Hi Guys,

I imported a UK car into Spain over 4 years ago, and obviously paid import tax.

I bought a ‘new’ car last June in the UK, only 18 months old with 7000 miles on the clock, so it’s virtually a new car.

The equivalent car here in Spain would have cost me over 22000 Euros, where as I paid approx 12000 euros with the good exchange rate over in the UK.

Now I have heard through a fellow ‘Brit’ that they are trying to ban this unfair import tax via the EU parliament in Brussels.

Does anyone know any more info on this.

I would appreciate any answers.

Jools

Hi Jools

Great Question I am looking in the UK for a 2nd hand / Near New Car As The 2nd Hand Market here in Spain Is “A RIP OFF”
2nd hand cars cost nearly NEW here!...
I am looking into the Import Tax thing too.. As In The UK there also selling Left hand Drive Cars In Dealers…

I keep you up dated If anyone else knows that be great!!

Regards

Mac

2. Importation of your car

The procedures relating to imports of cars into Spain are complex.

If you are Spanish resident importing a vehicle into Spain, be aware that you must register it with the local authorities in the Spanish province where you are resident: the local provincial traffic department (Jefatura Provincial de Tr?fico), this will grant you permission to drive your foreign plated car through the Spanish territory.

EU citizens moving to Spain to take up official residence may bring their own car with them exempted from import duties. If you are from outside European Union, you may get the exemption from Spain’s 10 per cent import duties, under the following conditions:

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    You must have owned your car for at least 6 months prior the import into Spain.
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    You must have paid VAT in your country of origin, otherwise this tax shall be paid in Spain.
  *

    A special registration tax (impuesto municipal sobre circulaci?n de veh?culos) must be paid in Spain. This tax is calculated on the vehicle’s current value (based on the original market price in Spain). The imported car that EU residents had owned for at least 6 months in Spain is not subject to this tax.
  *

    You must obtain a certificate of non-residence from your home country.

Once the importation procedure is completed, you will be issued a temporary registration plate, which enables you to drive your imported car in Spain.

Any concession on the duty-free import of cars applies only to people who take out an official residence permit in Spain.

These are only general guidelines, other questions applicable to your individual case should be directed to a Spanish Lawyer . You will also need the services of a Gestor because the procedure is very complicated . Even without the above tax break the cost will be of the order of 500 euros to 1000 euros .

Import Duties, IVA (16%), Car registration tax (12% or 7%).

jurdy

I just imported a car from Germany and you will have to pay the import/registration tax, unless you are resident and wanting to import your proper UK-car, witch had been on your name for at least 6 months.
- The import/registration tax depends on the CO2-level of your car (this has changed and before this was the 7 or 12% depending on the kind of engine in your car).  For mine this was the max. amount of 14,75% (this changes in function of the CO2-level) of the calculate fiscal car value (value calculated depending on the age of the car in months and the fiscal value of this new car in Spain).
- If you buy the car from a handler or dealer in the UK (or EU), you will have to pay the VAT/IVA in Spain, this is 16%.  Make sure the bill is on your name (see next point) !!
- If you bought the car from a private person (or also from a dealer and you don’t have the bill on your name) you will also have to pay a patrimonium tax of 4% on the calculated value.
- On this you have to add the Suma and some minor taxes and costs (Gestoria, Trafico, Import control, plates, ...).

Clav - 15 April 2009 04:54 AM

I just imported a car from Germany and you will have to pay the import/registration tax, unless you are resident and wanting to import your proper UK-car, witch had been on your name for at least 6 months.
- The import/registration tax depends on the CO2-level of your car (this has changed and before this was the 7 or 12% depending on the kind of engine in your car).  For mine this was the max. amount of 14,75% (this changes in function of the CO2-level) of the calculate fiscal car value (value calculated depending on the age of the car in months and the fiscal value of this new car in Spain).
- If you buy the car from a handler or dealer in the UK (or EU), you will have to pay the VAT/IVA in Spain, this is 16%.  Make sure the bill is on your name (see next point) !!
- If you bought the car from a private person (or also from a dealer and you don’t have the bill on your name) you will also have to pay a patrimonium tax of 4% on the calculated value.
- On this you have to add the Suma and some minor taxes and costs (Gestoria, Trafico, Import control, plates, ...).

