Importing a Car from Sweden or Norway to Spain: What Scandinavian Expats Need to Know

Sweden: a straightforward EU import

A Swedish-registered car entering Spain follows the same rules as a German or French one: no customs, no import VAT, no DUA. You deregister with Transportstyrelsen, the Swedish Transport Agency, before or as part of the export process, obtain the Certificate of Conformity if the model does not already have one on file, and proceed straight to the Spanish ITV pre-registration inspection, IEDMT filing and DGT registration.

Norway: EEA member, but not the EU

Norway is part of the European Economic Area and the Schengen area, which means free movement of people, but it is not in the EU customs union. A car imported from Norway to Spain is treated as coming from a third country for customs purposes, similar in structure (though not identical in rate) to a car from Switzerland or the UK: it must be cleared through Spanish customs with a DUA, and depending on the specifics of the case, duty and import VAT considerations apply unless you qualify for the transfer-of-residence exemption. This catches Norwegian-based expats off guard, because everything else about Norway feels seamlessly European.

The tax rule that applies once you clear customs (Sweden) or clear the exemption (Norway)

For both countries, once the car is legally in Spain and you are dealing with a private purchase, the same underlying rule holds: buying from a private individual means no VAT, but ITP is due, self-assessed with modelo 620 in the buyer's region, generally 4% to 8% of the official Hacienda table value, regardless of which Nordic country the contract was signed in. Buying from a professional dealer with VAT itemised on the invoice avoids ITP; VAT applies instead. IEDMT, Spain's registration tax, is owed regardless of seller type and depends only on CO2: 0% up to 120 g/km, 4.75% for 121-160, 9.75% for 161-200, 14.75% above 200 g/km.

Norway's EV advantage, and why it barely matters for IEDMT

Norway has the highest per-capita electric vehicle ownership in the world, which means an enormous, well-priced used EV market. The appeal for anyone importing to Spain is real on price. On tax, though, the advantage is smaller than it looks: a used EV pays 0% IEDMT whether it comes from Norway, Germany or the Netherlands, since the exemption is based on the car's own emissions, not its country of origin. Norway's edge is purely on purchase price and selection, not on any special Spanish tax treatment, and it still carries the third-country customs step that an EU-sourced EV does not.

Transport: the long haul from the north

• Driving from southern Sweden to Spain: roughly 2,800 to 3,200 km via Denmark, Germany and France, typically 2 to 3 days with rest stops. Fuel, tolls and a German or Danish overnight stay can total 400 to 700 EUR.
• Driving from Oslo: similar distance plus Danish and German transit, 3,000+ km.
• Car transporter from Scandinavia: 1,200 to 2,000 EUR depending on origin city and vehicle type, and often the more practical choice given the distance.
• Ferry options exist from parts of Sweden to continental Europe, which can shorten the drive but add cost and scheduling complexity.

Transfer-of-residence exemption for both countries

If you are genuinely relocating your residence to Spain, the transfer-of-residence exemption waives the IEDMT for cars from either country, and for Norway it additionally covers the customs duty and import VAT that would otherwise apply on entry, since Norway is treated as third-country for this purpose. The conditions are the same everywhere: ownership and use of the car for at least 6 months before the move, at least 12 months of prior residence abroad, application within 60 days of registering Spanish residence, and no sale of the car within 12 months of Spanish registration. For a Norwegian mover, this exemption is worth considerably more than for a Swedish one, because it removes an entire customs layer, not just IEDMT.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Norwegian car need individual homologation like a US car?

No. Norway applies EU/EEA vehicle type-approval standards, so a Norwegian car already has (or can obtain) a standard Certificate of Conformity. The customs and VAT treatment differs from an EU car, but the technical approval process at the Spanish ITV does not require the individual homologation route that non-European-standard vehicles need.

Is right-hand drive an issue for Sweden or Norway?

No, both countries drive on the right and use left-hand-drive cars, so the headlight conversion issue that affects Irish and UK cars does not apply here.

Which is cheaper to import overall, a similar car from Sweden or from Norway?

Purchase price is often lower in Norway for EVs specifically, but once customs clearance, potential duty and VAT are added (absent the residence exemption), a Swedish import of the same category of car is usually cheaper end to end. Run the full landed cost, not just the sticker price, before deciding.