What does it cost to import a car to Spain from Germany or France?

Full 2026 guide to importing a used car to Spain from Germany or France: exact documents, taxes and fees, step-by-step, and the traps that cost buyers thousands.

What paperwork do I need to import a car to Spain?

Foreign registration certificates; Invoice/contract (translated); COC or an engineer-signed ficha técnica reducida (~€50–150); NIE/ID, empadronamiento

Importing a car to Spain from Germany or France

Importing to Spain is worthwhile on the right car, but the IEDMT registration tax is banded by CO₂ — cross a band and the cost jumps.

Paperwork difficulty: Complex

Documents you need

Foreign registration certificates
Invoice/contract (translated)
COC or an engineer-signed ficha técnica reducida (~€50–150)
NIE/ID, empadronamiento

What it costs

ITV import inspection

~€50–120

IEDMT (modelo 576)

By CO₂: 0% ≤120 g, 4.75% 121–160 g, 9.75% 161–200 g, 14.75% >200 g of current value

ITP (modelo 620)

4–8% by region, only if bought from a private seller

DGT fee

€99.77, plus municipal IVTM before plates

Step by step

Buy the car and bring it in on export plates
Pass the ITV importación
Pay IEDMT + ITP/IVTM
Register at the DGT and get Spanish plates

Top traps to avoid

⚠ Trap IEDMT band cliffs — 161 g/km costs 9.75% of value; check the WLTP figure pre-purchase.

⚠ Trap Missing COC → costly individual homologation.

⚠ Trap Undervaluing on the 576/620 — Hacienda applies official price tables retroactively.

The VAT rule that costs thousands

Across every corridor, one EU rule costs buyers thousands: a vehicle that is less than 6 months old OR has under 6,000 km counts as 'new' and VAT is due in your destination country at your rate — whatever the price, even from a private seller. And a 'VAT-qualifying' (ex-lease/company) car should be bought net by a VAT-registered business, not at the gross price. When in doubt, get the VAT treatment in writing before you pay.

Before you import

Figures are indicative for 2026 from official sources; regional and annually-indexed amounts change — verify before you commit. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.

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