Agreed, I imported a car from the UK and it took about 3 months to register and was fraught with pitfalls, ( the most important being obtaining the decclaracion de bajo from the UK Consulate, this has to be no more than 30 days old at time of presentation and within that 30 days you have to allow for processing, without this document the registration fees payable are much higher). And all must be done within six months of being resident in Spain, ( its like playing a game of chess playing without knowing the rules), and even then your Gestoria keeps popping up with more requirements to complete the task!!).
The upshot was that i employed an Gestoria, who charged 120? for the whole process, including getting the new ITV, on top of that I paid 530? for registration fees, taxes, or whattever!!. The whole process took months, and Inearly ended up with a bill for another 700? as I almost failed on the time “trials” for some aspects of the registration. At the end of the process, I believe I had paid about the same in UK as I would have paid in Spain, but with loads of hassle and time problems.

I have since bought another car in Spain, and found that with careful shopping about you can buy a car at goodcost in comparison to the UK and all the paperwork is done for you, ( I bought mine from an English dealer in Cadiz, who was absolutely great, )...
I got a 2005 Ford Focus Ghia, 60Km on the clock, one year guarantee superb condition , fully loaded for 7500?, a search on the UK dealers was showing the same car as around the 9/10K?+ mark, so dont necessarily agree with the cheaper in UK statement.

It is a buyers market in Spain (ok UK as well) so prices are down and I cant believe it is worth all the hassles of importing. Anyway if you want to why not use one of the many agencies that deal with car imports to do the paperwork.

Check out these sites for private (mostly) car sales:

http://www.coches.net/

http://www.autoscout24.es/

ok some clowns are asking silly money but there are some bargains - but be careful of the really silly low prices maybe scams.

Many thanks guys for all the useful answers, but maybe I wasn’t making myself completely clear with my original posting.

I have already experienced importing a UK car to Spain 4 years ago, and went through all the same stuff as described on here.

But I read somewhere very recently that Brussels is trying to abolish all this ‘hassle’, and make it so that you can drive your own car from wherever in the EU and you dont have to change anything.

I think Brussels are getting a little peed off with Spain, especially with them dragging their feet on numerous issues. I dont want to start anything political, but it’s about time they got their backsides kicked about many things.

I just wondered if anyone else had heard anything about this.

Regards
Jools

Jools

Spain is getting a big Euorpean Kick up the Assss. As they are dragging there feet. But as we all know This will take a long time before anything actually happens.

And yes you are right Brussels are trying to “Cancel” the Trouble of Importing Vehicles anywere in the EU!.

I like to add… Holland is the worst calprit for Tax… And there making a song and dance that there a small nation 😊

Again yes it is true that BRUSSELS is trying abolish Import Vehicle tax Within the EU.

I know doubt there be lots of claws and legal issues and back handers before its made in EU Law.

ROB1305 - 16 April 2009 08:26 PM

It is a buyers market in Spain (ok UK as well) so prices are down and I cant believe it is worth all the hassles of importing. Anyway if you want to why not use one of the many agencies that deal with car imports to do the paperwork.

Check out these sites for private (mostly) car sales:

http://www.coches.net/

http://www.autoscout24.es/

ok some clowns are asking silly money but there are some bargains - but be careful of the really silly low prices maybe scams.

Buying 2nd Hand Market for cars is a Complete joke some of the prices there asking for cars is Hilarous!
UK Cars are down and a good price but everyone at the moment is buying in Germany as the Deals are better.

The websites that you provided proves it!

The main reason of buying a car is Germany is that this are young cars, with low millage and mostly luxury versions with a lot of options on the cars.
I bought a car, 2years old, 30k km, full option version, for the same price (all importing taxes included) as they are asking back in Spain for a 4years old, 40k to 70k km and an almost naked car. 
So for me it was a good deal.

Just a thought

After my brother in law was stopped in a UK car by the police. The cop told him that as long as the car was “road legal” in the country of origin - ie the UK then it was fine. The problem (apparently) was UK cars that didn’t have UK tax & MOT (even with a IVT) etc.

Therefore my understanding is that as long you get an MOT (only available in the UK I believe) once a year you’re okay. So maybe you need not bother (although there’s a 6 month law but it’s probably pretty difficult for them to enforce).