meseta

Has anyone first hand knowledge of buying a car outside spain and importing it ? ie paying all the necessary taxes, spanish plates , the whole nine yards.
I am investigating the possibilities and would like some up to date info from someone who has actually done it.

I'm told its much cheaper that buying in Spain. What do you know ?

Thanks all.

jdr

I think you might find new cars cheaper here than importing them in, also saves a lot of paperwork hassle.

Cptnemo

Are you looking to buy a car from within or outside the EU? as this will make quite a difference to the viability.

meseta

Thank you.

From inside the EU.

I understand that it will be a worthwhile exercise. I want to get in touch with someone who has done it recently.

rogerb

I am importing a 5yo Focus (because I've had it from new & it has lots of extras, so I'd lose a packet if I'd sold it!).

It will have cost me about 850Euros, including getting the lights changed, but EXcluding Import Tax(4%), because I got a Matriculation Certificate from the Brit Consul.
This cost 30E & says the car and its owner have left the UK permanently.

To avoid having to pay Import Tax you must get Spanish plates within one month of the date on the certificate(not necessarily the actual date on which you imported it )

I'm not doing this myself, as I've found it too complicated. My 'agent' is a Brit who's been here 14 yrs & does it every day. He has the added advantage of a son-in-law who's a Trafico officer, and can 'get around' some of the difficulties

countryboy

I do hope this helps you in your quest it is a bit long and boring but is correct as of 01/01/2005


1. Cars With Foreign Licence Number Plates

A. Residents Within EU/EES

Vehicles Registered Outside The Area

Residents of the European Union and the European Economical Space (meaning Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland) are not permitted to use, within the area of EU/EES, vehicles registered outside the area. (This makes it illegal for EU/EES residents to use vehicles registered in Gibraltar and Andorra). An EU/EES resident may only use a vehicle with licence plates from an EU/EES state.

Vehicles Registered Within The Community

In the case of Spain, community residents (from now on, when we refer to the community or EU, we also include Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland) without a residence permit in this country (unless they are fiscal residents due to their staying in Spain for more than 183 days per calendar year) may use a vehicle registered within the community without any formalities, and may leave their car in Spain whilst they are away without the need to have it sealed. They may then use the car again on their return visit.

Person With Residence Permit Or Who Is A Fiscal Resident

On the other hand, any person who has either a residence permit or is a fiscal resident in Spain must register a car staying permanently in Spain with Spanish licence plates in accordance with the stipulation of the first disposition of the Law 38/1992 which says that "a means of transport, new or used, when acquired by a person or a legal entity with legal or fiscal residence in Spain must be registered in Spain."

Cars Registered Outside The Community Area May Not Be Used By Foreign Residents

It should be kept in mind that foreigners resident in Spain or in another EU state may not use, within the community area, cars registered outside. Article 12 of the rules 1855/89 of the European Council expressly prohibits vehicles registered outside the community area being loaned, given or placed at the disposal of persons with permanent residence within the area. (Certain exceptions exist to this general rule.)

B. Residents Outside The Community - Temporary Import

The System Of Temporary Importation

The system of temporary importation permits the importation of vehicles registered outside the community area into it, free of import duties for periods of six months (continuous or not) within periods of 12 months.

Conditions

This system is only applicable to persons resident outside the community area. To use this system and thereby use the car within the area, the following conditions must be respected:

1) That the car be imported by a person resident outside the community area.
2) That the car be used by this person only for private purposes.
3) That the car be registered outside of the community and in the name of a person resident outside.

Cases In Which Importation May Continue Beyond The Normal Time Limit

There are also three other cases in which cars on temporary importation may continue to stay within the community beyond the normal time limit:

1) If you are regularly crossing community territory on the road to and from your work, there is no time limit.
2) A student from a country outside the community area may use a car registered in his own country for the duration of his full-time studies.
3) A person from outside the community area charged with a special mission for a limited time period may use his car for that time period.

Use By Spouse, Parents And Children

Article 6,2 of Rules 2249/91 establishes that only the spouse, parents and children of a person resident outside the community area may use a vehicle imported under the system of temporary importation.

Vehicles For Private Use - General Rule

The general rule is that vehicles for private use may not be rented, lent or placed at the disposal of any other person after their importation.

Private Car Registered Outside The Community - Use By Community Resident

On the other hand, a person resident within the community may rent or lease a car for private use that is registered in the name of a person resident outside the community and bring it into the community country in which he resides.


2. Tourist Plates In Spain

When referring to tourist plates, one must make the following distinctions:
A. Residents within the customs area of the community.
B. Residents outside the customs area of the community.

A. Residents Within The Customs Area

Persons With Habitual Residence Within The Community, But Outside Of Spain - Conditions

This system is applicable to all persons complying with the following conditions:

1) That they have their habitual residence within the community, but outside of Spain.
2) That they do not have any business activity in Spain.
3) That they (or spouse, parents or children complying with the same conditions) use the car only for private purposes.

