IMPORT / REGISTER A CAR FROM THE USA / UNITED STATES IN SPAIN

At Gestécnica, we handle the registration and homologation of your American car, taking care of absolutely everything. When importing a car from AMERICA / THE UNITED STATES, specific requirements must be met, which we will explain below:

• Registering American vehicles in Spain is a delicate process, so we recommend that before purchasing them, you request the car’s documentation, some general photos of the vehicle, and a photo of the manufacturer’s plate, usually found under the hood, which provides information about emissions.

Importing a Car from the United States: What to Consider if the Car Doesn’t Have a Homologation Certificate

• The first thing you need to know is that unitary homologation cannot be carried out for vehicles with an emissions plate dated 2014 or earlier.

You must also ensure that the minimum regulations that need to be met are TIER 2 BIN 5 for EPA regulations or ULEV II for California State regulations. Any subsequent regulations will also be acceptable.

If the vehicle is already registered in Europe, this registration can be used for unitary homologation, as long as the vehicle has been registered in the European Economic Community for at least six months. Once it’s been confirmed that the vehicle can be homologated in Spain, the following requirements must be met:

1. You must always keep the documents proving the purchase of the vehicle, either a private sales contract or an invoice if the seller is a business. You will also need to prove the purchase traceability. This means that, depending on the payment method, we need to be able to prove how the payment was made. It’s essential to have proof of the payment method in case it’s required by the Traffic Department or the Tax Agency during registration.
2. Ensure that the vehicle / car / van / truck / trailer / camper is registered under the same person to whom you are paying for the vehicle. How can you check this? It’s very simple: verify that the seller’s ID matches the one listed in the car’s documentation. You will also need a copy of the seller’s ID or a document with a signature that proves they are the legal owner.
3. Make sure that the car you want to register from the U.S. has all its documentation in order. You will need to find out in advance what documents are required to register your American car so that it can legally operate on the road.
4. It’s crucial that the vehicle you’re acquiring for registration at the relevant Traffic Department still has its manufacturer’s plate or sticker. You can almost always find this sticker or plate under the car’s hood. You will need to send us a photo in advance so that we can verify whether the car can be homologated in Spain.
5. After confirming all of this, you will need to contact us so we can start the process of homologation/registration. This process is divided into the following steps:
   1. Perform the unitary homologation of the U.S. car.
   2. Pass the ITV (Spanish roadworthiness test).
   3. Send us all the vehicle’s documentation for registration: Original country documentation, Spanish technical sheet, ITV report, proof of purchase, seller’s ID or passport copy, and your ID copy.
   4. Once we have all these documents, our Administration Department will initiate the registration process and handle all the necessary procedures to obtain a Spanish registration plate. These procedures include vehicle homologation, preparation of the registration file for the Traffic Department, payment of the registration tax to the Tax Agency, payment of the vehicle circulation tax to the local City Council, and, where applicable, the transfer tax.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO REGISTER AN IMPORTED VEHICLE IN SPAIN?

The cost of registering a vehicle from the UK includes fixed and variable costs, which are:

1. Traffic Registration Fee: €99.77 (this fee is applicable for the year 2023 and varies annually).
2. IVTM: This is the vehicle circulation tax for mechanically powered vehicles, managed by each City Council, and its amount will depend on the vehicle’s fiscal horsepower.
3. ITV: The fee applied by the ITV for registering an imported vehicle depends on each autonomous community, ranging between €90 – €100.
4. Reduced Technical Sheet: We prepare the reduced technical sheet. The cost depends on the type of vehicle and the complexity of the preparation, ranging between €100 – €150 approximately.
5. Real Registration Rights by the College of Administrators: This cost corresponds to the administrative rights charged by the College for handling the registration, and it varies depending on each College, typically ranging between €12 – €30.
6. Registration Handling Fees for Importing from the UK: These are the fees charged by our Administration Section for our services, depending on the complexity of the file, ranging between €100 – €150 approximately.
7. Registration Tax (Model 576): This tax will depend on the value of the vehicle, both by the purchase invoice and by the value established in state tables. A percentage of tax will be applied to this value based on the vehicle’s emissions.
8. Transfer Tax Payment: This tax will vary depending on the vehicle’s tables and engine capacity.
9. Customs Duty Payments: These will depend on the vehicle’s value.
10. Unitary Homologation (if necessary): The cost of this homologation will vary based on the vehicle’s origin and any modifications it has. We advise you to consult us before purchasing any vehicle to verify if it’s possible to register it.