Complete list of car registration costs in Spain 2025

The expense of registering a vehicle in Spain (e.g. a car or motorbike) is a challenge for those who have brought their vehicle to Spain or bought it outside of Spain.

Before a vehicle can be registered in Spain (including new cars purchased in Spain), taxes and fees must first be paid. In addition, further costs are incurred depending on various factors.

The following cost report gives you a detailed overview of all relevant car registration costs in Spain.

You will also receive tips on how to reduce registration costs.

Wollen Sie diesen Fachbeitrag auf Deutsch lesen, dann

What are the main costs of vehicle registration in Spain?

Before you can register your vehicle with the Spanish Traffic Department, the following costs must be paid (unless you are exempt):

1.) Costs for the technical inspection (‘Inspección Técnica de Vehículos’ – ITV)

All vehicles purchased outside Spain or brought to Spain must be presented for a roadworthiness test in Spain before registration.

The first technical inspection of vehicles previously registered abroad costs more than the subsequent periodic roadworthiness test.

ITV costs in Spain vary depending on the autonomous region. Each region sets its own prices for its area of responsibility.

You can have the roadworthiness test of your vehicle carried out at any ITV station in Spain authorised by the Spanish Traffic Authority (DGT).

Although you normally choose the station closest to your home or place of work.

Amount of ITV costs:

The cost of the first technical inspection of foreign vehicles depends mainly on the following factors:

• the autonomous region carrying out the roadworthiness test
• Vehicle type and weight (car, lorry, motorbike,…)
• Type of fuel (petrol, diesel or electric)

The ITV costs for cars are between 120,- € and 170,- €. Motorbike around 90,- €.

After passing the test, you will receive the ‘ficha técnica’ (technical data sheet).

2.) Road tax to the municipality

The road tax in Spain (‘Impuesto de Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica’ – IVTM), commonly called ‘Impuesto de Circulación’, is a mandatory annual tax and is levied by the local municipalities.

The amounts of road tax in Spain are set out in a table by law: Article 95, Real Decreto Legislativo 2/2004

As can be seen from the table, the tax amounts depend primarily on the vehicle category. Furthermore, the fiscal horsepower (‘caballos fiscales’ – CVF) for passenger cars (‘turismos’) and the cubic capacity (cubic metres) for motorbikes influence the road tax.

It should be noted that the fiscal horsepower is NOT a power unit such as KW or HP of a vehicle. It is a unit used to measure fiscal power and is only used to calculate the tax.

In very simplified terms, the taxable power is calculated from the displacement of a vehicle and the number of cylinders.

You will find this value in the ‘ficha técnica’ issued by the ITV station under the code P.2.1.

The respective local authorities may increase the amounts stated in this table by up to twice as much.

Important tax reductions and exemptions:

Vehicles that emit fewer pollutants can receive tax reductions of up to 75%, depending on the fuel class, engine characteristics and environmental compatibility.

For historic vehicles older than 25 years, there are reductions of up to 100 % when registered as such with the Spanish Traffic Authority.

Persons with reduced mobility and persons with a disability of at least 33%, if the vehicle is authorised for their exclusive use, can apply for exemption from road tax.

Amount of road tax:

The amount of road tax in Spain can vary greatly from municipality to municipality due to the factors mentioned above:

The maximum amount is 280,- € per year.

On average, you can expect to pay 130,- € per year for a medium-sized car (without discounts), for example.

3.) Registration tax to the tax authorities

New or used motor vehicles in Spain are generally subject to registration tax (‘Impuesto de Matriculación’), unless they are legally excluded from taxation.

The Spanish registration tax is a special tax on certain means of transport (‘Impuesto Especial sobre Determinados Medios de Transporte’ – IEDMT) and depends on the CO2 emissions of the vehicle. It can therefore also be considered an emissions tax.

CO2 emissions and tax rates:

	Car	Motorbike	Tax rates
CO2 – Emission	120 g/km and less	100 g/km and less	0
	121 – 159 g/km	101 – 120 g/km	4,75
	160 – 199 g/km	121 – 139 g/km	9,75
	200 g/km and more	140 g/km and more	14,75

The tax rates may vary slightly depending on the autonomous region.

When is there no registration tax?

• for CO2 emissions of less than 120 g/km for cars or less than 100 g/km for motorbikes and
• consequently for electric vehicles.

