Buying a used car in Spain: what to check

Before you buy: quick checklist

1. Compare the asking price with other cars of the same model. Also look at the car’s age, mileage and equipment in each listing. The median asking price gives you a sense of the market; it does not tell you what sold cars actually fetched.
2. Ask for the registration number and check with the DGT. You can start with the free basic report. Before committing, check the full report.
3. Check the ITV. Look at its history in the DGT report and ask the seller for the ITV card. If you have doubts about the car’s condition, arrange a professional inspection.
4. Check the mileage. Compare the reading on the dashboard with the figures recorded at inspections and what the seller says. Ask for an explanation if they do not match.
5. Check for encumbrances and restrictions. Look out for seizure orders, immobilisation orders and reservas de dominio (retention of title). Resolve any issues before paying.
6. Check the documents and chassis number. Ask for the permiso de circulación (registration certificate) and ficha técnica or tarjeta ITV (vehicle technical certificate or ITV card). Check the details against the car in front of you.
7. Get the sale properly documented. Ask for an invoice if you are buying from a business. If you are buying from a private seller, prepare a contract signed by both parties and arrange the ownership transfer.

How much do used cars cost in Spain?

When comparing listings, look at the seller’s asking price, the car’s age, mileage and equipment. The table shows the used models with the most listings in our data, the median asking price from professional sellers, the middle half of asking prices and the number of cars. Do not treat an asking price as the final sale price.

Dealer asking prices on 3 Nov 2026, not sale prices. Models with at least 30 cars for sale; the range is the middle half of asking prices (P25–P75).

See all models in Spain before assessing a particular listing. You can use Check a listing to see how its asking price compares with the market. Compare like with like: two listings for the same model may be for cars with different mileage, condition or equipment.

What to check before buying

Start with the car’s condition. Check the exterior, interior and any visible wear. Make sure the seller’s description matches the car. If you cannot assess its mechanical condition, the DGT recommends having it checked by a professional. Arrange the inspection before completing the purchase.

Next, check the ITV. A private car has its first periodic inspection four years after its first registration and every two years thereafter, until the annual testing schedule applies. Private cars over ten years old are tested every year. Check which date applies to that car and review its documents. A current ITV does not replace an inspection of the vehicle’s condition.

Request the full DGT report. It includes the inspection history, recorded mileage, number of registered owners and recorded encumbrances. Read the full history, not just the latest entry. Compare the mileage in the report with the dashboard and the seller’s information. The DGT warns that it cannot guarantee the accuracy of these readings, as they come from third parties. If you spot a discrepancy, ask the seller to explain it and check the available documents.

In the same report, look for seizure orders, immobilisation orders and insolvency proceedings. If you find a reserva de dominio (retention of title) linked to finance, do not assume you can transfer ownership without resolving it. Unless you formally take on the outstanding debt, the retention of title must be cancelled at the Registro de Bienes Muebles (Register of Movable Property) with a cancellation letter from the finance company before the transfer.

Also ask for the chassis number and compare it on the car and in the documents you are shown. If any details do not match or you cannot check them, resolve this before signing. The permiso de circulación and ficha técnica or tarjeta ITV are the documents the vehicle must have in force to be driven legally.

Documents and ownership transfer

If you are buying from a private seller, prepare a contract of sale that identifies the car and records what you have agreed. For the transfer with the DGT, the contract must be signed on every page by both buyer and seller. Before signing, check that the seller’s and vehicle’s details match the documents you have been shown. Keep your copy of the contract.

For a private sale, you must also provide the DGT with proof that Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales (property transfer tax) has been paid, that the transaction is exempt, or that it is not subject to the tax, as applicable. The transfer documents refer to form 620 or 621. Before submitting your application, confirm which process applies to you with the relevant tax authority. If the seller is a business selling in the course of its activity, the invoice is the proof of purchase to submit to the DGT.

As the buyer, arrange the ownership transfer within 30 days of signing the contract. Do not leave this until you need to deal with another matter relating to the car. Before completing the sale, make sure you have the contract or invoice and the details needed to submit the transfer. If the report shows an encumbrance, first establish how it affects the ownership transfer.

Buying from a professional or a private seller

If you buy from a business as a consumer, you have a statutory guarantee of conformity. For a second-hand item, the general period is three years, although the parties can agree to a shorter period of no less than one year. Read the sale documents and keep the invoice. Ask in writing if any description of the car’s condition is unclear.

In an ordinary sale between private individuals, that consumer guarantee regime for sales by businesses does not apply. That is why it is worth taking time to inspect the car, check the DGT report and review the contract before paying. In either case, a verbal promise is difficult to verify later: make sure the relevant features of the car and any agreements are clearly recorded in the purchase documents.

After the purchase

Check that the car has compulsory insurance. The registered keeper of a vehicle normally kept in Spain must take out and maintain it. Arrange cover before using the car and keep the policy documents.

Remember the Impuesto sobre Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica (motor vehicle tax), also known as road tax. It is paid annually, and each local council sets its own payment dates. It is paid in the municipality where the vehicle has its tax address on 1 January of the current year. Check the payment calendar and the vehicle’s tax details with that council.

Note the next ITV date from the car’s card. If the seller has given you documents about previous inspections, keep them with the contract or invoice. They will help you track maintenance and explain any difference in the mileage history.

Are you buying in Spain to register the car in another country?

Check the registration requirements in the destination country and calculate the total cost before deciding which car to buy.

See the import calculators to explore the available routes.