Vehicle Registrations Costa Del Sol

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  • Register a Vehicle in Malaga – A Practical Guide

    If your vehicle is being registered in Malaga, the process follows a very specific local journey — starting at the Malaga ITV and ending with the DGT.

    This page explains how vehicle registration actually works in Malaga, what happens at each stage, and where most delays or mistakes occur to register a vehicle in Malaga.

    The process is similar whether the vehicle is from the UK or another EU country, but to register a vehicle in Malaga specific steps matter.

    Step 1 – ITV Representation & File Acceptance (Malaga)

    At the start of the Malaga registration process, the vehicle must be presented at Malaga ITV station. We deal with the presentation and send everything required as the vehicle’s appointed representative. This means they come to us and nit you with any questions.

    After we submit the vehicle documentation and begin the acceptance process for the technical file. Where required, the ficha (engineers report) is submitted for approval and the ITV issues a solicitud confirming the file has been accepted into the system pending an inspection date.

    Once this stage is completed, the vehicle is correctly registered within the Malaga ITV process and can move forward to preparation and checking the vehicle.

    Step 2 – Vehicle Preparation & ITV Test

    To register a vehicle in Malaga, the vehicle must meet Spanish technical and safety requirements before completing the ITV test. Once the technical file has been accepted, the vehicle is prepared to meet Spanish ITV requirements before testing.

    This can include:

    • Advice on headlight alignment to Spanish specification – UK Vehicles Only
    • Fog light modification where required – UK vehicles only
    • Any other compliance adjustments identified during pre-check – tyres, bulbs, location of european homologation sticker etc.

    Where applicable, temporary green plates can be arranged so the vehicle can be legally moved through the process.

    We are then advised of the date and we relay this to you so you can meet us at Malaga ITV. We then drive the vehicle through the full ITV inspection ourselves. If the vehicle passes, the ITV issues the inspection approval required to proceed.

    If the vehicle fails, we receive the official failure sheet and provide the client with a clear written explanation outlining:

    • What the vehicle failed on
    • Why it failed
    • What is required to correct it

    Any necessary corrections are completed before the vehicle returns for re-inspection.

    Step 3 – Final ITV Sign-Off & Registration Paperwork in Malaga

    Once the vehicle has passed the ITV inspection, a final visit to the Malaga ITV by us is required to complete the process. At this stage, we return to the ITV as the vehicle’s representative to:

    • Complete the final ITV sign-off
    • Collect the approved ITV Vehicle fichas and inspection documentation
    • Obtain the paperwork required to register the vehicle in Malaga

    These documents are essential for the final registration stage and must be issued correctly by the Malaga ITV.

    Throughout this step, the client is not required to attend or sign any documents in person. All paperwork is handled and collected by us, allowing the registration process in Malaga to move forward without delay.

    Once this stage is completed, the vehicle is fully prepared for final registration and number plate issuance

  • Steps to get vehicle insurance in Spain

    1. Steps to get vehicle insurance in Spain – When the vehicle is being registered.

    If you are registering your vehicle in Spain and your insurance is expiring you can ‘potentially’ get vehicle insurance in Spain BEFORE the vehicle has been registered onto Spanish registration. This applies to UK, EU, and Non-EU vehicles

    In some cases, insurance can be arranged for the vehicle before you begin the typically lengthy registration process here when the vehicle is prepared to start registration.

    What you need to qualify

    • Your vehicle registration documents
    • ID and proof of address
    • NIE / Residency certificate

    Please note we must be dealing with the registration of the vehicle for you or we CANNOT get the insurance for your vehicle.

    Getting Spanish insurance before the vehicle is registered

    The information on this page is for those who’s insurance is running out / expired but the vehicle needs to be registered in Spain. You may have found your own insurance company are not able to continue or even not able at all to insure the vehicle to drive in Spain.

    Failure to have the correct insurance the registration process can lead to legal issues down the line which is not good and can involve the vehicle been impounded . To avoid any potential problems, it is advisable to get this sorted as soon as possible.

    Temporary vehicle insurance Spain.

    Please note that insurance for vehicles leaving Spain are not permitted. Only in the case that you are registering the vehicle in the country is it potentially a solution.