Tip: Check the emission values of your vehicle first.

Important tax exemptions and reductions:

The following vehicles or persons may, under certain conditions, be exempt from paying Spanish registration tax or be entitled to preferential treatment:

• Motor vehicles as part of the transfer of habitual residence (relocation) to Spain

• Vehicles for persons with reduced mobility or persons with disabilities (at least 33%) for their exclusive use

• Motorhomes (‘autocaravana’): 30% of the taxable base

• Vehicles for the exclusive use of large families (‘familias numerosas’): 50% of the taxable base.

Calculation of the registration tax:

The registration tax payable in Spain is calculated using the formula

Market value of the vehicle x CO2 tax rate according to the table

The market value is

• for used vehicles: the average sales price according to Spanish regulations, taking into account the years of use and indirect taxes

• for new vehicles: the price according to the invoice when the vehicle was purchased

Amount of the registration tax:

Example: used car with a market value (residual value) of 10,000 € and CO2 of 121 to 159 g/km:

Registration tax = 475,- € (10.000,- x 4,75%)

4.) Value added tax (‘Impuesto sobre el Valor Añadido’ – IVA)

For new vehicles imported into Spain, you must first pay Spanish IVA. Generally 21% if you live on the Spanish mainland or in the Balearic Islands. Exception Canary Islands (see below).

If the new car comes from an EU country and you have already paid VAT, then there is the possibility of a refund of the VAT paid in the EU country where you bought the vehicle.

According to the VAT Act, a land vehicle is deemed to be new

• with a mileage of no more than 6,000 kilometres or
• if it was first put into service no more than six months ago at the time of purchase.

Import tax in the Canary Islands

When importing motor vehicles to the Canary Islands, the general Canary Islands tax (‘Impuesto General Indirecto Canario’ – IGIC for short) applies. If you move your place of residency (relocation) to the Canary Islands, there is an exemption from this import tax under certain conditions.

The import tax for motor vehicles in the Canary Islands is:

• Motor vehicles equal to or under 11 taxable horsepower (‘CV fiscales’): 9.5% of the current value of the vehicle
• Motor vehicles over 11 taxable horsepower, caravans and motorhomes: 15%
• Electric or hybrid vehicles: 0%
• Vehicles of persons with reduced mobility or recognised disability of more than 33%: 3%
• Delivery vans and adaptable mixed vehicles (up to a height of 1,8000 cm). : 7%

Customs clearance via a customs agency incurs additional costs.

5.) Registration fee at the Spanish provincial traffic office (‘Jefatura provincial de tráfico’)

Fee (‘Tasa de Tráfico’) : 99,77 €, except small motorbikes 27,85 €. (as of 2025)

This fee is paid before processing, usually on site by credit or debit card (cash payment is not possible).

What additional costs are there for vehicle registration?

After registering with the Spanish traffic authorities, there are further costs before you are allowed to drive your vehicle on public roads:

Taking out Spanish car insurance

In Spain, third-party liability insurance for motor vehicles is required by law.

The cost of car insurance varies greatly depending on the type of vehicle, driver profile, scope of cover and insurance company.

The premiums for Spanish car insurance therefore cover a wide range of prices and vary between around 150 € and 2,000 € per year.

You can find out more about car insurance in Spain and tips on choosing the right insurance in this specialist article Car insurance in Spain: All you need to know!

Costs for new licence plates

The required Spanish licence plates (‘Placas de matrícula’) can be purchased in a special shop (basically a spare parts shop for vehicles).

The costs for this are approx. 30,- € (car) or 10,- € (motorbike)

What other extra expenses may be incurred?

Costs of deregistering your vehicle

As a rule, after registering the vehicle in Spain, you must also deregister the vehicle in your country of origin, unless the vehicle was deregistered automatically or the vehicle was registered on an export licence plate.

Find out from the relevant registration office in the country of origin or your motor insurance company how much it costs to deregister the vehicle.

In exceptional cases, you can also deregister the vehicle via the relevant embassy or consulate by paying a corresponding fee.

Costs for translations

Depending on the case, translations of documents may be required, such as purchase contracts and certificates of domicile.

The costs for this are between 30,- € and 90,- € per page, depending on the provider, complexity of the text and urgency.

is the professional translation service for you. It offers you a simple ordering process, fair prices and a short delivery time.

