The process to register a UK car in Spain has changed since Brexit. UK cars are now classed as non EU vehicles. This means that UK cars arriving in Spain as from the 31st of December 2020 now need to clear customs and register a UK car in Spain with customs clearance. However, as part of residency you can potentially waive these taxes.
To register a UK car in Spain you need, a Valid V5C document, a certificate of conformity or Ficha Technica, a valid ITV inspection, customs clearance or tax waiver for residency, a valid passport, and an NIE certificate or residency card and proof of address in Spain.
There are three different routes to register a UK car in Spain after Brexit.
- You are bringing the vehicle as a non resident
- You are bringing the vehicle as a recent resident or becoming resident.
- You have had the vehicle in Spain since BEFORE Brexit.
Below outlines each scenario:
Registering a UK car in Spain after Brexit for residency
The good news is that if you are bringing a UK vehicle to Spain after Brexit and becoming resident you can potentially waive the import duty and VAT now applicable to all UK vehicles. You need to qualify for this and its a complex process but entirely possible.
You need the following documents to register a UK car in Spain
- The V5C – Vehicle registration Document
- A ficha Technica or certificate of conformity
- Valid Passport
- Proof of address in Spain
- TIE card
The Process to register a UK vehicle onto Spanish number plates to waive taxes
- A valid Spanish technical test – ITV
- Ficha Technica or certificate of conformity
- Customs clearance waiving taxes for residency
- Valid V5C document
Bringing the vehicle as a non resident
Unfortunately, after Brexit full import duty and VAT are applicable on all UK cars entering Spain if you are not becoming or have become a recent resident. The only exceptions are cars registered in Northern Ireland. Or the vehicle was genuinely in Spain before Brexit.
The cost is calculated by the Spanish valuation of your vehicle, minus the reduction for age of the vehicle. Its a complex calculation that requires the actual numbers not being acquired from Facebook or Google, figures which are often way off reality either way.
Registering a UK car in Spain when the vehicle was there before Brexit
Proof of your vehicle being in Spain since before Brexit will be required. Chunnel or Ferry tickets, storage, mechanics bills, insurance, speeding fines and parking tickets are all very helpful to obtain a waiver.
This requires some slick moving with the Spanish tax office and proof has to provided the vehicle has LITERALLY been in Spain since before Brexit. However, it is entirely possible to waive the taxes if this can be proven and many successful tax waivers have been acquired.
How much does it cost to register a UK vehicle in Spain?
Approximately 900/1000 euros for vehicles with low emissions for the full regsitration costs. The import duty and VAT depends on if you are or becoming resident or not. Vehicles with emissions higher than 120 GPKM of Co2 will pay special regsitration tax. The ITV will cost approx. 150 euros depending where in Spain you are. You may also need temporary green number plates to drive the vehicle legally in Spain 80/120 euros.
Is this article regards importing a car or a car already in Spain? Can you help?
Both, please read carefully the whole article and if gives very valuable info on both importing and how to register a UK car in Spain and UK cars that are already in the country. We help with the customs clearance for you. And register a UK car in Spain, we are the best at what we do and we have a lot of very close relationships with the ITV centres in Spain and info from the DGT regards how to navigate the process of matriculating your car onto Spanish number plates.
Can you register A UK car in Spain ?
Yes, its completely possible. Especially if you bringing the UK car over and also taking Spanish residency. There’s more information on that here. This should also enable your UK car importer to make sure you are not taxed at customs for bringing your car into the country. If your UK car is already here and you have taken residency in the last 12 months. We can almost certainly waive the import taxes for you making the process worth while.
What if the UK car is already in Spain?
This is been a very sketchy subject and has changed several times in the last few months. There is now good news. So please contact us if your UK vehicle is already here and in many circumstances we can now waive the import duty and IVA.
If your UK car is in Spain is it legal?
Your UK car will be legal for a certain amount of time (up to six months). As long as your car has insurance, road tax, a valid in date MOT and is not declared as sorn then your vehicle should not be impounded. However, with Brexit uncertainly it is always best to just start the process of matriculating your UK car onto Spanish number plates.
