Bringing a non-EU car (UK, US or other) into Spain

Key rules

• Relief: Duty and VAT are waived only if you move your residence to Spain and meet the ownership and use conditions.
• Request: You ask for the relief at customs when you import the car, not afterwards.
• UK cars: Since Brexit a UK car counts as a non-EU car and may need changes before it can be registered.
• US cars: US-spec cars usually need individual approval, so selling and buying locally is often cheaper.

The short answer

A car from outside the EU pays customs duty and VAT when it enters Spain. The only way around that is the relief for people moving their normal residence to Spain. If you don't qualify, bringing the car is often not worth it.

What you pay without relief

Without relief, a non-EU car pays 10 percent customs duty and then 21 percent VAT on the customs value plus duty, with registration tax on top.

The customs value is the price paid plus transport and insurance to the EU border. Rates can change, so check them when you import.

How to get the relief

You get duty and VAT waived if you meet all of these conditions:

• You have lived outside the EU for at least 12 continuous months.
• You have owned and used the car yourself for at least six months before the move.
• The car is for your personal use.
• You do not sell, lend or hire it out for 12 months after import.
• You move your residence to Spain and can prove it.

Ask for the relief at customs when you import the car. Declare the car within the allowed period, so don't leave it sitting undeclared after you arrive. Confirm the details with Aduanas, the Spanish customs service, before you ship or drive the car in.

The timeline below shows the steps in order.

If your car is from the UK

Since Brexit, a UK-registered car counts as a non-EU car. It pays the same 10 percent duty and 21 percent VAT unless the residence relief applies. If it does, duty and VAT are waived.

Relief does not cover everything. UK cars often need a certificate of conformity or a manufacturer certificate. They may also need changes such as headlamps and speedometer units. Registration tax applies too. Ask the ITV station (Spain's vehicle inspection centre) what your car needs.

If your car is from the US

A US-spec car is rarely EU-approved. It usually needs an individual approval (homologación individual) and a technical report from an engineer. That often means changes to lights, emissions, a speedometer in km/h and rear fog lights.

The cost is high, the process can be slow and approval is not guaranteed. Costs and acceptance vary by ITV station and region. Many owners find it cheaper to sell the car and buy one in Spain.

Bring it or sell it?

Compare the cost of the changes, the approval and registration tax with the price of a similar car in Spain. The decision below helps you weigh the options. The FAQ below covers short ownership, selling soon after arrival and similar cases.

Choosing between options

Should you bring your UK or US car to Spain, or sell it and buy locally?

• Bring a UK car: Your car is UK-registered and you can meet the residence-transfer conditions, so duty and VAT are waived. Check whether it needs a certificate of conformity or changes such as headlamps and speedometer units.

• Bring a US-spec car: The car has real value to you and you accept an individual approval, an engineer's report and changes to lights, emissions, speedometer and rear fog lights, with no guarantee of approval.

• Sell it and buy locally: The car is US-spec, or you cannot meet the relief conditions and would pay 10 percent customs duty plus 21 percent VAT, with registration tax on top.

If the car is UK-registered and you qualify for relief, bring it. If it is US-spec or you do not qualify, compare the full cost of importing with buying locally; selling is usually cheaper.

Timeline and deadlines

• Live outside the EU before the move: for at least 12 continuous months before you move

• Move your residence to Spain and keep proof of it: when you move

• Declare the car at customs and request the relief: at import, within the allowed period

Frequently asked questions

Can I still get relief if I owned the car for less than six months?

No, relief on a car moved with your residence requires that you owned and used the car for at least six months before the move. You also must have lived outside the EU for at least 12 continuous months. If you miss either condition, the car is treated as a normal import.

Can I sell the car soon after it arrives if I got relief?

No, a car imported with relief cannot be sold, lent or hired out for 12 months after import. It must be for your personal use. Selling earlier can put the relief at risk, so ask Aduanas before you sell.

Is it worth bringing a US car to Spain?

Often not, because US-spec cars are rarely EU-approved and usually need an individual approval plus an engineer's technical report.