Moving to Spain with your UK-registered vehicle is still perfectly achievable — but Brexit changed the rules significantly. This guide walks you through every step of the process, from the moment you establish Spanish residency to the day you drive away on Spanish plates, in plain English with no jargon.
Two deadlines govern when you must register your vehicle — and mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes British expats make.
Once you are legally resident in Spain — meaning you hold a TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero), are registered on the padrón, or are otherwise legally domiciled — you have just 30 days to begin the import process for any vehicle you intend to keep on Spanish roads. After those 30 days, driving your UK-registered car as a Spanish resident is a traffic offence and can attract significant fines from the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico).
If you are not yet a Spanish resident — for example, you are spending extended periods in Spain but have not yet formalised your residency — you can drive your UK-registered car in Spain for up to six months per calendar year without registering it. The six-month clock resets each calendar year, not on a rolling basis from when you first arrived. This is a common source of confusion: it is six months in the calendar year, not six consecutive months.
While your import application is in progress, you can apply for matrícula turística — temporary green plates (placas verdes) — which allow you to continue driving the vehicle legally for up to 60 days while the full registration is completed. These are issued by the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico and can be a useful bridge if the paperwork takes longer than expected.
Irish expats with right-hand drive cars: The same rules apply to Irish-registered RHD vehicles. Ireland was part of the EU before Brexit but your RHD car, if already UK-registered or previously imported from the UK, is treated in the same way as any other non-EU import. See our section on right-hand drive below.
Before 31 December 2020, bringing an EU-registered car from one member state to another was largely a formality. Brexit ended that.
When the UK left the EU's single market and customs union, UK-registered vehicles lost their status as EU goods. From 1 January 2021, a UK car being brought into Spain is treated in the same way as any vehicle being imported from a non-EU country — which means full customs formalities, the potential for customs duty, and additional administrative steps that simply did not exist before.
Before Brexit, a British person moving to Spain could simply have their car re-registered on Spanish plates without any customs process. Today, the vehicle must go through Spanish customs (the Agencia Tributaria), even if no duty is ultimately payable. This is not just bureaucracy for its own sake — it determines whether VAT and tariff obligations have been met and establishes the legal status of the vehicle in Spain.
What changed: UK vehicles are now non-EU imports. Customs clearance is required. Without relief, 6.5% import duty plus 21% IVA (Spanish VAT) can apply to the vehicle's value.
What has not changed: You are still allowed to import your car. Transfer of Residence relief still exists and most qualifying residents will pay no customs duty at all. Spain still allows right-hand drive vehicles. You do not need to convert to left-hand drive.
The good news is that for most British expats who have owned their car for at least six months before moving to Spain, Transfer of Residence (TOR) relief — known in Spanish as franquicia por cambio de residencia — eliminates the customs duty bill entirely. The process of claiming it does require paperwork and planning, but it is well established and routinely approved.
This customs exemption is the key provision that makes importing your car financially manageable for most expats.
Transfer of Residence (TOR) relief is an EU customs provision that allows individuals who are genuinely relocating their permanent home to an EU member state to import personal belongings — including one vehicle — free of customs duty and IVA. Spain applies this relief under Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) 1186/2009 (now incorporated into Spanish customs law following Brexit).
For a British expat bringing their car to Spain from the UK, TOR relief removes the otherwise applicable 6.5% customs duty and 21% IVA on the vehicle's assessed value. On a £20,000 car, that is a potential saving of over €5,000 — so getting this right matters.
To claim TOR relief you must meet all of the following conditions:
Important: TOR relief must be applied for actively — it is not granted automatically. You (or your gestoría) must file the relevant customs declaration with the Agencia Tributaria and present supporting documents at the time of import. If you fail to claim it and the vehicle clears customs without the relief, recovering the duty afterwards is possible but significantly more complicated.
If you have owned the car for fewer than six months, or if you are not making a permanent move (for example, you are a non-resident bringing a car to use in Spain), TOR relief will not apply. In that case, the following charges may be due at import:
For an expensive or relatively new car, these costs can be substantial. In some cases it may be more economical to sell the vehicle in the UK and purchase one already registered in Spain. A good gestoría can run the numbers for you before you commit to importing.
