Car Ownership Transfer in Spain Online

Use our online vehicle transfer service.
We can do the process remotely/online via email.*
Same day vehicle owner transfer. All for €60 (plus official fees & taxes).

Cambio o Transferencia de titularidad de vehículos online
Working Hours

*We cannot do it if the buyer lives in the Community of Valencia (includes Costa Blanca, Oriheula, Alicante etc), Canary Islands, Melilla, or Ceuta. PLEASE DO NOT contact us if the buyer’s property is in one of these areas.

What Do We Do?

We change ownership of vehicles online for you, without an appointment at DGT, and without the stress.
We pay the Modelo 620/621 (ITP taxes), DGT fees, complete necessary forms and submit documents for the buyer.
With Simple English Advice you can transfer ownership of a car, motorcycle or other vehicle online.

Why pay extortionate gestor charges when we do it much cheaper and faster?
Our fees are transparent, with no hidden costs.
Unlike most gestors who charge a higher fee, the more expensive the car is (don’t tell them I told you.)
If you’re searching, “Can you change ownership of a car online in Spain?”, look no further.

Check Documents

Pay Fees & Taxes

Transfer Ownership

How to transfer vehicle ownership online

Send the logbook

Send us a copy of the Permiso de Circulación (logbook) and the sales contract between you and the seller to start the process.

Total cost

We will tell you the total cost of the transfer including the ITP tax (Modelo 621) and provide payment details.

Send documents

Buyer sends us the documents via email. We will provide you with a comprehensive list of what you need to send.

We process it

We then pay the Modelo 621 taxes and transfer the vehicle with DGT. Buyer will be sent proof via Whatsapp or email.

*We can’t do it if the buyer lives in the Region of Valencia (includes Costa Blanca, Oriheula, Alicante etc), Canary Islands, Melilla, or Ceuta. PLEASE DO NOT contact us if the buyer’s property is in one of these areas.

Buying a second-hand car in Spain is far from simple. Many have found out the hard way after attempting to do the vehicle title change themselves.
Do you want to buy a used car but don’t want the stress? Are you searching for someone to ‘change car ownership online’?

First, send us a copy of the Permiso de Circulación (green logbook) and sales contract between you and the seller via Whatsapp (+34 951 74 51 68) or email ([email protected]), so we can work out how much ITP transfer tax you need to pay and start the process.
*Note* Vehicles older than 10 years old, when the buyer is from Cataluña ( Barcelona, Gerona, Lérida and Tarragona) are exempt from paying the ITP tax.

Once the process is completed, we will email you a provisional permiso de circulación the same day or next working day which will enable the buyer to get insurance.
We will get the new permiso de circulación (log book) back within 15 days. (Occasionally there are slight delays due to trafico).

*Note* If the transfer cannot be processed due to no fault of our own, you will be refunded minus our €25 admin fee.

Need to transfer car ownership in Spain?

buying a used car in Spain

As with most bureaucratic affairs here, there are hoops to jump through. With laws constantly changing and advice on the net often wrong it can be a headache.

If you are buying a car in Spain, you can employ a gestor to transfer your car ownership for you, but it usually works out very expensive.

There is a car ownership transfer guide below so you can change the name yourself.

If you are still not comfortable doing the Spanish car title change then email us at [email protected] for a hassle-free transfer for €60 (plus official fees/taxes).

*We cannot do it if the BUYER lives in the Valencia Region (this includes Costa Blanca, Alicante, Orihuela etc), Melilla, Ceuta or the Canary Islands.

Car ownership transfer guide

If you are buying or selling a car privately in Spain, you may be wondering what steps need to be taken to ensure a smooth and efficient transaction. We have created a guide that will explain everything you need to know.
It is the buyer’s responsibility to transfer the vehicle.

01 Meet

Firstly, it is important to meet with the seller and check the car thoroughly before agreeing verbally. We highly recommend having a car report done to ensure the car is free from fines, embargoes, or financing. Our DGT complete vehicle report service is available for €15.

02 Check documents

Next, check the car documents. Make sure the seller has proof of payment of the previous year’s IVTM/SUMA (road tax), and the ITV (roadworthiness test) is valid.

03 Exchange ID

Ensure the seller’s ID matches the name on the permiso de circulacion (logbook) to avoid complications. It is becoming more common for people not to transfer ownership of their vehicle so the logbook is still in the previous owner’s name. This will prevent you from transferring the vehicle into your name. Take copies of the seller’s/buyer’s ID.

04 Pay

Pay for the vehicle.

05 Sign the contract

A sales contract must be completed in Spanish (download one here) and signed by both parties. Buyer and seller keep a copy. It’s important to put the exact time and date on the contract to save any fines or charges that can occur immediately after the sale.

