Permanent deregistration of a vehicle at the DGT (scrapping or export)

What you need to have to hand

1. Cl@ve/certificado digital if you’re going to process a deregistration by export.
2. Physical vehicle documents (permiso and ficha técnica) and your IDs.
3. Decide if it’s scrapping (CAT) or export. They’re different routes.

Documentation

1. DNI/NIE of the owner (or Cl@ve/certificado if online).
2. Permiso de circulación original.
3. Tarjeta ITV (ficha técnica) original.
4. Certificado de Destrucción and Justificante de Entrega from the CAT (if scrapping).
5. Tasa DGT 4.1 paid (if export) and its justificante/NRC.
6. Proof of destination abroad (sales contract, customs or transport document).
7. Autorización if a third party acts, plus a copy of their DNI.
8. If there’s reserva de dominio/precinto/embargo, the cancellation (critical for export).

Step by step

1. Scrapping (the normal route): find an official CAT: https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/vehiculos/centros-autorizados-de-tratamiento/ and ask for collection if it won’t start.
2. Take vehicle + permiso + ficha. The CAT gives you the Certificado de Destrucción and files the baja definitiva with the DGT. No DGT fee to pay.
3. In 0–48 h, request an informe reducido on the DGT site to check it’s recorded as baja: https://sede.dgt.gob.es/es/vehiculos/informe-de-vehiculo/ and keep the justificante.
4. Export: pay the Tasa 4.1 online: https://sede.dgt.gob.es/es/pago-de-tasas/ and keep the justificante/NRC.
5. Submit the solicitud de baja por exportación via the Registro Electrónico General (destined to the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico), attaching permiso, ficha, proof of destination and the tasa: https://rec.redsara.es.
6. When accepted, request the informe reducido again to confirm deregistration and download/save the justificante. Notify your seguro and keep all documents.

Time-savers

1. Ask the CAT in writing to give you the Certificado de Destrucción immediately and to process the deregistration that same day.
2. Compare CATs: many offer free recovery and may pay you for scrap; others charge. Ask first.
3. For export, pay the tasa online and upload everything in a single submission to the Registro Electrónico with a document index. Avoid back-and-forth.
4. If a third party acts, use a formal apoderamiento to avoid representation requests.
5. With the deregistration justificante, request the proportional IVTM refund from the ayuntamiento and cancel the insurance the same day.

Common mistakes that will mess up the process

1. Mixing up temporary and permanent deregistration and later finding the car in the street is liable to fines. If it’s going to the scrapyard, choose permanent.
2. Trying to get permanent deregistration for scrapping without a CAT: the Jefatura won’t process it.
3. Exporting with charges (embargo/precinto/reserva de dominio): it will be stopped. Cancel them first.
4. Not checking the status on the sede and then still being billed IVTM/insurance. Request the informe reducido and keep the justificante.
5. Losing plates/documents: hand everything to the CAT; removing plates yourself is a bad idea.