For a full breakdown of import taxes and how IEDMT is calculated, see our dedicated guide: Car Import Taxes in Spain — Complete Guide.
The process typically takes four to eight weeks from start to finish. Here is what is involved at each stage.
Before driving your car to Spain (or arranging transport), collect all necessary documents: the original V5C logbook, a formal Certificate of Conformity (COC) or homologación if available, your MOT certificate, proof of purchase or ownership such as an invoice or HP settlement letter, and at least six months of service or insurance history to support your TOR claim. The original V5C must travel with the vehicle — a digital copy will not suffice at Spanish customs.
Inform the DVLA that you are permanently exporting the vehicle. You can do this online or by completing a V5C section and sending it to the DVLA. They will issue a letter confirming export, and the vehicle will receive an export marker on the DVLA database. You should SORN the vehicle or cancel the UK road tax at this stage if you have not already done so. Keep the DVLA export confirmation — it will be required by Spanish authorities to confirm the vehicle is no longer registered in the UK.
You will need a valid Spanish insurance policy before you can complete registration. Contact a specialist insurer like 247 Expat Insurance ahead of time to arrange cover for the transition period. Your UK policy will not be recognised for registration purposes once you are resident, and driving without valid insurance in Spain carries severe penalties. We can arrange cover starting from the day you need it — see our Spanish-plated car insurance page for options.
The vehicle must be formally declared to Spanish customs. If you are claiming TOR relief, this is where you present your supporting documentation — V5C, proof of residency change, proof of six months' prior ownership and use, NIE, and passport. Customs will assess the vehicle's value and either grant the relief or notify you of applicable duties. Many expats use a licensed gestoría (administrative agent) to handle this step, which is strongly recommended if your Spanish is not fluent or you are unfamiliar with customs procedures.
Spain requires proof that the vehicle meets EU technical standards. The easiest route is a Certificate of Conformity (COC), which you can request from the vehicle manufacturer or their Spanish dealer network. If a COC is not available — which is common for older vehicles or some specialist models — your vehicle will need to undergo a full homologación inspection at an authorised ITV station. This is a more thorough examination than a standard ITV test and confirms the vehicle is roadworthy and meets Spanish technical requirements. Headlamp alignment for right-hand drive vehicles is assessed at this stage.
Once customs clearance is granted, you must pay the IEDMT — Spain's vehicle registration tax. This is calculated by the Agencia Tributaria based on the vehicle's CO2 emissions and its adjusted fiscal value (Spanish market value). The rate is 0% for pure electric cars, 0–4.75% for very low-emission vehicles, and up to 14.75% for higher-CO2 petrol and diesel cars. You pay this tax online or at a bank before submitting your registration application. Payment is recorded on form 576.
All imported vehicles must pass an ITV (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) test before they can be registered. For imports, this is typically more detailed than the standard periodic ITV, checking that the vehicle complies with Spanish and EU technical regulations. Book an appointment at a licensed ITV station. Your vehicle must be roadworthy and the headlamps must be correctly adjusted for right-hand traffic. A passed ITV certificate is required as part of your registration documents.
With all documents in order — customs clearance certificate, COC or homologación, IEDMT payment receipt, ITV pass certificate, insurance certificate, NIE, empadronamiento, and passport — you submit your registration application to the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico (Provincial Traffic Authority) in your province. Processing typically takes one to three weeks. Once approved, you will receive your Spanish registration certificate (permiso de circulación) and can fit your new Spanish number plates. The vehicle is now fully registered in Spain.
Tip: A good gestoría can manage most of this process on your behalf for a fee typically between €150 and €400. Given the complexity and the language barrier, this is money well spent for most expats. Ask your local expat community for recommendations.
For further detail on the Spanish registration process itself, see our companion guide: Car Registration in Spain for Expats.
Gather these before starting the process. Missing documents are the single biggest cause of delays.
