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ESCAENPA

Selling a car to another EU country

Exporting within the EU means selling a Spanish-registered car to someone who’ll register it in their country: a French, Portuguese or German buyer…

The paperwork in Spain

  • Permanent deregistration for transfer to another country at the DGT: the registered owner or whoever can prove ownership can request it. The fee is €8.67, and it’s free if the car has been registered in Spain for 15 years or more.
  • Before that, the car must be free of charges: if it’s financed or has an embargo, it can’t be deregistered.
  • Once deregistered, it can’t be driven on the Spanish plates. To move it: green plates (temporary permit) or a truck.
  • The buyer has to register it in their country with their own paperwork.

VAT, depending on who sells

You sell as a private personYou don’t charge VAT. Just a sales contract.
Professional to another EU businessIf the car is under normal VAT and the buyer has a valid EU VAT number (checked in the European VIES system), the sale is an exempt intra-community supply. It’s declared on form 349. Keep proof that the car left Spain.
Professional under REBUIf you bought the car under the used-goods scheme, you sell it under REBU too and pay VAT on your margin in Spain.
“New” carIf it’s under 6 months old or has 6,000 km or less, the buyer pays VAT in their country, even if you sell it as a private person.

Getting paid safely

  • Don’t hand over the car or the papers until the money is in your account.
  • Watch out for transfers that were “already sent” but never arrive, cheques and payments with fake receipts.
  • Make a contract with both parties’ details, VIN, mileage, price, date and time of handover.