Barcelona

Things to consider while importing your own car:

Notes

• If you are considering importing your car from a non-EU country: don´t. Although cars in Europe are much more expensive than in, say, the US, by the time you pay for shipping and customs (approximately €4,000) and the costs associated with modifications required to reach EU standards, you will have been better off buying a car locally.

• Many people who choose to import their car hire a gestor to handle the procedure. A gestor is a legal representative in Spain who is not exactly a lawyer (abogado), more like a Public Relations representative who knows all the tips and tricks (as well as the language). You can find a local gestor in the Yellow Pages http://www.paginasamarillas.es

• To import your car and drive it legally, you will need to have a Spanish license, which will mean you need to be a resident. See our ´NIE and Residency´ section for more details.

• For those expats 18 years and over, with a valid license (from anywhere other than an EU country), they may legally drive in Spain for up to six months from first acquiring Spanish residency. During that period it is essential that an official translation or an International Drivers Permit (IDP) accompany any foreign license that is not in Spanish.

• After six months a foreign license is no longer valid. Exchange agreements exist between Spain and some countries which allow for the license holder to exchange theirs for an equivalent Spanish one. The countries with which Spain has a license exchange agreement are: Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, Bulgaria, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Morocco and Chile. Anyone with a license from a country other than those will need to take the full Spanish drivers’ test (See Getting a local drivers license).

Importing an EU Vehicle

Taxes on vehicles from EU countries:

New car: If importing a new vehicle, 16 percent VAT (IVA) must be paid at any bank that collaborates with the Tax Department. Application Form 565 from the Spanish Customs Office should be completed and the application fee paid in any of the banks that are on the Tax Departments approved list (they´ll give you one).

Used car: Imported vehicles owned for more than six months prior to the owner becoming resident in Spain are not subject to import duty, as long as the VAT was paid in the EU country in which the vehicle was bought.

A registration tax (Impuesto sobre determinados medios de transporte) is due on all cars and must be paid in the local tax office (Agencia Tributaria). This is a tax based on engine capacity and it applies to both diesel and petrol engines:

• Cars of 2,000cc and less are taxed at 7 percent
• Other vehicles are taxed at 12 percent

Registering vehicles from another EU country:

The following documents must be submitted at the local Traffic Department:

• An application form available from the local Traffic Department
• Your NIE
• Personal identification (residence card or passport; original and photocopies suggested)
• Proof of address such as a lease or deed (original and photocopy)
• Receipt of payment of local car tax (impuesto municipal sobre vehículos de tracción mecánica/IVTM) from the local town hall or Traffic Department
• Receipt of payment of registration tax (impuesto especial sobre determinados medios de transporte), original and photocopy
• Registration document (Permiso de Circulación y Permiso Para Conducción)
• Proof that VAT (IVA) has been paid in the country of purchase (original and photocopy)
• Technical Test Certificate Card (Tarjeta de Inspección Técnica – see below) obtainable from an ITV station (original and photocopy)
• Vehicle purchase receipt (original and photocopy)
• Certificate of Conformity (Certificado de Conformidad) from the vehicle manufacturer or a certified representative (original and photocopy)
• If applicable, declaration of ownership of other Spanish-registered vehicles
• If applicable, declaration of possession of a Spanish driving license
• If the vehicle is from the Netherlands, Form RDW 323 (available from the local Traffic Department)

EU citizens who are not Spanish residents can drive their (foreign-registered) vehicles in Spain for up to 180 days in a calendar year (in total, not consecutive days — This is the official information, but in truth, it is impossible for the government to keep track of the days you drive). This depends on it being road-worthy in your country of origin. After the 180 days have lapsed, you can keep it as long as you don´t drive it. Even though EU citizens are no longer required to obtain Spanish residency, after 182 days the vehicle must be either be registered in Spain or garaged. This is another reason it makes sense to get Spanish residency even if it is not required.

Importing a non-EU Vehicle:

If you really have your heart set on bringing your car to Spain, the best advice is to hire a Gestor (a legal representative who can smoothe the way through the red tape).

Companies that can help you with the importation process:

• http://www.autocarshippers.com/
• http://www.shipmyvehicle.com/
• http://www.prevencontrol.com/ (website is only in Catalan and Spanish)

Be aware, though, that even with the help of good lawyers, there is a strong chance that your vehicle will not be able to be made ´homologo´ (compliant with European standards). The most common problem is the fitting of new headlights (usually in the neighbourhood of €2500). The cost is not the biggest problem – it´s realising that no-one makes them for your car. Many expats have been halted by this problem and have ended up with a lovely, completely undriveable car in their garage that has cost them almost as much as the car itself to ship.

Technical Test Certificate Card – ITV Certificate

Before being registered in Spain, your car will need to pass an official control test (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) at an ITV station. Inspections are made by appointment. These are basically the same as a normal Road Worthy inspection and there are ITV stations all over the place. Try http://www.paginasamarillas.es the Yellow Pages and type in ´ITV´ in the ´actividad´ field.

New Vehicles:

The following documents will be needed for an ITV test:

• The vehicle’s technical specifications (provided by the vehicle manufacturer or representative) as well as a Spanish translation
• Receipt of payment of duty (original and photocopy)
• Purchase receipt (original and photocopy)
• Unic Certificate (Certificado Unico or Certificado de Adeudo), obtainable from the Traffic Department

Note: The Unic Certificate is not necessary for vehicles coming from EU countries

Used Vehicles:

• The vehicle’s technical specifications (provided by the vehicle manufacturer or representative) as well as a Spanish translation
• Receipt of payment of duty (original and photocopy)
• Purchase receipt (original and photocopy)
• Vehicle registration papers

Classic cars (históricos) require a special control test (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) as well as an authenticity certificate from the regional government (comunidad autónoma).

Once the vehicle passes the ITV test, a Technical Test Certificate Card (Tarjeta de Inspección Técnica) will be issued.