Budgeting properly in advance prevents nasty surprises. Here is a realistic breakdown of what to expect.
| Cost item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty | €0 (with TOR) or 6.5% of value | Zero with valid TOR relief. Without it, 6.5% of the assessed customs value of the vehicle. |
| IVA on import (if applicable) | €0 (with TOR) or 21% | 21% applies to customs value plus duty where TOR relief is not granted. Zero with TOR relief. |
| IEDMT (registration tax) | 0% – 14.75% of fiscal value | 0% for pure EVs. 4.75% for very low CO2 (<120g/km). Up to 14.75% for higher-emission vehicles. Applied to the adjusted Spanish fiscal value — often lower than UK market value. |
| ITV inspection fee | €40 – €130 | Varies by province and vehicle type. Import homologación inspections are at the higher end. |
| Certificate of Conformity (COC) | €50 – €300 | Fee charged by the manufacturer or dealer. Some brands provide this free; others charge a significant admin fee. |
| Gestoría fees | €150 – €400 | Professional fees for an administrative agent to manage the customs, tax, and registration paperwork on your behalf. Strongly recommended. |
| DGT registration fee | €90 – €130 | The official DGT fee for issuing a new registration and plates. |
| Number plates | €20 – €60 | Standard Spanish plates from a licensed plate maker. Prices vary. |
| Headlamp adjustment | €50 – €350+ | For right-hand drive vehicles, headlamps must be physically adjusted or new beam units fitted. Cost depends on vehicle model — some have easy adjustment, others require new headlamp units. |
| Translation/apostille (if required) | €30 – €150 | Certified translations of UK documents may be required in some provinces. Not always needed. |
Example total cost (mid-range scenario): A British expat importing a three-year-old petrol car with a Spanish fiscal value of €18,000, CO2 of 145g/km (IEDMT rate 9.75%), with TOR relief granted, could expect to pay approximately: IEDMT €1,755 + ITV €80 + COC €150 + Gestoría €250 + DGT fees €120 + plates €40 = around €2,400 in total, not including headlamp adjustment. Without TOR relief the bill would increase by approximately €3,000–€4,500 in customs duty and IVA.
Spain does not ban right-hand drive vehicles — but driving one on Spanish roads does come with practical considerations that are worth addressing properly.
Yes, absolutely. Spain's traffic legislation does not prohibit right-hand drive vehicles, and many thousands of British expats drive RHD cars legally and daily across the country. There is no legal requirement to convert your car to left-hand drive, and no deadline by which you must do so. This is a persistent myth, perhaps borrowed from some other countries' rules. You can register and use your RHD car in Spain indefinitely.
What is mandatory is adapting your headlamps for right-hand traffic. UK headlamps are designed to cast their main beam pattern down and to the left, so that they illuminate the nearside kerb without dazzling oncoming drivers on the right. When you drive on the right in Spain, this pattern throws a cone of light across the opposing lane — blinding oncoming traffic.
For short trips or temporary visits, stick-on headlamp deflectors (available at petrol stations and motor accessory shops across France and Spain for around €5–€10 per pair) are a legal and acceptable solution. However, for a permanent import, the ITV inspector may require either:
Check early in your planning whether your specific model has adjustable headlamps. Your manufacturer or a specialist RHD-to-Spain importer can advise. Do not leave this until the day of your ITV inspection.
Most British expats adapt quickly to driving on the right in a right-hand drive car. A few tips that experienced RHD expat drivers offer:
For information on exchanging your UK driving licence, see our guide: Exchanging Your UK Driving Licence in Spain.
Getting your insurance sorted is not just a legal formality — it protects you throughout a process that can take several weeks.
Insurance during the import process falls into two phases, and it is important not to leave either one unaddressed.
While your vehicle is going through customs clearance, ITV inspection, and DGT registration, it will still need to be driven — to and from inspection stations, gestoría appointments, and so on. Your UK insurance policy will not cover you as a Spanish resident in the way it covered you as a UK resident. You should confirm with your UK insurer exactly what cover remains in place and for how long, and arrange interim Spanish cover if there is any gap.
