EU Vehicle Laws
You must register your vehicle in the EU country of your main residence where it will be given the registration numbers typical of that country.
If you are a resident of another EU country but wish to use a vehicle owned by you on a permanent basis in Spain you are also obliged to register it in Spain.
You can use your car temporarily in any other EU country, for example when touring, without being liable for any further registration charges or tax.
If you transfer the vehicle permanently to another EU country, it will have to be re-registered in that country.
However if you move your permanent residence from Spain to another EU country and at the same time move your car out of Spain to that country, you are only obliged to pay any taxes levied by your new country of residence if the vehicle has been used in Spain for less than six months.
As soon as a Spanish resident uses their vehicle in Spain they are liable for the periodic payment of what is known as vehicle or traffic taxes, levied on a monthly or annual basis.
In some EU countries vehicle registration ‘rights’ must be paid, not to be confused with vehicle registration ‘taxes’.
In Spain all vehicles must be periodically checked for general roadworthiness and safety at an authorised testing station. Cars under ten years old must be tested every two years, thereafter every year.
The procedure is known as ITV and is similar to the British MOT test.
Be careful with vehicles with a non-Spanish registration. Testing is voluntary but it will not be recorded on the vehicle’s documentation. This means that your vehicle could be impounded if it has been used in Spain on a permanent basis without being Spanish registered.
All vehicles used in Spain must be insured. If the insurance is taken out in Spain, the vehicles documentation will be needed together with the vehicles technical record, obtainable at an authorised ITV testing station.
Residents, homeowners or other vehicle users on the Costa Blanca needing further information or clarification should contact:-
Alicante Traffic Headquarters,
C/Ferre Viiella, 4 esquina S. Juan Bosco, 12,
03071 Alicante
Tel: +34 965 125 466 / Fax +34 965 925 759
The traffico is open Monday –Thursday 0830-1630. Fridays 0830-1300
If you are a resident of another EU country but wish to use a vehicle owned by you on a permanent basis in Spain you are also obliged to register it in Spain.
You can use your car temporarily in any other EU country, for example when touring, without being liable for any further registration charges or tax.
If you transfer the vehicle permanently to another EU country, it will have to be re-registered in that country.
However if you move your permanent residence from Spain to another EU country and at the same time move your car out of Spain to that country, you are only obliged to pay any taxes levied by your new country of residence if the vehicle has been used in Spain for less than six months.
As soon as a Spanish resident uses their vehicle in Spain they are liable for the periodic payment of what is known as vehicle or traffic taxes, levied on a monthly or annual basis.
In some EU countries vehicle registration ‘rights’ must be paid, not to be confused with vehicle registration ‘taxes’.
In Spain all vehicles must be periodically checked for general roadworthiness and safety at an authorised testing station. Cars under ten years old must be tested every two years, thereafter every year.
The procedure is known as ITV and is similar to the British MOT test.
Be careful with vehicles with a non-Spanish registration. Testing is voluntary but it will not be recorded on the vehicle’s documentation. This means that your vehicle could be impounded if it has been used in Spain on a permanent basis without being Spanish registered.
All vehicles used in Spain must be insured. If the insurance is taken out in Spain, the vehicles documentation will be needed together with the vehicles technical record, obtainable at an authorised ITV testing station.
Residents, homeowners or other vehicle users on the Costa Blanca needing further information or clarification should contact:-
Alicante Traffic Headquarters,
C/Ferre Viiella, 4 esquina S. Juan Bosco, 12,
03071 Alicante
Tel: +34 965 125 466 / Fax +34 965 925 759
The traffico is open Monday –Thursday 0830-1630. Fridays 0830-1300