    Insurance for Non-Spanish EU / UK vehicles
    • If you vehicle is insured in the UK or another EU country. Check your policy covers you to drive in Spain and the duration of that insurance
    • Check if the insurance is extendable in case it runs out
    • Potentially cover the vehicle if there is a gap between expiry and your vehicle being registered

    It is also worthy to note that if your vehicle does not have a valid technical inspection or road tax in the country of origin then it can also be impounded. EU/UK Getting vehicle insurance in Spain is definitely worth exploring.

  • Sales invoice for Vehicles not in the name of the new owner

    Sales invoice for Vehicles not in the name of the new owner

    When you have a vehicle that have bought and wish to register it in Spain there are certain parameters on the sales invoice that Spain are quite strict on. In cases where you wish the paperwork to be registered in your own name whilst registering the vehicle a transfer of ownership tax must be paid. We can work this cost out for you and every vehicle is different. The easiest way is to register the vehicle in your name in the country of origin however if that is not possible please contact us.

    What The sales invoice MUST have on the invoice


    ● The sellers company name and address which match that on section B of the vehicle documents (part 1 and 2)
    ● MUST have the sellers valid EU VAT number (We can check this for you and provide a certificate)
    ● Details of the vehicle VIN number, number plate and description
    ● The PRIVATE FULL name of the individual buying the vehicle including NIE number
    ● Date of purchase
    ● Price paid for the vehicle with VAT separately. If VAT is included it must state this on the sales invoice.

    When the sales invoice is from a company to a company


    This is from an EU registered company with the vehicle being sold to a registered company (CIF) in Spain. The invoice MUST show the following:


    ● Vehicle details, VIN number, registration number
    ● Selling company name address and company number which match that on section B of the vehicle documents (part 1 and 2)
    ● Sellers MUST have a valid EU VAT number. (We can check this for you and provide a certificate)
    ● The buyers SL company number (CIF), name and address in Spain
    ● Price with VAT separate, If VAT is included it must be stated on the sales invoice or shown separate
    ● Date of purchase

    Why you need to pay transfer of ownership taxes

    Unfortunately this always has to be paid. We can calculate this by seeing the sales invoice for a free quote. Basically, for example the vehicle registration document is in the name of the old owner. The sales invoice proves that you have bought the vehicle. Spain apply a tax to change the new Spanish vehicle documents that you get on completion into your own name. The vehicle will then have changed ownership to you personally.

    Can the Vehicle Start the process in the meantime?

    Yes, the vehicle can start the process of registration in Spain. The transfer of ownership is done AFTER the ITV and at the final stage, we will do the transfer of ownership for you.

  • Your Quote Explained

    Your Quote Explained

    This is a breakdown of the quote we have sent you. We offer the most extensive premium service on the coast. Below is a list of the processes we do to register your vehicle in Spain. Beware of cheap quotes that do not offer the same level of expertise or service, we are completely transparent with fees most of which are Government taxes and processing fees, emission charges, and road tax charges, they are unavoidable costs if done legally. If you have had a vastly cheaper quote then there is more than likely something not correct which will arise later in the process.

    A breakdown of the quote: Fixed costs

    Applicable if you do the vehicle yourself:

    Fixed Costs : We pay on your behalf the College of Gestors, the DGT, physical number Plates, ITV technical inspection and provide an authorised certificate of conformity (Ficha Technica)

    • Road Tax: Estimated: If less you are refunded the difference. 
    • Special Registration Tax: Emission Charges: Anything over 120 gpkm (for cars) of C02 incurs this charge; these are paid by us to the tax office on your behalf. For motorcycles the emission charges are calculated differently.

    **The above 3 costs are fixed and payable if you do the vehicle yourself these costs cannot be avoided to register the vehicle properly**

    Here’s what we do for you.

