Owning/Driving
a Vehicle in Spain Although
Spain is part of the EU, there are certain
points to be noted regarding the rules governing
ownership and use of Spanish and British
vehicles in Spain.
Keeping a Vehicle with British Number Plates
in Spain
Non-Residents If
you are non-resident, you may drive your
British vehicle all year without changing
the number plates. If the car needs an ITV
(Spanish equivalent of MOT), this can be
carried out in Spain but will
only be valid whilst the car is being driven
in Spain.
You may obtain insurance for your British
vehicle but will not be able to tax the
vehicle here – you must apply to the
relevant British authorities to obtain car
tax.
Residents If
you are a resident, you will be granted
a period of 6 months after obtaining your
Residencia to legally “import”
your vehicle. In order to do so, you must
have a Matriculation and ITV inspection,
pay the relevant tax at the appropriate
Hacienda and apply for a Spanish matriculation
at your provinces’s Trafico office.
This procedure is complicated and we recommend
you contact a car dealer or Gestor who deals
with importations.
Documentation
You must have the Permiso de Circulación
showing your name and address as owner of
the vehicle, plus a Ficha Tecnica card showing
the technical details. The Ficha Tecnica
must be stamped to show the vehicle has
had a current ITV and an ITV disc must be
displayed on your windscreen. An ITV is
not necessary for cars under four years
old.
In addition, you must have current and valid
motor insurance, and current Road Tax. A
Road Tax Certificate is obtained from your
local SUMA Office (or Ayuntamiento in some
areas), and the cost will depend on the
make and size of your vehicle (usually 39–84
Euros). The tax is payable once a year in
the months of March/April, and late payment
will incur a penalty of 20% plus interest.
N.B. All
vehicles must have car tax, irrespective
of their number plates or country of origin.
Mopeds under 50cc should also be taxed,
and your local SUMA/Ayuntamiento (Town Hall)
will issue the relevant Tax Certificate.
Replacing Stolen/Lost Car Documents
If the car papers have been stolen you must
attend the Guardia Civil (local police)
station and make a Denuncia (statement).
If the Ficha Tecnica has also been stolen/lost
you will need to apply for a new one. This
can be obtained from any ITV Centre and
takes a week. You must take a copy of the
Denuncia with you to the ITV centre.
Once you
have the Instancia and new Ficha Tecnica
(if appropriate), duplicate papers can be
applied for at the Trafico Office.
