How to import a vehicle or car permanently into Spain
The first thing you need to know about importing a vehicle into Spain is that you will either need to be a permanent resident, own property in Spain or have a rental agreement for at least a year and hold a Spanish Driving Licence and have an NIE number.When you arrive in Spain
If your are permantley importing your vehicle into Spain you are legally only allowed to drive from your point of entry to your place of residence.But you can obtain temporary green number plates from your local provincial traffic department to allow you to drive your vehicle during the registration process these are usually valid for about 10 days.How to Register Your Vehicle or Car In Spain
Now that your vehicle is in Spain and you have your temporary number plates you will need to book your vehicle in for an ITV test if it is over 4 years old which is a road worthiness test and to make sure your vehicle complies to certain safety requirements in Spain you will also need a COC or EU type approval which can also be obtained from the ITV test centre during this process some vehicles may need some modifications to pass this test i.e a RHD car will need to have the dipped headlight beem converted for use on spainish roads.If your vehicle has come from outside of the EU you will need to go through a process called homologation where the vehicle will require some modifications and must be tested by an offically recognised engineer and issued with an Homologacion Unica to make sure that the vehicle conforms to European standards this will need to be carried out prior to putting your vehicle through the ITV test.
Once you are in possession of either a COC or Homologacion Unica and an ITV certificate if required you will need to pay your road tax this can be done at your local council offices or local ayuntamiento.
Now you will need to obtain a Baja Consular which you can get from your local consulate a Baja Consulate is a declaration that you want to permantley import your vehicle into Spain to do this you will need to take all your vehicle documents with you and will be asked to fill out a form stating that you permantley reside in Spain.
Next you will need to pay any import taxes due on your vehicle this can be done at the Hacienda (local tax office) you will need the following documents with you :
- Registration Document or vehicle title
- Passed ITV Certificiate
- COC or Homologacion Unica
- Original purchase invoice
- Baja Consular
- Proof of residency
Now that all IVA and Duty is paid you will need to register your vehicle with Traffico to do this you will need the following documents :
- Completed Modelo 565 form from Tax Office
- Registration Document or vehicle title
- Passed ITV Certificiate
- COC or Homologacion Unica
- Original purchase invoice
- certificado de empadronamiento
- Proof of residency
- Proof that your road tax has been paid