    • *New* clear faults on your OBD on-board computer (cars only).   This is now a fail at the ITV if faults are found.
    • Create a file and send it to the ITV and book an appointment for a technical inspection.  
    • Provide a certificate of conformity. (Ficha Technica) we do it at your home normally.  ITV cannot be done without it.  
    • Provide figures for import duty and IVA after Brexit  *UK cars only*
    • Book and take the vehicle through the ITV for you, we do the test. You meet us there. (unless doing our remote service)
    • Deal with paperwork at the ITV before the inspection. 
    • If the vehicle fails we book a retest for you and attend with you a second time free. We also inform you what needs to be done for the failure of the inspection.
    • Deal with paperwork when the vehicle has passed the inspection.
    • Provide you with documents at the ITV so if you get pulled over by the Police you have the correct documents so you do not get a fine. (The ITV retain the original vehicle registration documents pass or fail) A Folder is also provided at completion with all documents you need to keep in the car so you do not get a fine if pulled over by the Police including an accident form (must have in Spain)
    • If the vehicle is not in your name we provide a certificate from the tax office in Spain that the VAT is correct on the sales invoice so you do not have to pay VAT twice.
    • Pay the road tax at the town hall on your behalf and ensure they have your correct address for annual reminders. Proof of road tax paid is provided
    • Pay the emission charges to the tax office on your behalf (if any)
    • Register the vehicle with the DGT and the tax office.
    • Receive all the relevant new paperwork and provide that in a folder with the new Spanish documents, proof of road tax paid, congestion charge sticker,  and new physical registration plates will be provided. We will fit these on your vehicle if in our area or post to you by courier if not.
    • Basically the vehicle will be fully legal and everything up to date.
    • Provide quotes for insurance on the new Spanish plates. 
    • We also now provide ALL vehicles with the new emission sticker which is a legal requirement in every vehicle from 1st January 2023

    If you are shopping on price please ensure that ALL of these services are included and done properly by other companies.

    Vehicle folder
    Vehicle folder with all relevant docs.

    Make sure you have everything you need DONE and Legal and presented in a Folder to keep in the car.

    What’s required to get started:

    We require a 700 euros deposit to start the process, we then get the certificate of conformity done and book the ITV inspection for you. We will require paperwork. The remainder of the quote is payable AFTER the ITV has been passed and the final registration is processed with the town hall, DGT and the tax office. Contact us to get payment details for the deposit and we start today.

  • Informing HMRC you have left the UK P85 form

    Informing HMRC you have left the UK P85 form

    This article is regarding when you are registering a UK car in Spain and waiving the taxes which are made up of basically import duty and IVA (VAT). Unfortunately after Brexit things changed dramatically for waiving taxes. However, if you are taking residency in Spain and you follow a timeline of doing things properly waiving the taxes should be straight forward.

    Signing on the Padron in Spain.

    Signing on the Padron simply (no matter what you are told) should not be done UNTIL you have your residency , or, at least very close together to receiving your residency and the Padron being registered. Signing on the Padron is basically telling the Spanish tax office you are ALREADY resident in Spain whether you have been living in Spain or not. However, if you have your residency arriving soon or have in the last 12 months gotten your residency to be able to waive taxes you must prove to the Spanish government that you have informed HMRC you are leaving the country by filling in a P85 form.

    This used to be a troublesome ask as many people do not even know about the P85. The great news is you can backdate the form which must be PRE signing of the Padron and PRE residency dates. here we will explain what you need to do to get the summary page we need to prove you left the UK and potentially waive taxes for you. There a 2 ways to inform HMRC.

    • Filling an online form, printing off and sending to HMRC by post (this takes a long time to get a confirmation letter)
    • Filling in the HMRC website and getting an instant summary on submitting (This is enough to prove you informed HMRC you left the UK for the Spanish tax office to potentially waive taxes)

    To fill in the P85 head over to HMRC’s P85 for online service Click here. To use the online service, you need a Government Gateway user ID and password. If you do not have a user ID, you can create one when you use the service. If you use the online form, you’ll get a reference number that you can use to track the progress of your claim.

    Fill the form REMEMBER THE DATE OF LEAVING THE UK MUST PRE DATE THE PADRON AND THE RESIDENCY APPROVAL. once done you will receive a summary page like the one below. We have obviously removed sensitive information from the form. Once you have submitted this form you get the below summary. please send us this summary page (3 pages) we will then use to see if we can waive the import duty and IVA>

    The above section for the date MUST pre date the signing of the Padron and the the date you got residency. If date is pending no problem.