06 Transfer the vehicle

Book an appointment at Trafico or send copies to your gestor or us to register the vehicle in your name.

07 Get insurance

Get insurance. Most insurance companies won’t insure a new vehicle without proof that the transfer is underway.
If you use our service, we will email you a provisional document that you can use to get insurance.

08 Prove transfer is completed

When you get the new permiso de circulacion send a copy to the seller to prove the car is in your name. You have 30 days from the sale to do this. 

That’s it. Simple!

selling a car in spain

Same Day Transfer

Transfer car ownership in Spain via email or WhatsApp. Stress free.

The Seller

The easy part! The seller needs to provide the following paperwork:-

  • Current ITV (MOT) certificate.
  • Permiso de Circulación (Logbook).
  • Ficha Tecnica (Specification sheet).
  • ID – DNI/TIE or passport & NIE
  • Proof of payment of last years IVTM/SUMA road tax (Impuesto de Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica). Can be the original document or a receipt from the bank showing payment.

Make sure to inform your insurance company that the car is sold.

Keep the original purchase and sale contract and a copy of the buyer’s ID documents (Passport and NIE or DNI/TIE).

Request that the buyer provides a copy of the new logbook (Permiso de Circulación) within 30 days of the sale, if not you can notify the Jefatura de Tráfico office yourself. (We also offer this service).

The Buyer

buying a used car Spain

Before you buy a second-hand car, it is highly recommended to get a vehicle report (informe vehiculo) from DGT. This report will tell you if there are any problems with the vehicle, if it has a current ITV, or if it has outstanding embargoes (debts), fines etc.  Many of our clients have had trouble transferring cars, or not even being able to do it at all due to embargoes, finance etc.
Our DGT Vehicle Report Service is €15.

Once you have the completed two copies of the sales contract, paid and are in possession of the car, you have 30 days to supply the seller with a copy of the new logbook (Permiso de Circulación), proving that ownership has been transferred. Make sure to get copies of the seller’s ID (both sides of TIE/DNI cards) and that it’s valid and in date.

Buyer’s Responsibility

It is the buyer’s responsibility to do the Spanish car title change. Here’s how. Firstly you need to book an appointment at the Jefatura de Tráfico office (Traffic department). Do this first as it can often take a few weeks to get an appointment. (We don’t need an appointment.)

Before going to the Trafico office, you need to pay the transfer tax fee. This is 4-8% of the official/fiscal value of the vehicle and depends on the type and size of the engine. (Don’t do this step if you are using our service.)

At the Tráfico Office

Here’s the paperwork needed for the buyers visit to the Trafico office (traffic department) appointment:-

  • Proof of transfer fee payment (from Hacienda).
  • Completed vehicle change of ownership application form – Solicitud Cambio de Titularidad del Vehículo.
  • Completed sales contract in Spanish, signed by both parties.
  • Original Log Book (Permiso de Circulación) and ITV/MOT (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) if the vehicle is over 4 years of age.
  • Proof of payment of previous years IVTM road tax (Impuesto de Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica) Can be the original document or a receipt from the bank showing payment.
  • Photocopy of buyer’s and seller’s ID (Passport and NIE or DNI/TIE) and buyer’s certificado de empadronamiento,  rental contract or house deeds.

Once you provide these and they verify them, you (the buyer) will have to pay a fee of €55.70, mopeds €27.85 (as of January 2024.)

 
Transfer car ownership at trafico office
selling a car in spain

Get a DGT full vehicle report

Only €15
(Matricula needed)

A DGT vehicle check  ‘Informe de Vehículo’, is essential before buying a second-hand vehicle in Spain.

buying a car in Spain

Change ownership of a car online

How much does it cost to change the registered name of a vehicle in Spain?

The cost of a vehicle ownership transfer (transferencia de vehículos online) is €55.70* (mopeds €27.85) for registration, which you pay at the Jefatura de Tráfico office or online. On top of this is the 4-8% transfer tax (depends on the region). This is worked out by the official/fiscal value of the vehicle and depends on the type and size of the engine. This has nothing to do with the sale price of the vehicle.

If you bought a car through a dealership, the car dealers normally change the name for you and you will receive the documents in your name when you receive the car. Make sure you get proof of this as a friend of mine (and many more) got ripped off by Top Gear Cars in Fuengirola (now shut down). They didn’t change ownership of her car (among other things) and so when she came to sell it, she found out it’s not legally hers! This is becoming an increasingly common practice in Spain, with the increase of dodgy car dealers. Read this article on how to avoid problems when buying a used car in Spain.

Buying a used car is increasing in Spain due to the recent increase in car registration tax. If it’s a private sale it is advisable to hire a professional to make sure the car ownership transfer process is done speedily and correctly as well as saving on headaches and queuing times in the Trafico department.

