Importing a Car to Mallorca and the Balearic Islands: Expat Guide 2026

Why the island premium is so high

Island supply is limited, rental fleets absorb a large share of nearly-new stock, and every car has to be shipped in. A 3-year-old Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI is 27,000-30,000 EUR in Palma against 21,000-23,000 EUR in Hamburg. A 2-year-old Mini Countryman is 31,000 EUR on the island versus 25,000 EUR in Germany. Add the ITP transfer tax of 4-8% in the Balearics on local used purchases, and importing your own car or buying in Germany with only the IEDMT to pay becomes the default choice for anyone staying more than a year.

Three ways to get a car to the islands

• Drive to Barcelona or Valencia and take the ferry with the car: Barcelona to Palma 7-8 hours, Valencia to Palma 8 hours, Denia to Ibiza 3-4 hours. Car plus driver 150-350 EUR each way depending on season and cabin.
• Truck from Germany to Palma door to door: 1,200-1,700 EUR, 7-12 days, using a consolidated transporter that boards the ferry in Barcelona.
• Container or RoRo from the UK or the US: via Valencia or Barcelona with transhipment to Palma, 1,600-2,500 EUR from the UK, 2,500-3,500 USD from the US East Coast.
• Ibiza and Menorca: add 100-200 EUR and a day or two versus Mallorca; Formentera has restrictions on vehicle entry in summer.

Relocating with your own car: the exemption

Germans, Swiss and British movers make up most of the transfer-of-residence claims in the Balearics. The rules are the national ones: 12 months' previous residence abroad, car owned and used for 6 months, application within 60 days of registering on the padron, and 12 months' holding period. For an EU car it waives the IEDMT (0% to 14.75% of the official value). For a Swiss or UK car it also waives 21% VAT and any duty. Swiss residents note: Switzerland is outside the EU customs union, so a Zurich-registered car needs a DUA at the port of Barcelona or Valencia before boarding for Palma, or at the Palma customs office on arrival.

Buying in Germany for the island

For German-speaking residents this is the natural route: mobile.de, a pre-purchase inspection, export plates and a drive to Barcelona, or a transporter to Palma. For everyone else, an importer that handles the sourcing, inspection and transport removes the language barrier. The models that make the most sense for the island are compact SUVs and small premium cars: Audi Q3 and Q5, BMW X1 and X3, Mercedes GLA and GLB, Mini, Volkswagen T-Roc and Tiguan, plus PHEVs and EVs that pay 0% IEDMT. Island distances are short, so EV range anxiety is minimal, and Palma and Calvia offer strong IVTM discounts on electric cars.

Local process in the Balearics

• ITV pre-registration: Palma has two main stations (Son Castello and Son Oms), plus Inca, Manacor, Ibiza and Mahon. Book online, 45-75 EUR. Palma has waiting lists in summer, so schedule the inspection before the car arrives.
• IEDMT form 576 filed with AEAT within 30 days of the ITV, or form 05 for the exemption.
• DGT Baleares in Palma (Ibiza and Mahon offices for the other islands): appointment or professional filing. About 100 EUR.
• Padron: Palma town hall requires an appointment; smaller municipalities (Calvia, Andratx, Santanyi, Pollenca) are faster. The certificate must be under 3 months old.
• IVTM: Palma charges around 200 EUR for a 150 hp car; Calvia and Andratx slightly less; EV discounts of 50-75%.

Worked example: 2022 BMW X1 xDrive25e from Germany to Palma

• Purchase in Germany: 31,000 EUR (Palma dealer price for equivalent: 38,000-41,000 EUR)
• Transport to Palma including ferry: 1,450 EUR
• CoC: 150 EUR
• ITV Son Castello: 60 EUR
• IEDMT: 0% (PHEV, 38 g/km) = 0 EUR
• DGT, plates, IVTM: 280 EUR
• Importer fee with pre-purchase inspection: 700 EUR
• Total on Balearic plates: 33,640 EUR. Saving versus local: 5,000-7,000 EUR.

Foreign plates in Mallorca: the enforcement reality

The Guardia Civil and Policia Local in Palma, Calvia and Andratx run periodic campaigns on foreign-plated cars, and neighbours in urbanisations report German, Swiss and UK cars that have been parked for months. A resident on foreign plates faces a 500 EUR fine and immobilisation, and Swiss cars beyond 6 months without customs clearance risk seizure. If you have crossed the 60-day residence threshold, register the car now or sell it and import a replacement.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to buy on the mainland and ferry the car over?

Sometimes. Barcelona and Madrid prices are 8-12% below Palma, but you pay ITP on a Spanish used car (4-8%) and the ferry. A German import pays IEDMT instead, which is zero for low-CO2 cars, so for anything under 120 g/km Germany nearly always wins.

Can I keep a car in Ibiza on foreign plates as a non-resident?

Up to 6 months in any 12-month period, provided you are not resident and the car is legally registered and insured at home. Many second-home owners prefer to register the car in Spain to avoid the count.

Do I need to be in Palma for the ITV and DGT?

No. An importer or gestor with a power of attorney can present the car at the ITV and file with the DGT. You only need to sign the representation form and provide your NIE and padron.