Importing a car from the EU into Spain: five steps and two taxes
Bringing a car from Germany or elsewhere in the EU can pay off, but the process has technical and tax steps worth knowing before booking the trip.
Used-car imports from the EU have been growing for years: some markets have more supply and better prices in certain segments. But between “I’ll buy it there” and “I drive it here on Spanish plates” there is a specific path.
1. The origin paperwork
Contract or invoice, the vehicle’s documents from the origin country and — the key piece — the Certificate of Conformity (COC): the manufacturer’s document proving EU type-approval. Without a COC you’ll need individual homologation, slower and more expensive.
2. The import inspection
The car passes an inspection in Spain where its identity is verified and the Spanish technical card is issued.
3. The taxes
Two possible ones. The registration tax, which depends on the car’s CO2 emissions — from zero for clean vehicles to meaningful percentages for heavy emitters. And the purchase taxation: buying from an EU private seller means ITP here; buying from a professional brings intra-community VAT treatment depending on the case. This is where the expensive mistakes happen and where advice pays for itself.
4. Registration at the DGT
With the Spanish technical card, taxes settled and the fee paid, the DGT assigns Spanish plates.
5. Insurance and timing
To drive from the origin country you’ll need temporary plates or a transporter, and insurance covering the transit. At Autamo, an import runs as a sub-case with its own visible steps, so you always know where in the journey your car is.