    Once you have filled in the form you then need to SAVE the submission form this is an example below. This is enough to satisfy the Spanish tax office you have informed the UK you left the UK and should enable us to waive taxes.

    P85 summary form
    P85 Form Summary save, print and send to us.
  • Remote service for Vehicle Registration in spain

    Remote service for Vehicle Registration in spain

    Welcome to our page regarding a remote service when you need to register your car in Spain, however, you are not in our area. We are now offering a service to register your vehicle in Spain where we manage the project for you as usual with a few differences. Normally, we manage the project, book the ITV, meet you at the ITV and take your car through. With the remote service we can do most of the registration we normally do but you will need to do the ITV yourself with our support. In certain areas we may be able to provide a Spanish speaker to attend the ITV with you.

    Firstly, we will make sure you have everything you need paperwork wise to take to the ITV centre to have the Spanish vehicle inspection test. This means there will be no mistakes at the ITV and they will have everything they need reducing any confusion or mishaps. Secondly we will tell you exactly what to expect on the day, how to inform the staff of your arrival, and give you info how to book and take the vehicle through the ITV.

    • Our experts check your paperwork to make sure you have everything to ensure you can register the vehicle
    • We create a custom file for you to take to the ITV in a folder. Nothing will be missing and everything will be correct reducing stress

    After the inspection we will tell you exactly what we need and an address to send the paperwork the ITV give you. If they do not provide paperwork on the day we support you to get the paperwork from them. We will then do the service as normal and register the vehicle and send you everything up to date so the vehicle is done properly. This includes:

    • A free initial quote of the cost involved to register your UK or EU vehicle in Spain
    • Guidance on booking the ITV and giving you the correct documents to take to the ITV inspection
    • Provide a certificate of conformity (unless the vehicle has one already)
    • If the vehicle fails the ITV help with info on what is needed to correct the vehicle for a second test
    • How to book a second retest (free)
    • What to do at the ITV after the vehicle passes the inspection
    • What paperwork is needed and an address to send it to us
    • We then pay the emission taxes if any, register the vehicle with the DGT, create a file for any problems with registration, road tax the vehicle and provide proof, we receive the new paperwork , road tax receipt, number plates and registration documents for your vehicle. We then send these to you and your vehicle is fully Spanish ready to go.
    • We also provide insurance quotes for when the vehicle is fully registered in Spain.
    • Support through the process.

    The only difference with this and the service we usually offer is the day at the ITV bit we will make sure that you are fully equipped with everything you need and what to expect on the day. We will provide a step by step instruction of what to do at the ITV and we will have made sure your paperwork is all in order.

  • Registering a french Vehicle in Spain 1#

    Registering a french Vehicle in Spain 1#

    Registering a French vehicle in Spain is pretty straight forward. As France is obviously part of the EU to registration process of a French Vehicle makes the process pretty slick. There are several factors to take into account to the cost of each French vehicle. Firstly, the emissions tax you pay in Grams of C02 whish we can calculate for you.

    Documents you need for registering a French vehicle in Spain

    • French Vehicle registration Documents front and back
    • Certificate of conformity if you have one
    • Details of emissions (Co2 Grams per Kilometre)
    • Copy of NIE or TIE card

    Do you need to pay import duty?

    There are no import duty or IVA to pay on Registering A French Vehicle In Spain and we can arrange a certificate of conformity for you if the French vehicle does not already have one. Every vehicle is different and the cost is calculated from the information provided.

    Lets get your quote started today contact us using WhatsApp, Call, or fill in our form for more details and our quotes are totally free. For super quick quotes fill in this fast form.

    Fun fact – French vehicles number plates are all riveted – it is illegal in France to use screws.

    Vehicle Registrations Costa Del Sol

    Is registering a French vehicle in Spain expensive?

    Generally no. The only extra cost that needs to be calculated is the emission charges. This is the Co2 that emits from the exhaust. Basically the bigger the engine the more tax you pay. Anything under 120 GPKM has no charge. Over that, many different factors come into play to calculate the tax. make, model, engine, vehicle age, all are taken into consideration when calculating the charges.

