Exporting a car from Spain to a non-EU country

Terms used

• DUA de exportación — The DUA de exportación is the electronic customs declaration you file to export goods, including a car, out of the EU.
• AEAT — The AEAT is Spain's tax agency, which also runs customs (Aduanas).
• Agente de aduanas — An agente de aduanas is a customs agent who files export declarations for you.
• Baja — The baja is the DGT deregistration of a car, which takes it off the Spanish register.
• DGT — The DGT is Spain's traffic authority, which handles vehicle registration and bajas.
• ITV — The ITV is Spain's mandatory periodic roadworthiness inspection for vehicles.

Key rules

• Export declaration: A non-EU export needs a Spanish export declaration, usually filed by a customs agent.
• Destination rules: Check the destination's import rules with its customs authority before the car ships.
• After a definitive baja: You cannot drive the car on Spanish public roads, so use a trailer or tow truck.
• Exit proof: Keep the customs exit validation, which supports a VAT-exempt sale to a non-EU buyer.

What you must do before the car ships

A non-EU car export needs a Spanish export declaration, and you must check the destination's import rules before the car is shipped. Do the import check first. Some countries will not accept your car at all, and you do not want to find that out after it has left.

Check the destination's import rules first

Ask the customs authority of the destination country. Rules vary widely, and they change. Typical examples:

• UK: you register the car with the DVLA, and the vehicle needs approval. VAT and duty apply unless you are moving your residence and qualify for relief.
• US: cars under 25 years old must meet EPA and DOT standards. Cars over 25 years old are exempt.
• Latin America: many countries ban or restrict used imports by age, and often charge high duties and taxes. Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia each have their own rules.

Ask about age limits, duties, taxes and registration at the other end. Get the answers before you pay for transport.

The export declaration

The export declaration (DUA de exportación) is filed electronically with the AEAT customs office (Aduanas) at the port or customs office of departure. Most people hire a customs agent (agente de aduanas) to file it. The agent or the customs office confirms the exact requirements for your port.

The documents you need are in the box below. They include the DGT baja for export, which takes the car off the Spanish register.

After the car leaves the EU, customs validates the exit. Keep that proof. If you sell the car to a buyer outside the EU, it is the evidence that the sale can be exempt from VAT as an export.

Getting the car to the port

After a definitive baja you cannot drive the car on public roads in Spain. Use a trailer or tow truck to reach the port.

A baja por traslado works differently. The DGT gives you temporary documentation for the journey, and with valid insurance you can travel to the destination. Confirm with the DGT office what that document allows. A baja temporal also stops the car from circulating.

Driving without valid insurance and ITV risks a fine. The warning below covers this.

Use the blocks below

The documents list, the checklist, the warnings and the FAQ below cover the paperwork and the common mistakes.

Documents you need

• Permiso de circulación, the car's registration document.

• Ficha técnica, the car's technical data sheet.

• Proof of ownership or the purchase invoice.

• Your ID.

• The DGT baja for export, issued by the DGT, Spain's traffic authority.

• For a baja por traslado, the temporary documentation the DGT issues for the journey, plus valid insurance.

Checklist

• Check the import rules for your used car with the customs authority of the destination country before you ship.

• Ask the destination customs authority about age limits, duties and taxes on used cars, which can be high in Latin America.

• Gather your permiso de circulación, ficha técnica, proof of ownership or invoice, ID and the DGT baja for export.

• Arrange a trailer or tow truck to take the car to the port if the baja is definitive.

• Keep the customs exit validation after the car leaves the EU, as proof of export and for VAT exemption on a sale.

What to watch out for

• Driving after the baja: After a definitive baja you cannot drive the car on Spanish public roads, and a baja temporal also stops circulation. Book a trailer or tow truck carrier to reach the port.

• Driving without insurance or ITV: Driving without valid insurance and ITV, the roadworthiness inspection, risks a fine, even with a baja por traslado. Keep the insurance valid and the ITV up to date for the whole journey, and carry the DGT temporary documentation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive my car to the port after the baja?

After a definitive baja you cannot drive the car on public roads in Spain, so you need a trailer or tow truck to reach the port. With a baja por traslado, the DGT issues temporary documentation that allows the journey to the destination, as long as you have valid insurance.

Who files the export declaration for my car?

A customs agent (agente de aduanas) usually files the export declaration for you. It is lodged electronically with the customs office at the port or place of departure, and the agent or that office can confirm what your port needs.

Can I sell my car to a buyer outside the EU without paying VAT?

Yes, a sale to a non-EU buyer can be exempt from VAT on export, but only if you can prove the car left the EU.

Can I import a used Spanish car into the US?

Yes, but the US restricts cars under 25 years old unless they meet EPA and DOT standards, while cars over 25 years old are exempt.