German Expats Moving to Spain: Bring Your Own Car or Buy a New One There

Why German expats have an unusual advantage

Most nationalities importing to Spain are moving a car away from the best market in Europe and toward a more expensive one, which is exactly why importing makes financial sense for everyone else. German expats are already standing in that best market. This means the calculation is less about whether to import at all — it almost always makes sense compared to buying in Spain — and more about timing: bring the car you already have, or use the move as an opportunity to buy a different, fresher one in Germany first and register it directly in Spain.

Option 1: bring the car you already own

If you are relocating your residence, the transfer-of-residence exemption is the strongest reason to bring your existing car rather than buy a new one right before moving. To qualify, the car must have been owned and used by you for at least 6 months before the move, you must have lived in Germany for at least 12 months prior, you must apply within 60 days of registering your Spanish residence, and you cannot sell the car within 12 months after Spanish registration. This waives the IEDMT registration tax completely — on a car with, say, 165 g/km CO2 and a Hacienda table value of 30,000 EUR, that is roughly 2,925 EUR saved. Buying a different car in Germany just before leaving resets that 6-month ownership clock and can disqualify you from the exemption, which is the single most expensive mistake German movers make.

Option 2: sell in Germany, buy a different car, import it

If your current car does not suit life in Spain — too small for a family, no air conditioning worth mentioning, or simply not what you want long-term — it can still make sense to sell it in Germany, where resale values and buyer pools are strong, and buy a different one there before or shortly after the move, importing it under the standard rules rather than the residence exemption. In that case, the tax picture depends on the seller: buying from a private individual means no VAT but ITP is due, self-assessed via modelo 620 in your Spanish region at typically 4% to 8% of the official table value. Buying from a professional Autohaus with VAT itemised on the Rechnung avoids ITP, with VAT applying instead. IEDMT is owed regardless of seller, based on the same CO2 bands as always: 0% to 120 g/km, 4.75% for 121-160, 9.75% for 161-200, 14.75% above 200.

Option 3: buy in Spain once you arrive

This is almost never the cheapest option for a German expat specifically, since you would be paying Spanish retail prices for a car that, statistically, probably originated in Germany anyway before being imported by a Spanish dealer, with their margin added. It can make sense if you want a car immediately, without waiting for shipping and registration, or if you are buying something Spanish-market specific like a car already fitted for local conditions. For most German movers, it is the most expensive of the three paths.

Deregistering correctly at the Zulassungsstelle

Whichever option you choose for the car you are moving, deregister it at the German Zulassungsstelle (vehicle registration office) before or immediately after it leaves the country, returning the plates and the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I. Keep Teil I and Teil II together; the Spanish ITV needs both to build the technical file, and losing Teil II specifically causes real delays since it cannot simply be photocopied or reprinted quickly.

A worked comparison

A German expat owns a 2022 VW Tiguan, bought 14 months ago, 145 g/km CO2, Hacienda table value 32,000 EUR. Bringing it under the transfer-of-residence exemption: ITV (60 EUR), CoC already held, DGT and plates (110 EUR), IVTM (140 EUR). Total: about 310 EUR, IEDMT fully waived. Selling it and buying a similar used Tiguan from a private seller in Germany instead: ITP at roughly 5% of 32,000 EUR (1,600 EUR) plus IEDMT at 4.75% (1,520 EUR) plus the same fixed costs (310 EUR). Total: about 3,430 EUR. The exemption route saves over 3,000 EUR — reason enough to keep the paperwork trail intact and not sell prematurely.

Frequently asked questions

Does leasing a car in Germany change any of this?

Yes — a leased car belongs to the leasing company, not you, so it cannot be imported under the transfer-of-residence exemption and generally cannot be exported at all without the leasing company's consent, which is rarely given for a permanent move abroad.

Is a German CoC ever missing for a German-market car?

Rarely. German manufacturers issue CoCs as standard, and duplicates for lost documents are usually available from the manufacturer or an authorised dealer for 100 to 300 EUR.

How fast can I get Spanish plates after arriving with a German car?

With full documents in hand, two to three weeks is typical: ITV within days, IEDMT or exemption filing the same week, DGT appointment within one to two weeks.