    Is it worth it?

    It can make sense to register your French vehicle in Spain. Spanish vehicles are very expensive second hand and generally not that looked after and often very high mileage. For this reason, registering a French vehicle in Spain is generally a good idea. Especially, as the vehicle can be imported into Spain very easily geographically. Bringing in the vehicle is pretty straightforward as France is part of the EU so the matriculation is very straightforward also. Many of our clients also matriculate vehicles Denmark or Germany for instance.

    To Register a french Vehicle do you help with the ITV test?

    Yes, we meet you at the ITV (if geographically sensible) we supply paperwork before and after. we book the ITV for you and we take it through the ITV at the test. We also, get the paperwork after the vehicle has passed and we deal with the final registration. Should your French vehicle fail we book a second retest and help a second time. A retest is free for both our service and the ITV centre.

    Are all french cars EU conformity?

    No, mostly French vehicles have EU conformity. However, let us check if your vehicle is not an import. Many French cars are registered but do not carry the EU conformity stamp. If this is the case this changes the ability to not pay high import duty and IVA taxes. Let us check this for you by sending us CLEAR SCANS so we can check Registering a French Vehicle in Spain.

    What needs changing on a French Vehicle?

    Basically, nothing. To register the French vehicle through the ITV the steering wheel is on the correct side, the vehicle speedometer is in kilometres, the lights point in the correct direction. It may fail the ITV but from a point of view regards the standard its go to go. We do a free quick check of your vehicle for any potential fails pre ITV test.

  • Facebook page Change

    We have requested a change of Facebook page from Spanish – Car ITV MOT & Plates Change to Vehicle Registrations Costa Del Sol to reflect our Brand.

    We are hoping the Facebook will permit this change in line with our branding.

  • providing a quote for vehicle matriculation

    providing a quote for vehicle matriculation

     

    To provide a free quote we do a full study of the vehicle and the persons situation in Spain. If you do not yet own the vehicle you wish a estimate of costs on, please scroll down the page to “vehicles not owned yet”

    There are over 100,000 vehicles in the BOE system for Spain all with a different calculation of taxes. Filling our form and providing the paperwork is the quickest and easiest way for us to work out the costs of your vehicle. Of course, we cannot do this without the vehicle regsitration documents as there is a lot of information on the documents that is very important we check. 

    What is taken in consideration to estimate the costs?

    1. The age of the vehicle – date of first regsitration
    2. The size and type of the engine
    3. The conformity of the vehicle (very important) 
    4. The country of origin
    5. The Co2 data on the documents – emissions from the exhaust
    6. The area the car will be registered – we need the postcode
    7. The road tax costs
    8. Our fees if using us for the regsitration 
    9. Import duty and IVA (VAT) if applicable
    10. Your residency status in Spain
    11. If the name on the document is not the owner wishing to register the vehicle in Spain we need to work out transfer of ownership taxes. 

    Our forms are designed to give us the info we need and ensures we do not make a mistake with your free quote. We require clear scans of the paperwork so we can do our job properly,  If your vehicle is registered in the EU does not necessarily mean it has European conformity. This could be a big deal and needs thoroughly checking. To assess the vehicle properly we need. The access the form click here for EU cars and here for UK cars. When you submit you receive an automatic email to send us the documents. 

    1. Vehicle registration documents (full pages)
    2. Certificate of conformity (if the vehicle has one no problem if not)
    3. Our form filled in for info on the vehicle.
    4. Postcode (in Spain) the vehicle will be registered. 
     

    Quoting on Vehicles not owned yet

    We are not being rude, however, we get a vast amount of enquiries to quote on vehicles that clients do not own. A lot of work goes into the quote and it is time consuming. We also have to ask our import agent (if needed) to work out import duty which he has to request from the tax office who spend their time also. For this reason we charge 80+ IVA euros to do a full evaluation of the vehicle you wish to buy including all of our normal checks, checking if it has European conformity, that it can actually be registered in Spain, that it can go through the vehicle inspection test, that the seller has EU vat (if a company), providing a sales contract, the transfer of ownership taxes. You can potentially buy a vehicle that cannot be tested without paying very high import duties. Its is very important this check is done before you buy a vehicle. Our staff  take approximately 1 hour to study the vehicle and do all the checks and provide you with all the info. 