Import costs for vehicles from third countries

If the vehicle is imported to Spain from a third country (Non-EU-Country), there are often additional expenses such as customs duties, costs for customs clearance (customs agency) and required documents.

As a rule, the following customs duties apply:

• Cars: general: 10%.
• Motorbike up to 250 cm³: 8%.
• Motorbike over or equal to 250 cm³: 6%.

In the event of a change of residence (relocation), exemption from customs duties is possible. If the conditions for this are proven.

Transfer tax for purchases between private individuals

If you buy a used vehicle as a private person from a private person, the so-called ‘Impuesto de Trasmisiones Patrimoniales’ (ITP) must be paid to the tax office in Spain.

The amount of this tax is based on the

• the actual market value at the time of purchase of the used vehicle and
• the applicable tax rate, which can be between 4% and 8% depending on the autonomous community.

Homologation of the vehicle

For vehicles purchased outside of Spain, a homologation is required for the roadworthiness test (ITV) in Spain.

Proof of this test is generally provided with the EC Certificate of Conformity (COC).

If you do not have this certificate, you must apply for it from the manufacturer or obtain the ‘ficha reducida’ in Spain or have a homologation carried out in Spain.

This may incur the following costs:

• COC certificate: between 60,- € and 200,- € depending on the manufacturer
• ‘ficha reducida”: ~120,- €
• Homologation in Spain: ~300,- € and 1.500,- €

Transfer costs of the vehicle

If you have your car transferred to Spain by a transport company, you must expect costs of between approx. 1,000 € and 2,500 € from Germany, for example, depending on the destination region in Spain.

Costs for a service agency (‘Gestoría’)

If you hire a Gestoría in Spain to register your vehicle, this will add around 300,- € to the car registration costs in Spain.

There is no standardised rate. You should clarify the exact price in advance with the respective Gestoría.

What are the overall car registration costs in Spain?

Due to the various influencing factors, it is impossible to make a general statement in this regard.

The following practical example should give you an indication of the minimum total costs you can expect when registering or re-registering a used car in Spain if you bring your vehicle to Spain (Andalusia region) and carry out the procedure yourself.

Case study:

• Car: petrol, average sales price of €35,000 with 5-6 years of use and with COC
• CO2 emissions between 121 and 159 g/km: tax rate: 4.75
• CVF: between 12 and 15.99
• without tax exemptions or reductions
• without car insurance

Cost factor	Costs in €
ITV	~130,-
Road tax	~130,-
Registration tax	~509,-
Fee at the traffic office	99,77
Licence plates	~30,-
Total costs	around 900,-

If you use a Gestoría for the registration procedure, you will have to pay an additional 300,- € on top of the approx. 900,- €. That would be around 1,200 € in total costs for register a car in Spain.

If your car has a CO2 emission value of less than 120 g/km, there is no registration tax. In this case, this would mean a cost reduction of more than half of the overall costs.

What options are there for reducing costs?

The following recommendations and tips can help you to save costs when registering your car in Spain:

• Utilise opportunities for tax exemptions and reductions; especially the exemption from registration tax when relocating to Spain. The elimination of the registration tax leads to a significant reduction in registration costs in Spain.

• Buying a vehicle with low CO2 values

• Comparison of different car insurance offers and
• Comparing the prices of gestorías or translation services

It is advisable to obtain quotes from several providers, as prices can vary considerably.

• Choose a low-priced ITV station or a favourable location for vehicle registration (if possible)

Conclusion

It is usually complicated and expensive to register a car or motorbike in Spain if you bring your own vehicle from abroad or have bought a vehicle outside of Spain.

The car registration costs in Spain can vary depending on the region. The main regional differences can be found in the ITV, the municipal road tax and the import tax to the Canary Islands.

Furthermore, the following factors in particular influence the cost of vehicle registration in Spain:

• Vehicle type, type of fuel, CO2 emission value, cubic capacity and number of cylinders
• (Market) value of the vehicle
• New or used car
• Origin of the vehicle (EU country or third country): Import costs
• Type of car insurance
• Use of a service (such as Gestoria, translation agency)
• Type approval (homologation) required
• Transfer of the vehicle

It is advisable to research the exact costs in advance and, if necessary, seek professional help to speed up the process and avoid mistakes.

Share now with your friends:

Was this article helpful and understandable for you?

I look forward to your comment.

You may also be interested in these specialist articles: