAX are most useful when the car was imported and you want its history abroad.
Is carVertical or CARFAX better for Spain?
Both aggregate data from many sources (insurers, workshops, registers in several countries) and are strongest on imported cars. For a car that has always been in Spain, neither replaces the DGT report, which is the official register of owners, liens and seizures.
Do I need a Spanish digital certificate or NIE to get the report?
No. With InfoCoche you only need the number plate and an email: no Spanish digital certificate, NIE or Spanish account. The report costs €19.97, DGT fee included, and arrives by email in seconds.
What does the DGT report show that others may not?
Registered liens and seizures (embargos), finance-company retention of title (reserva de dominio), every owner with dates and whether it was a company or a private person, and temporary or permanent de-registrations. These are the things that can stop the car being transferred to your name.
Is InfoCoche the DGT?
No. InfoCoche is a DGT-authorised partner for issuing its vehicle reports: the PDF you receive is the DGT's own report with its data unchanged.