Registering a vehicle in Spain 2026: guide and DGT form Mod. 01

What vehicle registration is

Registration (matriculación) enters a vehicle in the DGT Vehicle Register and assigns it a number plate and the registration certificate (permiso de circulación). It is the step that allows the vehicle to circulate legally — for example a new or imported vehicle that does not yet hold a Spanish plate.

Documents usually required

1. Official DGT application form.
2. Technical data sheet (ficha técnica / ITV card).
3. Invoice or purchase contract.
4. DNI/NIE of the owner.
5. Proof of the applicable taxes.

The exact list and the submission channel are published on the DGT Electronic Office.

Taxes and fees

On registration, besides the traffic fee, several taxes may apply:

• Registration tax (Special Tax on Certain Means of Transport), where applicable.
• VAT or Transfer Tax (ITP), depending on whether the vehicle is new or used.
• Mechanical Traction Vehicle Tax (IVTM), managed by your town hall.

Amounts depend on the vehicle and the territory and are updated regularly: check the current figures with the DGT, the AEAT and your town hall before paying.

Bringing a car from another country

This is the most common scenario for foreign residents, and the one that generates the most surprises. A vehicle registered abroad does not simply "transfer": it must pass a Spanish ITV inspection, obtain a Spanish technical data sheet and be registered from scratch, with the registration tax settled where applicable. Even within the EU, free movement does not exempt you from the procedure. The whole circuit — DGT, ITV station, AEAT, town hall — runs in Spanish across four different bodies with no shared thread. The GovEasy browser extension guides you through those official portals and reuses the data you have already entered; for an import, a bilingual professional from the Marketplace of gestores is often the faster route.

How it is processed

Registration can be handled online with Cl@ve or a digital certificate on the DGT Electronic Office, in person with a prior appointment, or through a gestor. Check on the Sede which channel is enabled for your case.

Fill in the form with GovEasy

• Download the official form (DGT Mod. 01) for free.
• AI-assisted completion (€4.99): you answer a few questions, we reuse your data and the AI fills in the official form, delivering a PDF ready to submit.

Filling it in is free; you only pay to download the completed document. Included in Ciudadano Plus and Pro.

➡️ Fill it in with AI — €4.99

Disclaimer: informational guide. Documents, taxes, fees and deadlines can change; always verify on the DGT Electronic Office before submitting.