We have many clients who cars have been impounded unfairly as the Brexit dust settles at the moment it seems to be mixed messages as to what is legal and what is not. If you are having trouble with your car please contact us.
Can you waive emission taxes in Spain?
If you have taken residency in Spain in the last 60 days you can waive the emission taxes on the vehicle. This applies to EU, UK and all other imported cars. Cars classed as a personal effect also do not incur import taxes into Spain. This needs to be timed very well as the sign on date is calculated from when you signed on the Padron.
If you have taken residency in the last 12 months you can potentially waive the import taxes on the UK vehicle. This is a big deal and makes the process much cheaper. If you are in the process of a residency application then that’s fine we can tie in the residency application with the the process to register a UK car in Spain.
We also do residency applications to aid to importing your vehicle into Spain. Including the new non lucrative visa application which aids to keep the cost of how to register a UK car in Spain to a minimum.
Do UK cars get import taxes at customs?
Yes, if not imported correctly. Again, we cant stress enough how you need a good import agent to make sure that the vehicle does not receive a large import tax bill right there at customs. If you are driving the vehicle through yourself no problem. Say you are taking the vehicle into the country for a period of permitted time. However, if you intend to import the vehicle make sure the vehicle has the correct documentation that you are bringing the car as a personal effect. Hence no import taxes.
What are car emission taxes in Spain ?
Emission taxes are called “special registrations tax” they are calculated on the emissions that come out of your exhaust pipe. Anything under 120GKM will incur no emissions taxes on the vehicle. From there, the emission taxes go up dependent on the car, engine size and grams per KM of carbon emitted from your vehicle. These taxes however, can be waived in the case of taking residency to register a uk car in Spain.
What else on a UK car needs to be looked at?
- Headlights realignment for UK vehicles
- Reverse and fog light
- Tyres need to be checked
- Clocks – making sure it has Km’s on the dial.
For us to help with the process to Register A UK Car In Spain we can provide a FREE ITV check on your vehicle. We do this from your door if you are close to us or you can drive the car to us and we can provide the ITV check. Riviera Del Sol or the office in Alhaurin. We can also deal with paperwork at the same time.
How long can you drive a UK car in Spain legally?
You can drive a UK car in Spain legally for six months. This is providing the vehicle has a UK MOT, Tax, and insurance adapted to drive in Europe. If you vehicle is on Sorn also this could be impounded if caught. Make sure all of these are correct. If not, the car will most likely be impounded. This is a pain to get the vehicle released. This is why it is always a good idea to start the process to register a UK car in Spain.
Is it worth registering a UK car in Spain?
This is why we recommend a free quote. There are many things to weigh up regards whether the cost is worth it. The headlights, the ITV and the taxes. However, cars “generally” from the UK have been better looked after, have less mileage and second hand cars in Spain are very expensive. It’s weighing up whether the cost to matriculate the car onto Spanish plates outweighs the cost of shipping it back to the UK and selling the vehicle in favour of buying a Spanish vehicle.
Spanish vehicles tend to have what it also referred to as “Spanish kisses” an endearing term for bumps, prangs and dents in the vehicle, And the Spanish tend not to change their vehicles too often. This is another reason the second value is high. We feel with all weighed up its can be well worth it to register a UK car in Spain. We advise getting a free quote and a free pre ITV check to determine which way you should go with getting your car on Spanish plates.
We can now give great advice to anyone who is moving to Spain and have not yet brought there car over into the country. There area few Brexit teething problems with cars that already here. however, if you bringing the car we can give advice as to what to with certain processes before you arrive which will enable us to make sure you have everything the DGT, tax office in Spain and the import agents require BEFORE you arrive. this will mean that the process will be both easier for you and us. we are happy to provide quotes even if you have started the processes of moving to Spain.
We can also help with your residency application which will mean we have total control on timings and can even book the ITV before you get here. We can even help with getting headlights suited for roads in Spain you can have fitted before you arrive. Or, we can help you with lights when you are here.
