The Red Tape

Like most administrative processes in a foreign country, registering a vehicle in Spain requires navigating a specific set of procedures. There are numerous forms and legal documents that must be completed to register the vehicle with the Spanish Traffic Authority (Dirección General de Tráfico or DGT).

In addition, a registration tax (impuesto de matriculación) must be paid to the tax agency (Hacienda), which is calculated as a percentage based on the official government valuation of your vehicle and its CO2 emissions.

Before plates can be issued, the car must undergo a national technical inspection at an ITV (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) station to verify its homologation and roadworthiness for Spanish roads. Depending on where your vehicle was originally built or imported from—particularly if it comes from a non-EU country or a right-hand drive market—modifications may be required to meet European and Spanish standards. This can include adjusting or replacing headlamps for right-hand traffic and ensuring the rear fog light is positioned correctly for driving on the right.