Finding a garage or parking space to rent or buy

Terms used

• Fianza — The fianza is a deposit held as security for the rental, usually one or two months' rent.
• IVA — IVA is Spain's value added tax, charged on new purchases from developers or companies.
• AJD — AJD is a regional stamp duty paid on certain documented property transactions.
• ITP — ITP is a regional transfer tax paid when you buy a resale property from a private seller.
• Administradores de fincas — Administradores de fincas are professional managers of apartment buildings and communities of owners.

Key rules

• Garage-only rental: A garage rented on its own is mostly governed by your contract, not the housing rental rules.
• Garage with a home: If the garage is in the same contract as a home, the housing rules apply to it.
• Resale purchase: Buying from a private seller means paying ITP, which is typically 6 to 10 percent depending on the region.
• New purchase: Buying new means IVA at 21 percent plus regional AJD.

What a garage space costs

Prices depend on the city, the district, the size and the security of the space. Smaller cities and outer districts are cheapest. Central Madrid and Barcelona are the most expensive, and a central space can cost several times more than one in an outer area. Prime coastal and tourist areas are also high for purchases.

Rent and sale prices are set by the local market, so compare several listings in the exact district you want. A plaza in a block and an individual box are priced differently.

Renting: how the contract usually works

A garage rented on its own is usually governed by the Civil Code and whatever you and the owner agree. The housing rental rules do not cover it. If the garage is let together with a home in one contract, it follows the housing rules.

• Deposit: A fianza of one or two months is common for a standalone garage. In many regions the owner must lodge it with the regional body.
• Duration: You agree it freely. One year, renewable, is typical.
• Notice: It is whatever the contract says, often 30 days. Read this clause before you sign.

The timeline below shows the steps in order.

Where to search

• Property portals, including a Catalonia-focused one and general classified-ad sites.
• Specialist parking platforms.
• Local estate agents.
• Community administrators (administradores de fincas), who often know which neighbours want to rent or sell a space.
• Notice boards in buildings.
• Signs on garage doors in the street: "se alquila" means for rent, "se vende" means for sale.

Walking the streets you want to live in is often the quickest way to find a space nobody has advertised online.

Buying: the taxes you pay

The tax depends on who sells.

• New, from a developer or company: You pay IVA, normally at the general rate of 21 percent, plus AJD. AJD is set by region and is often around 0.5 to 1.5 percent.
• Resale, from a private seller: You pay ITP, a regional transfer tax that is typically 6 to 10 percent depending on the region.
• Garage bought with a home: It may be taxed together with the home. The reduced IVA rate generally applies only to up to two garage spaces sold as annexes with a new home.

Ask a notary or a gestor for the exact rate in your region before you commit. The FAQ below answers common questions on taxes and searching.

Timeline and deadlines

• Agree the duration in the contract: before you sign; often one year, renewable

• Pay the deposit (fianza): when you sign; one or two months of rent is common

• Give notice to end the rental: as the contract says, often 30 days before you leave

Frequently asked questions

Does the housing rental law cover a garage I rent on its own?

Usually no, a garage rented on its own is governed by the Civil Code and what you and the owner agree in the contract. If the garage is let together with a home in one contract, it follows the housing rules instead. So check whether your garage is in the same contract as your flat.

How much deposit and notice should I expect on a garage rental?

A deposit (fianza) of one or two months is common, and a non-housing lease must carry a deposit of two months. Notice is whatever the contract says, often 30 days, and duration is often one year renewable. In many regions the deposit is lodged with the regional body.

Which taxes do I pay when buying a garage space?

It depends on who sells: a new garage from a developer or company carries IVA (VAT), normally 21 percent in 2025, plus stamp duty (AJD) of often around 0.5 to 1.5 percent. A resale from a private seller carries ITP, a regional transfer tax typically 6 to 10 percent. A garage bought as an annex to a home may be taxed together with it.

Where can I search for a garage space beyond the big property portals?

Try specialist parking platforms such as Aparca&Go, local estate agents and community administrators (administradores de fincas). Notice boards in buildings and street signs saying se alquila or se vende also turn up spaces. Habitaclia is useful in Catalonia.