After obtaining Spanish “Residencia” and registering with the local municipal register, many people moving to Spain wonder whether and how they can register their German vehicle in Spain. In this article, we provide information on the administrative procedures to be carried out with the Spanish Tax Agency, the local council and the Spanish traffic authority, as well as on the deadline for applying for an exemption from registration tax, which in many cases can result in savings of more than €1,000.
Due to the relatively high complexity of the various administrative procedures, many people moving to Spain decide to instruct a lawyer or a “Gestoría” to handle the registration process.
In this case, it should be noted that under the current legislation, EU citizens moving to Spain are exempt from registration tax, although this exemption is often not known to many “Gestorías”.
If the following information is taken into account and you have basic administrative and Spanish language skills, the registration process can also be completed by the person moving to Spain without professional assistance:
1. TECHNICAL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE
The first step is to make an appointment at the nearest vehicle inspection station (ITV) and inform them that the inspection is required for the registration of a foreign vehicle.
Required documents: Vehicle owner's details, vehicle registration certificate and EC Certificate of Conformity (COC). These documents can often be sent to the ITV station by email. Once the documents have been initially reviewed, you will be given an appointment for the vehicle inspection.
Location: The ITV station nearest to your place of residence.
Cost: approx. €40.
Result: If your vehicle passes the technical inspection, you will be issued with the Spanish vehicle documentation.
2. PAYMENT OF VEHICLE TAX
Depending on the local council, vehicle tax can be paid either in person or online.
Location: The tax can be paid either in person or online via the website of your local council. Some local councils allow you to submit the relevant vehicle details by email, in which case the corresponding payment notice (carta de pago) will also be sent to you by email.
Required documents: NIF or NIE of the vehicle owner and a copy of the vehicle registration certificate.
Cost: approx. €60–120.
Result: The local council will issue the corresponding payment notice, which can then be paid through your bank.
Note: Vehicle tax is payable annually. After the first payment, it can be paid automatically by direct debit.
3. SPANISH VEHICLE REGISTRATION TAX
Registration tax can generally be paid either at the offices of the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT) or via its website. It should be noted that if you are moving to Spain, you may be exempt from this tax and therefore, instead of filing tax form 576, tax form 06 must be submitted. In the latter case, the declaration must be submitted at an office of the Spanish Tax Agency, as, among other documents, the original purchase invoice must be presented.
Location: If you wish to apply for the tax exemption due to relocation to Spain, the application must be submitted at an office of the Spanish Tax Agency. An appointment must be made for this purpose.
Cost: The amount of tax depends, among other factors, on the value of the vehicle. If the tax exemption applies, the Spanish Tax Agency will issue a certificate confirming that you meet the relevant requirements. In this case, no administrative fee is charged for this procedure.
Result: The Spanish Tax Agency will certify either payment of the tax or the applicable exemption.
Note: In the event of relocation, you have 60 days to apply for the tax exemption. In order to prove your previous residence in an EU Member State, you must submit, in addition to the original purchase invoice, a certificate of residence. In the case of Germany, you can request an “erweiterte Meldeauskunft” (extended registration information) and have it translated into Spanish by a sworn translator. It should also be noted that you should have acquired the vehicle at least one year before moving to Spain.
4. REGISTRATION WITH THE SPANISH TRAFFIC AUTHORITY
After the technical inspection of the vehicle and once the above-mentioned certificates and proof of payment have been obtained, the final administrative step is to register the vehicle with the Spanish traffic authority (Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT)).
Fee: €95.80.
Location: The Spanish traffic authority (Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT)).
Required documents:
- Identity card or passport together with proof of residence (DNI, Spanish driving licence, or N.I.E. together with an identity card).
- Written authorisation if the application is not submitted by the vehicle owner.
- Registration application form (matriculación ordinaria).
- Vehicle registration certificate and ITV card (tarjeta ITV).
- Proof of payment of vehicle tax (Section 2 of this article).
- Proof of payment or certificate confirming exemption from registration tax (Section 3 of this article).
Foreign Vehicles
For vehicles purchased abroad (e.g. in Germany), the following additional documents must be submitted:
New vehicles purchased in the EU: Proof of payment of VAT (Modelo 309 AEAT) or a certificate confirming tax exemption, together with the vehicle registration certificate.
Used vehicles previously registered in the EU: The original vehicle documents together with the following documents:
If the vehicle was purchased from a private individual, the purchase agreement (original + translation) and proof of payment of the corresponding tax abroad must be submitted.
If the vehicle was purchased from a car dealer, the corresponding invoice must be submitted.
The Spanish vehicle registration documentation must also be submitted again.
Vehicles purchased outside the EU: The corresponding vehicle documents together with the Documento Único Administrativo (DUA) issued by Spanish customs.
5. REPLACING THE NUMBER PLATES
The traffic authority will provide you with the relevant documentation for the vehicle's Spanish registration number. The number plates can be obtained from most vehicle workshops. Once your German number plates have been replaced with the new Spanish plates, you only need to ensure that your insurance coverage is valid in Spain.
Cost: approx. €30.
If you are unable to complete the registration process yourself, local Gestorías can assist with most of the procedures. Unfortunately, our law firm does not provide direct assistance with vehicle registration.
Author:
J. Francisco Santos Postigo
Lawyer
CEO, Partner, Director Labour Law
info@sspartners.es
Tel: (+34) 951 12 13 06
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