Keeping Car On Tourist Plated - Only Paying VAT (IVA)

Under this system any person residing within the community, but outside Spain, may continue to keep their car on tourist plates only paying VAT (IVA) of 16%. These tourist plates may be prolonged every year, without further payments other than the municipal car tax.

Circumstances In Which VAT (IVA) Is Not Payable

There are two exceptions whereby persons resident within the community area, but outside of Spain, may qualify to have a car on tourist plates without having to pay the IVA:

1) Persons on the point of transferring their habitual residency to a country outside the community. In this case three months are allowed for the transfer.
2) Correspondents for foreign newspapers in Spain, teachers in schools established by foreign governments and employees without diplomatic status in embassies, consulates and international organisations located in Spain. In such cases there is no limit on the use of the vehicle.

B. Residents Outside The Customs Area Of The Community

Exemption From All Taxes

Persons resident outside the community area may have a car on tourist plates with total exemption from all taxes (meaning they do not have to pay the IVA, nor the special registration tax, nor the 10% customs if the car is produced outside the community).

Period Of Use

Such persons may use a car with tourist plates continuously or not for six months, per 12 month period.

Application For An Extension

However, to be able to continue to use the vehicle for more than the first six months, they must apply for an extension that will be granted by the customs authorities, if the circumstances permit. Customs make the decision regarding extensions.

General Rule

The general rule is that after six months, the car should be imported into Spain on normal Spanish plates as stipulated in Law 38/1992 on Special Taxes.

Special Circumstances

However, under special circumstances, this may be extended. The family of the car's owner who has a vacation property in Spain and takes their holidays at intervals throughout the year may have a good case for extension.


3. Final Importation

Residents

Residents of Spain (legal or fiscal) are obliged to register their cars on Spanish plates.

The Taxes To Be Paid On Such A Final Importation Are:

a) Value Added Tax (IVA)

This tax is payable on cars imported from outside the community or on cars registered on tourist or tax-free export plates when imported. The basis of the calculation is on the original market price of the vehicle with a reduction for each year of the vehicle's age.

This tax is not payable on cars registered on fully tax paid plates from a community country. The IVA is at present 16%.

b) Special Registration Tax

This tax on registration, established in Law 38/1992, is intended to compensate for the losses in tax income brought about by the reduction in IVA. It is generally 12%, but reduced to 4% if your gasoline driven car has less than 1.600 cc, or a diesel car of less than 1.910 cc. (In the Canary Islands the corresponding tax is 11 or 6%.)

c) Import Duty

In the case of a vehicle registered in a country not belonging to the EU/EES, an import duty of 10% is payable when the vehicle is imported to Spain. This duty is also calculated on the original market price, with a reduction according to age.

The Intervals For Technical Inspection (ITV) In Spain Are:

a) five (5) years after first registration (in Spain or abroad)
b) after five (5) years, every two (2) years until nine (9) years
c) after nine (9) years, every year.

countryboy

Here is some more boring information for you on Cars from the same sourse

4. What About Importing a R.H.D. Car?

Two Distinctions Have To Be Made

When you want to import a car with the steering wheel on the right hand side, two distinctions have to be made:

1) Importation due to change of residency.
2) Normal importation.

If You Are Taking Up Residency In Spain

If you are taking up residency in Spain and want to bring your R.H.D. car with you, as this is an importation due to change of residency, you should not have any problem in doing so.

If You Already Are Resident In Spain

But if you already are resident in Spain, and you buy a car with the steering wheel on the right hand side and intend to put it on Spanish plates, you may be able to go through the whole importation process, but have the ITV refuse to test the car.

We Recommend That You Ask The ITV

Before deciding to bring an R.H.D. vehicle to Spain, we recommend that you ask the ITV in the place where you live if they will permit it.


5. Summing Up

Community Citizens Resident In Spain

They must have their cars registered on normal Spanish plates. When bringing a car from their country of residency, to Spain for registration, they will only have to pay the Registration Tax if IVA has been paid on purchase. There are no limits for the use of such a car in Spain.

Citizens From Outside The Community Area, Residents In Spain

They must also have their car on normal Spanish plates, but pay IVA and the Registration Tax on importation. They too, must pay Import Duties when importing a car from outside the community area.

Residents In Community Countries

No, we are not making a mistake, it is really residents in the community area, and not only citizens we are talking about in this group. This means that a Chinese with legal residency in Denmark comes in this group.

Persons belonging to this group may use cars registered in their country of residence, in Spain, without any time limits and without paying any taxes. The only condition is that they may not be fiscal residents in Spain. Residents in community countries can also have a car in Spain registered on Spanish tourist plates, valid for six months, renewable.

Residents Outside The Community

Such persons may use their foreign cars as tourists in Spain for six months per calendar year, with a possible extension. They pay no taxes on their car in Spain, but must not be fiscal residents.

The Practical Experience

The practical experience of the members of "FIPE" over the years since the new rules for importation of cars came into effect, tells them the following:

Foreigners outside the Community area

For foreigners outside the community area, it almost never pays to register a foreign-registered car on Spanish plates.