If you have applied for temporary green plates (matrícula turística), you will need a Spanish policy in any case, as these plates are Spanish-issued. 247 Expat Insurance can arrange short-term imported vehicle cover to bridge this transitional period — contact us to discuss your situation.
Once your vehicle is registered in Spain and carries Spanish plates, you must hold a valid Spanish insurance policy. The minimum legal requirement is third-party liability (responsabilidad civil obligatoria), but comprehensive cover (todo riesgo) is advisable, particularly for newer or more valuable vehicles.
As a British expat insuring a formerly UK-registered car in Spain, you may find standard Spanish insurers less familiar with your situation — particularly in valuing the vehicle, recognising your UK no-claims history, and understanding that RHD is perfectly legal. 247 Expat Insurance specialises in exactly this type of policy. We work with insurers experienced in the expat market and can take your UK no-claims record into account.
We recognise UK NCD history when calculating your Spanish premium. Bring your NCD certificate from your UK insurer.
All policy discussions, documents, and claims support are available in English. No Spanish required.
We have experience insuring right-hand drive vehicles in Spain and can ensure your policy reflects the correct vehicle specification.
The questions our British expat clients ask most often about importing their UK car to Spain.
Yes — but with time limits. Non-residents can drive a UK-registered car in Spain for up to six months per calendar year without needing to register it. Once you become a Spanish resident, you must import and register the vehicle within 30 days. After that deadline, driving an unregistered foreign car as a resident is illegal and can result in fines or the vehicle being seized.
No. Spain does not require you to convert a right-hand drive vehicle to left-hand drive. You may legally drive and register an RHD car in Spain. However, you must adjust or replace the headlamps so the beam pattern is adapted for right-hand traffic, preventing dazzle for oncoming drivers. For a permanent import this usually means physical headlamp adjustment or fitting new beam-pattern units.
Missing the 30-day deadline does not necessarily mean you lose the right to import the car, but you are technically in breach of Spanish traffic law from day 31. You may face fines from the DGT. More practically, you may lose the ability to claim TOR customs relief if the authorities determine you were already resident at the time of import without having completed the process. The sooner you begin the paperwork after establishing residency, the better.
Spanish insurers are not obliged to honour UK no-claims discount (NCD) certificates, but many specialist expat insurers — including 247 Expat Insurance — will take your UK NCD history into account when calculating your premium. You should request a formal NCD certificate from your UK insurer before leaving and provide it to your Spanish insurer. Always ask directly, as policies vary between providers.
IEDMT (Impuesto Especial sobre Determinados Medios de Transporte) is Spain's vehicle registration tax. It applies to all vehicles being registered in Spain for the first time, including imports. The rate ranges from 0% to 14.75% depending on the vehicle's CO2 emissions and its adjusted fiscal value (the current Spanish market value, not what you paid). Pure electric cars are exempt. Low-emission vehicles may pay 0–4.75%, while higher-emitting petrol and diesel cars can attract rates up to 14.75%.
Yes. You will need a valid Spanish insurance policy (at minimum third-party liability — seguro obligatorio) before you can complete the Spanish registration process and receive Spanish number plates. During the transition — when your UK plates are still in use but you are going through the import process — you should also carry proof of valid insurance cover. 247 Expat Insurance can arrange Spanish-plated car insurance to bridge this gap.
Whether you are just starting to plan your move or you are already in Spain and working through the paperwork, our English-speaking team can help you arrange the right insurance for every stage of the process — from temporary cover during import to a full Spanish policy once registration is complete.
247 Expat Insurance | www.247expatinsurance.com | English-speaking team | Specialists in expat insurance Spain
Overview of all the steps involved in bringing any foreign-registered vehicle to Spain, with links to every topic in this series.
A detailed look at the Spanish DGT registration process — from submitting your application to receiving your permiso de circulación.
Full breakdown of IEDMT rates by CO2 band, how fiscal value is assessed, and how to calculate your registration tax bill.
Insurance options for UK cars being imported to Spain — from transitional cover during the registration process to full Spanish policies.
Post-Brexit rules for converting your UK licence to a Spanish one — deadlines, documents, and the process step by step.