*As of January 2024

Vehicle ownership transfer FAQ

To transfer vehicle ownership in Spain, the following paperwork is typically required:

  1. Proof of identity for both parties
  2. Proof of address for the buyer
  3. Vehicle documentation, including the Permiso de Circulación (Logbook) and Ficha Técnica (Specification sheet)
  4. Proof of previous years road tax paid

Hiring a Gestor to transfer car ownership in Spain can have several benefits, including:

  1. Convenience: The Gestor can handle all the paperwork and processes on your behalf, saving you time and effort.
  2. Expertise: Gestors are familiar with the local bureaucracy and requirements, which can help ensure a smooth transfer process.
  3. Language: If you are not fluent in Spanish, a Gestor can assist with the language barrier and ensure that you understand the process and documentation.
  4. Temporary Ownership Document: The Gestor can provide a temporary ownership document to carry until the new one is obtained from Trafico, providing peace of mind during the transition period.

However, it’s important to note that using a Gestor’s services can be expensive. The process can be done independently, especially if you are familiar with the local requirements, procedures and speak Spanish fairly well.

The buyer has 30 days to send the seller a copy of the permiso de circulacion to prove the transfer is complete.

The ITP (Impuesto de transmisiones patrimoniales) tax is between 4-8% of the fiscal value of the vehicle. It is paid using the Modelo 621 form. 

Yes you can, but be aware there are usually problems when it comes to the transfer process. Car dealers can’t legally sell a Spanish-registered car in the UK and so act as ‘middle-men’. For more information read our article about buying a Spanish-registered car in the UK.

To transfer car ownership in Spain, the cost typically includes a Trafico fee of €55.70 (€27.85 for mopeds) and a transfer tax of 4-8% of the official/fiscal value of the vehicle, depending on the region and the type and size of the engine. In addition to these fees, there may be a gestor fee if you use the services of a professional.

The process can also be done online by us for a fee of €60, plus the official fees and taxes. It’s important to note that the transfer tax has nothing to do with the sale price of the vehicle. The exact cost may vary depending on the specific circumstances and the region in Spain where the transfer takes place.

This depends on who does the transfer. Usually it can be done the same day by using Simple English Advice, a gestor or going to DGT yourself. 

Yes, as long as they have a NIE and proof of Spanish address. Such as rental contract, house deeds or empadronamiento. 

It is done at your local DGT office. Or you can use a gestor or an online vehicle transfer service.

Yes, you can do this procedure the same as if you were selling the car to anyone else. You can gift it to your husband, wife or other family member but the process is usually more complicated. 

The permiso de circulacion is usually mandatory to transfer a vehicle at the DGT office. However, with Simple English Advice, we can put the car in your name without the permiso. 

You must produce the usual documents following the death of a close one, plus the Modelo 650/660.

Anyone can buy a car in Spain. The problem comes when trying to transfer ownership into their name. To legally own the vehicle, they must have a NIE document, and proof of Spanish address. Some places are now refusing to issue a NIE number for the basis of buying a car. 

Yes, you can keep a foreign car in Spain, but the rules vary depending on your residency status and the duration of your stay.

For Non-Residents:

Short-Term Use (Up to 6 Months):

    • You can keep a foreign-registered car in Spain for up to 6 months within a 12-month period.
    • The car must be roadworthy in its country of registration, with valid insurance and any required inspections (e.g., MOT in the UK).
    • After 6 months, you must either export the car or start the process of registering it in Spain.

For Residents:

Registration Required:

    • If you become a resident in Spain, you must register the car with Spanish authorities and get Spanish plates within 30 days of establishing residency.
    • Steps include:
      1. Obtaining an NIE (foreigner’s identification number).
      2. Paying the import tax (if applicable).
      3. Passing the ITV (vehicle inspection).
      4. Paying registration fees and the annual road tax.
      5. Registering the car with the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT).
importing a car Malaga

Other Services

Simple English Advice can also take care of car importation/registration (vehicle matriculation) in Malaga from Germany, Holland, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden and other EU countries.

Also UK to Spanish driving licence exchange and similar procedures that expats have to deal with during their life on the Costa del Sol. With over 25 years of dealing with Andalusian bureaucracy, our bilingual team can take the stress and headache out of vehicle transfers and more for you at a much cheaper price than a gestor.

We can transfer car ownership (transferencia o cambio de titularidad del vehículo) anywhere in mainland Spain* due to our online logbook transfer service. We can transfer a vehicle in areas such as Malaga, Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla, Ibiza, San Sebastian, Galicia, Granada, Bilbao, Murcia, Cadiz, Almeria, Costa del Sol and many more. 

*We cannot do it if the buyer lives in autonomous community of Valencia (including Costa Blanca), Melilla, Ceuta or the Canary Islands.

Contact us today if you want to change your car ownership online in Spain or use one of our other services.

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