Steps to Buy and Register a German Car in Spain: The Full Action Checklist

Before you pay a single euro

• Run a VIN check through Carfax or AutoDNA for accident history, mileage consistency and outstanding finance
• Confirm the seller's identity: for a dealer, check the Handelsregister entry and the VAT ID on the invoice; for a private seller, confirm their ID matches the vehicle documents
• Confirm the Certificate of Conformity (COC) exists and is available — do not proceed without written confirmation of this
• Commission an independent inspection (DEKRA, TUV, or a paid local scout) if you cannot see the car in person
• Check the car's official Hacienda table value against the agreed price so you know your approximate IEDMT and ITP exposure before committing

Purchase and payment

• Sign the sales contract — email or e-signature is standard practice for foreign buyers
• Pay via SEPA transfer only after the contract is signed and the car's condition is confirmed
• Collect the full document set from the seller: invoice, Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and II, COC, and proof of deregistration or export status

Getting the car to Spain

• Decide drive vs transporter based on the car's value, your available time, and your tolerance for adding mileage
• If driving: arrange export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen), confirm the included insurance, and consider a short-term comprehensive policy
• If using a transporter: get a written condition report with photos at pickup, and confirm the delivery address and expected transit window
• Keep every document from the previous section with you or with the transporter — do not let the car travel without its paperwork

Within your first days in Spain

• Confirm you have a NIE and a registered Spanish address, since both are required for the next steps
• File the intra-community acquisition declaration within 30 days: modelo 620 for ITP if bought privately, or the relevant VAT model if bought from a dealer
• Pay the IEDMT registration tax via modelo 576, based on the car's CO2 band and official table value
• Book the ITV pre-registration inspection appointment as early as possible — this is usually the longest wait in the whole process

At the ITV inspection

• Bring the COC, the foreign registration document with its cancellation or export stamp, your ID, and proof of tax payment
• Bring proof of temporary insurance valid for the inspection itself
• Keep the favourable ITV report safe — it is valid for 60 days to complete registration at Trafico

At Trafico

• Submit the registration application with the favourable ITV report, all purchase and tax documents, and proof of ongoing Spanish insurance
• Pay the registration fee, roughly 100 euros
• Wait five to fifteen business days for Spanish plates and the permiso de circulacion to be issued

Do I need a gestor for any of this, or can I do it all myself?

None of these steps legally require a gestor — a private individual can file every document personally. A gestor or import service earns their fee mainly by knowing the specific quirks of your local ITV station and Trafico office and by catching document mismatches before they cause a rejection, which matters most if this is your first import.

What single mistake on this checklist causes the most delays?

Missing or inconsistent documents — most often a missing COC, or a name on the tax declaration that doesn't exactly match the name on the purchase invoice. Both are entirely avoidable by checking the document set before you leave Germany rather than after the car is already in Spain.