    Also transfer of ownership taxes could be applicable on vehicles you do not own yet and without info of the seller we cannot work out what these taxes will be. There VAT standing could affect whether you pay VAT or not on the vehicle in Spain. with an estimate. Of course 

    What you will receive on a vehicle not owned yet. 

    1. A full breakdown on the conformity of the vehicle and whether it can be registered in Spain or not. 
    2. A Vat check on the company selling the vehicle
    3.  A full breakdown of costs of registration, emission taxes (Co2) , road tax charge, transfer of ownership costs (if any), certificate of conformity costs, DGT processing fees. 
    4. We send a PDF to request a sales invoice that the Spanish DGT and tax office will accept
    5. Translation of a sales invoice into Spanish if needed. 
    6. IT IS MASSIVELY IMPORTANT ALL VEHCILES ARE CHECKED AND A FULL STUDY DONE BEFORE YOU BUY. WE RECEIVE A MINIMUM OF 5 ENQUIRIES A WEEK WITH VEHCILES THAT CANNOT BE REGISTERED IN SPAIN, HAVE A RIDICLOULSY LARGE CO2 EMISSIONS COST, DO NOT HAVE THE CORRECT PAPERWORK OR CONFORMITY, JUST SOME OF THE MANY REASONS THAT IS ADVISABLE TO CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY. 

    What if the vehicle is not in the name of the person registering the vehicle?

    If the vehicle is not in the name of the person registering the vehicle a transfer of ownership tax could apply. This is a Spanish government tax. Each vehicle has a different tax and needs to be calculated. The easiest way to bypass this is to put the vehicle in your own name. However, we can do this whilst we register the vehicle in Spain and the vehicle can take the ITV inspection not in the name of the new owner but you will need our help. WE CANNOT PROVIDE THE TRANSFER OF OWNERHSIP COSTS WITHOUT THE PAPERWORK. 

  • Registering a Northern ireland car in Spain

    Registering a Northern ireland car in Spain

    If you are looking for information on registering a northern Ireland car in Spain this is the information you need. Registering a Northern Ireland vehicle in Spain is slightly easier than registering a United Kingdom vehicle after Brexit. Because Northern Ireland is still part of the EU market we can still matriculate your Northern Ireland vehicle onto Spanish plates without the need to pay import duty and IVA. This also applies to importing an southern Irish car to Spain.

    Paying taxes on Registering A Northern Ireland Car In Spain

    Import duty and IVA account to 31% of the value of the vehicle, however these taxes can be waived and your vehicle from Northern Ireland can be matriculated on to Spanish number plates relatively easy. Pretty much the same rules apply as they did before Brexit. There are extra hoops to jump through but we help you with the process.

    How we can help register a northern Ireland car in Spain

    We can help importing your vehicle if you need transport to get it to Spain. However, it is much easier to drive it over on the ferry. To make an inquiry regards putting your Northern Ireland car on Spanish place contact us and we can provide a free quote regards the cost for the matriculation.

    We do everything including paying of taxes, paying of emission taxes, the ITV, dealing with anything that needs doing on the car prior to the ITV, headlights, road tax, insurance, basically the whole package.

    What is needed to import an Irish car to Spain?

    The vehicle has to be at registered in Northern Ireland address. We have put several vehicles through the ITV test and final registration with no problems regards import duty and IVA. Brexit on this occasion has not affected registering vehicles from northern Ireland in Spain.

    What you will need to register a northern Ireland car in Spain

    • The V5 log Book
    • The vehicle to be registered in Northern Ireland
    • Passport ID
    • NIE number or TIE
    • Valid tax, MOT and insurance (if not green plates will be needed)

    How long does it take to register a NI car in Spain?

    From start to finish the process takes roughly 6 weeks. A majority of this time is taken waiting for the ITV and the DGT regards the final registration. If you are thinking of moving to Spain permanently we can book the ITV before you get here so we do not have to wait.