New car
Second hand car
Selling your car in Spain
Car repairs
Public garage in Spain
Requirements for foreigners
New car
The price for the same new car may vary in Spain from one dealer to another. Also, if you part exchange you old car for the new one, you will find the price highly reduced, depending on your old car value. In the event that the car model you have chosen is not available at the time of your request, you should fill a purchase order for a new car. Pitfalls to avoid:
Once you are given your new vehicle, the dealer shall supply the following documents:
You must contract the mandatory car insurance. Non-residents buying a car in Spain will be exempt from the Special vehicle registration tax (impuesto municipal sobre circulacion de vehiculos).
Purchasers must pay the VAT at a rate of 16 percent and the registration tax. Non-EU foreigners may purchase new cars in Spain avoiding the VAT and vehicle registration tax payment.
Second hand car
If you buy second-hand car in Spain, whether privately or from a car dealer, you should be provided with the following documents:
Check the vehicle history before buying any car, as the vehicle may have past debts and the creditor is entitled to use the car as an asset for seizure.
Either the seller or buyer, depending on what both parties agreed, shall apply for a new registration certificate, in order to transfer the ownership of the vehicle (notificacion de transfenrencia de vehiculos), obtainable from the provincial traffic department. Both parties must sign this document.
The buyer must pay:
About the guarantee:
The seller is liable for the later possible imperfections of the vehicle, which could not be discovered by a non-expert car buyer. Private buyers may renounce this guarantee, however, the dealer is mandatory responsible for imperfections on the car.
About the car insurance:
If you buy a second hand car you may subrogate the seller's car insurance, the indurance company shall be informed about this. Make sure that the seller is current in his periodic payments, otherwise once the vehicle is transferred, you will be liable for the amounts pending of payment.
Selling your car in Spain
If you are willing to sell your old car in Spain, make sure that the vehicle's transfer is completed into the new owner's name, otherwise you are still liable for any unpaid tax due on the car or any fine imposed to the new owner. In this case you may apply to the traffic department for the-registration (baja del vehiculo) of your car already sold to avoid later consequences.
When you sell your old car, you may keep your old insurance policy applicable for the new car you acquire. You must inform the insurance company about the sale of your old car, about your intetion of giving up the guarantees of your vehicle sold, and apply for the discount corresponding to the part of your old policy not entirely consumed.
Car repairs
GENERAL INFORMATION
Whether living or travelling in Spain,you may be surprised if something goes wrong with your car, then you should visit a Spanish automobile repair shop.
It is mandatory that the repairs shop post notice of the prices it charges for work, a brief information about the consumers' rights and that they have forms (hojas de reclamacion) available for consumers to state their claims.
You are entitled to request a written estimate of the repair of your car to the dealer or repair shop. The estimate shall contain the following items:
Normally the garage repair should first diagnose the problem to make the estamate for parts labour, therefore you should leave your car in the repair shop. You will be provided with a receipt stating the date on which the estimate will be supplied to you. If you do not approve the estimate provided, you must pay the expenses for the revision of your vehicle. Your repair bill shall itemise the parts and labour charges so if a problem occurs later, you can prove that the item in question is covered by the guarantee.
All repairs are covered by guarantee for either a period of 3 months or 2.000 kilometres from the date that the vehicle was picked up, unless you have otherwise agreed. If you have any problem with the parts repaired during this period, the guarantee covers the parts, labours and even costs for displacement.
CLAIMING AGAINST THE REPAIR SHOP
If you feel the repair shop has acted unfaity, there are two ways to bring legal action against it:
You will need skilled legal counsel for either of these actions.
Public garage in Spain
Penalties for parking infringements on the street vary from to town in Spain, and these can be heavy. Parking garages are a safer alternative to the street. Public parking garages can be found in most of the cities in Spain.
Except in cases of force majeure, you are entitled to an indemnity if public garages do not fulfil their surveillance tasks and your vehicle is damaged while it was in a public garage.
What to do if your vehicle is damaged in a public garage:
You may also submit your claim to arbitration or before the Spanish courts. You will need skilled legal counsel for either of these actions.
REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGNERS
Foreigners, whether from the European Union or not, may buy a car in Spain, either a second or a new one, and have their car to use in Spain for a total of 6 months (it is not necessary a 6-month continuous period) in any calendar year.
In order to buy a Spanish-registered car, foreigners need to meet one of the following requirements:
Present a certificate
of residence (certificado de empadronamiento) issued by the
Town Hall where the foreigner is registered.
