Information on how you can buy a new or used car in Spain

A person may buy a Spanish-registered car in Spain provided they have one of the following:

• an official residency card (Tarjeta de Residencia) or

• proof that they are a Spanish home owner (by showing title deeds) or

• documentation that proves the holder is a registered member of the local community, the certificado de empadronamiento (available from the Town Hall / Ayuntamiento) issued within the three months prior to the purchase) or

• a rental contract for a duration of minimum one year or

• an NIE/NIF number (Foreigner's Identification Number) in Spain

Buying a New or Used Car in Spain

A new vehicle bought (or leased) from a dealership will almost certainly have the registration and ownership transfer handled by the dealer. The dealer may also offer insurance contracts. Many dealerships will take the old vehicle as part exchange.

Used cars (coches de segunda mano / coches de occasion) are available for purchase through dealerships or private sale.

The sale and exchange

When buying a second-hand used car it is important to see originals of all the paperwork. This is particularly important when buying privately, to ensure that the person selling the car has the right to sell it. Be sure to match the name on the paperwork to those on the sellers' personal identification document.

Once the sale is agreed, the seller provides the following:

• Vehicle registration document (Permiso de Circulación)

• Proof of roadworthiness (a valid ITV test certificate)

• Receipt for municipal vehicle tax (Impuesto Municipal sobre Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica)

• Personal identification such as an NIE/NIF card (plus photocopy for the buyer)

The buyer and seller should draw up a sale agreement (Contrato de Compraventa) or the seller may provide an invoice. Either should note the details of the vehicle, names of buyer and seller, the sale price agreed and date and time that the transfer takes place (this final point is so that if there are traffic fines associated with the vehicle they can be assigned to the correct person).

The buyer provides a transfer of ownership form (Solicitud de Transmisión de Vehículos) which is signed by the buyer and the seller. It is a duplicate form with the buyer and seller each keeping a copy.

Note: Further documentation may be requested by some province or autonomous region authorities.

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Payment

A bank cheque (Cheque Bancario) is generally regarded as the normal way to make large payments in a private transaction in Spain. Personal cheques are not guaranteed.

Insurance

The existing insurance may be transferred by the seller to the new owner. The seller may instead choose to cancel the policy or transfer it to another vehicle and the new owner may arrange their own insurance. The insurance must be arranged before the new owner drives the vehicle.