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Transferring car ownership in Spain: steps, deadlines and costs
When you buy or sell a used car in Spain, the sale doesn't end with the handshake: until the DGT registers the new owner, the car still belongs — for fines and taxes — to the previous one. This guide explains the whole procedure as it actually works.
What it is and who must do it
The ownership transfer is the registration of the new owner at the DGT (the Spanish traffic authority). The obligation falls on the buyer, who has 30 days from the date of the sale contract.
The seller has their own protection: the notification of sale. Filing it unlinks them from the vehicle from that moment on, even if the buyer is late with their side. A seller who hands over the car without notifying keeps receiving the buyer's fines.
The documents you need
From buyer and seller: a valid ID. From the vehicle: the registration certificate and the technical card (ITV card). From the deal: the sale contract with date, price, mileage and both signatures.
Plus proof of having settled the transfer tax: form 620 (or 621, depending on the region) filed with the regional tax office of the buyer's residence. Without it, the DGT won't process the transfer.
What it costs
Three items. The DGT fee for transferring a passenger car, around €55. The transfer tax (ITP), which in most regions sits between 4% and 8% of the vehicle's value — assessed on the higher of the agreed price and the official valuation tables, not on whatever the contract says. And, if you delegate the paperwork, the agent's fee.
The exact ITP rate depends on your region and changes with budget laws: always check your regional tax office before trusting a number.
What happens if you don't do it in time
For the buyer: penalties, no way to prove ownership, and trouble with the roadworthiness test, insurance and any future sale. For a seller who didn't notify: fines, road tax and liabilities keep arriving in their name.
You can drive while the transfer is being processed — that's what the 30-day window is for. Just don't run it to the last day: any paperwork hiccup puts you out of time.
How Autamo handles it
At Autamo the paperwork is part of the purchase: the contract is generated from both parties' verified data, the tax filing and the DGT submission are handled by a partner agency, and both sides watch every step of the case in real time. The seller isn't paid until the ownership transfer is confirmed — which is why the buyer can pay without fear and the seller can hand over without doubts.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the transfer take?
Filed with complete documentation, confirmation usually arrives within days. The definitive registration certificate arrives later by post; meanwhile the provisional receipt lets you drive.
Can the seller file it instead of the buyer?
Yes — either party can file, and so can an agent with a mandate. What the law fixes is the buyer’s obligation and the 30-day deadline.
Do I pay transfer tax when buying from a dealer?
No: a professional sale carries VAT on the invoice, not ITP. The transfer tax applies to private-to-private sales.