If you come from within the community area

If you come from within the community area and want to register the car in Spain, it does not pay to bring in cars with a low value, only cars of a significant value. To take Spanish tourist plates is such a cumbersome task, filled with paperwork, that we cannot recommend it.


6. On Driving Licences

A Resident With A Driving Permit Issued In A EU/EES Country

A resident with a driving permit issued in a EU/EES country, may register this permit in the "Registro de Conductores y Infractores" in the Jefatura de Trafico at the provincial capitals, or exchange his driving permit for a Spanish one.

Period Of Validity

When exchanging your national driving licence for a Spanish one, the Spanish will be made valid for as many years as your national one is.

Persons Over 70 Years Of Age

However, after having passed 70 years of age, you will be asked to present a medical certificate whenever the driving licence needs to be renewed. Then, from this moment on, you will be asked to produce similar certificates every year.

Non-Residents

Non-residents may drive in Spain with their normal national driving licence.

Language

In such cases where the national driving licence is in a language, difficult for a Spanish policeman to understand (like Arabic or Russian), or where the format of the licence is different, the driver should also have an international driving licence or an official translation into Spanish of his national one.

Small 4 Wheel Vehicles (Less Than 50 cm3)

In Spain at present, there are small vehicles for sale with 4 wheels, but with a motorisation of less than 50 cm3, that can be driven with just the same kind of a driving permit you need for a moped.


7. Insurance

Make Sure You Are Covered!

Make sure that you are covered at all times! If you buy a second-hand car, you may take over the insurance of the previous owner, but walk to the insurance company and make the transfer before using the car.

Some Insurance Companies Refuse Third-Party Cover In Certain Cases

Some insurance companies refuse third-party cover for cars more than eight (8) years old and full-risk coverage for used cars over two (2) years old. In other insurance companies the limit for insuring a car is 15 years for third party and six (6) years for full-risk

Buying An Older Car

You may find it wise to ask your insurance company (where you may have accumulated a bonus) before buying an older car.

Third Party Insurance Cover

Third party cover in Spain is called Responsibilidad Civil Obligatoria and you may be heavily fined and have your driving permit suspended for driving without it. Such insurance gives a coverage of up to almost 10.000 Euro for each person you may harm, and almost 3.000 in material damages on the car of the other party per accident.

Full-Cover Insurance

Full-cover insurance is called Responsibilidad Civil Voluntario or Complementario, and insures both yourself and your vehicle.

Companies You Can Insure With

You can insure a Spanish-registered car with any insurance company within the European community.


8. The Paper Work On Buying a Used Car

There are three ways of buying a second-hand car:

Buying From A Dealer

You can buy from the dealer a car that has been traded in on a new purchase. Such a car will normally have been repaired and is sold with a guarantee.

Buying From Garages Or Used-Car Dealers

Or you go to one of the garages or used-car dealers. Here as well the cars may be repaired (sometimes only cosmetically brushed-up). In the better garages you may also get a guarantee.

Buying Privately

The third way is to buy privately. If you know the owner and the car, nothing is better. If you are reacting to an ad, be very careful. Study the documentation and bring an expert, or take the car to a garage where they can check it. On a private purchase you may make the best deal.

You Must Have These Documents

Whether you yourself do the transfer of the used car to your own name, or you leave it to a gestor, you must have the following documents:

a) The private purchasing contract signed by both parties and original and photocopies of their identification documents and NIF cards.
b) Permiso de Circulación for the car, signed on the back by the vendor, with a witness to the signature, for instance, by a bank.
c) Tarjeta de Inspección Tecnica for the car, with the stamps for the last technical inspection from the ITV.
d) Receipt for payment of Vehicle Tax for last year.
e) Solicitud de Transferencia, a grey form from Jefatura de Trafico, signed by the vendor, and his signature witnessed by the bank (It is better to go to the Jefatura together with the vendor).
f) Transferencia, a green document for the transfer of the municipal Vehicle Tax, signed by vendor.
g) The form 565 for the Impuesto Especial sobre Medios de Transporte, to be signed by the buyer or his representative and submitted to Hacienda (if the special registration tax is applicable).


9. The Transfer Tax On Private Sale

First Registration

The first registration of a vehicle in Spain is taxed by the Impuesto Especial sobre Medios de Transporte (registration tax).

Tax Depends On Age And Type Of Car

The tax depends on the age and type of car. You must first find the price for the car in question, determined by Hacienda for this tax, prices different from the sales-purchasing price.

Then you can reduce this price in accordance with a scale for the age of the car, where you end up with only 10% if the car is more than 10 years old.

Rate Of Tax

On the real value you have arrived at by using this scale, you pay 4% tax.

Vehicle Already Registered In Spain

This tax is not applicable on sale of a vehicle that has already been registered in Spain.

meseta

wow ! What can I say !

Thank you very much for all your help !

Service indeed.

Meseta.