Taxes and documents when importing a car from Germany to Spain
We break down every mandatory payment and document — from purchase in Germany to Spanish plates. We verify documents and calculate taxes before you pay for the vehicle.
What documents are needed to buy a car in Germany
To purchase a car in Germany and subsequently register it in Spain, it is essential to assemble the correct document set from the very beginning. A mistake at the purchase stage almost always leads to delays at the ITV or problems with DGT registration.
Purchase from a dealer or at auction
The main document is the invoice (factura). It must contain the details of the seller, buyer, vehicle and transaction price.
Purchase from a private seller
A purchase contract is required, with the full details of both parties, the vehicle and the transaction amount.
In both cases, the original German vehicle documents are mandatory: registration documents and proof of ownership. All details regarding VIN, model, first registration date and owner must match.
⚠️ CoC — the key document
Of particular importance is the CoC (Certificate of Conformity) — the type-approval document. If the CoC is missing, Spain often requires a ficha reducida. This is where many buyers first encounter the situation where «the car was purchased correctly, but everything has come to a standstill on the Spanish side».
What documents are needed to register a car from Germany in Spain
Spanish registration requires not just one document but an entire chain. The absence of even one does not always make registration impossible — but it almost always makes it slower, more expensive and more stressful.
Key point
The document set must be verified before paying for the vehicle, not after it arrives in Spain.
How much do taxes and registration cost?
There are no customs duties between Germany and Spain — both countries are in the EU. When registering in Spain, IEDMT, ITV and the DGT fee are mandatory. The full breakdown of all costs with figures is on a separate page.
How much does a car from Germany cost? →What is IEDMT and what does it depend on
IEDMT is the Spanish vehicle registration tax applied when a car is first registered. Its amount depends on CO₂ emission levels, the engine type and the specific situation.
Two outwardly similar cars can result in different taxes due to the engine, emissions, model year, version and type-approval documents. This is why IEDMT cannot be estimated «roughly like a similar car» — only an individual calculation will do.
Indicative rates by CO₂ emissions:
The exact IEDMT amount must be calculated before purchase, not after the vehicle has been delivered to Spain. We calculate it using the actual parameters of the specific vehicle.
CoC, ficha reducida and why everything can grind to a halt without them
One of the most underestimated issues when importing a car is the type-approval document. The buyer sees the car, the price and the history, but does not always understand how the vehicle will be processed in Spain.
✅ CoC present
The process is simpler. The CoC confirms the vehicle's European compliance and makes it easier to prepare for the ITV inspection.
⚠️ No CoC
A ficha reducida is often required — a technical document prepared by a specialist for the Spanish registration procedure.
For old, rare or non-standard vehicles, the type-approval question can be more complex. The CoC check must be carried out before paying for the vehicle.
ITV for a car from Germany: what is checked and what to bring
Before DGT registration, the car must pass the Spanish ITV inspection and obtain the ficha técnica española. Registration is not possible without this stage.
For the ITV, not only the technical condition matters but also the document set: original German documents, type-approval confirmation (CoC or ficha reducida) and purchase documents.
ITV problems most commonly arise from:
The final technical inspection of the vehicle prior to ITV is carried out at our own workshop in Alicante. At the client's request, handover also takes place at our premises. → Cars from Germany to Alicante
DGT registration: what documents are needed at the final stage
Once the car has been delivered, prepared and passed the ITV, only the final stage remains. DGT registration is the conclusion of the entire chain. Any errors made at earlier stages almost always surface here.
With a complete document set, DGT registration usually takes 2–5 days. More details → Car registration in Spain via DGT
Common mistakes with taxes and documentation
Buying a car without first verifying the document set required for Spain.
Assuming that any German document pack automatically meets Spanish registration requirements.
Failing to check the CoC and the ficha reducida question before the transaction.
Estimating IEDMT 'roughly like a similar car' rather than calculating it from the actual parameters.
Rushing everything after the car arrives, when correcting mistakes is already more expensive and complicated.
Request document check and tax calculation
The check is free and without obligation. We typically respond within one business day.
For a preliminary check, please provide:
- car make and model
- year of manufacture
- engine or VIN
- purchase price
- available document set
We will identify what is missing for Spain, calculate the taxes and advise whether the vehicle can be brought to Spanish registration without unnecessary risk.
Read also:
Frequently asked questions
Can a car be registered without a CoC?
Sometimes yes, but a ficha reducida is then required. Without prior verification it is not possible to promise a straightforward registration. We check for the CoC before purchase.
What is IEDMT and does it always have to be paid?
IEDMT is Spain's vehicle registration tax. Whether it is payable depends on the vehicle's CO₂ emissions, engine type and the specific situation. It is calculated individually before purchase.
What matters more — the car price or the documents?
Both factors matter. A cheap car with problematic documentation often ends up more expensive than a correctly specified car with a clean document set.
How long does DGT registration take?
With a complete document set — typically 2–5 days. If there were errors at earlier stages, the process takes longer.
Can everything be handled independently?
Theoretically yes. In practice it requires time, an understanding of the Spanish procedure and careful verification of documents at every stage.
Find answers to other questions here
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