Sell your car in Málaga

Step by step

1. Make sure the car can be transferred Required by law

   A car with unpaid local road tax (Impuesto de Circulación) from the previous year or with unpaid fines cannot be transferred. If it was financed with a reserva de dominio, get a cancellation letter from the lender and cancel it at the Registro de Bienes Muebles first; tell the buyer about any embargo or precinto, and reactivate the car if it is in baja temporal.

   DGT – Vender un vehículo de segunda mano
2. Let the buyer check the vehicle report Recommended Buyer

   Anyone can request the DGT informe reducido with just the plate or chassis number; it shows the first registration date in Spain and any issue that would block a transfer. Detailed reports (charges, technical data, full history) require a separate fee each.

   Informe reducido free; each detailed report €8.67 (tasa 4.1)

   DGT Sede Electrónica – Informe de un vehículo
3. Sign a written sales contract Required by law Seller and buyer

   Use the DGT model contract with at least the names and DNI/NIE/NIF of buyer and seller, make, model and plate, price, and the date and time of signing; both sign every page. The DGT recommends asking for a copy of the buyer's ID and keeping a copy of the original contract before handing over the car.

   DGT – Vender un vehículo de segunda mano
4. File the notificación de venta Recommended

   The seller notifies the sale to the DGT online (Cl@ve, digital certificate or electronic DNI) or in person with an appointment (cita previa, 060). It takes effect on the day it is filed, not the contract date, so do it right away: from then on the buyer is responsible for later fines. It does not replace the buyer's transfer.

   €8.67 (DGT tasa 4.1)

   DGT Sede Electrónica – Notificación de venta
5. Buyer pays the transfer tax (ITP) to their region Required by law Buyer

   In a sale between private persons the buyer pays the Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales (form 620 or 621, depending on the region) to the autonomous community where they have their tax residence. Rate, deadline and taxable value are set by each region (see regions).

   DGT – Comprar un vehículo de segunda mano
6. Buyer requests the change of ownership within 30 days Required by law Buyer

   Within 30 days of signing, the buyer applies to the DGT with the original contract signed on every page, proof of ITP payment or exemption, and ID; online, in the miDGT app, or in person by appointment (card payment only). The new permiso de circulación is only valid if the car has a current ITV.

   €55.70 (DGT tasa 1.5)

   DGT Sede Electrónica – Transferencia o cambio de titularidad
7. Buyer insures the car and checks the ITV Required by law Buyer

   Before driving, the buyer must take out insurance and make sure the ITV is valid; with an expired ITV the car cannot be driven and must be taken to an ITV station by tow truck or other authorised means.

   DGT – Comprar un vehículo de segunda mano

Documents checklist

Tick what you already have. This stays on your device, and none of it is needed to post your car.

• Sales contract (contrato de compraventa)Original signed by buyer and seller on every page, with IDs, vehicle data, price, date and time.Required by law
• Registration certificate (permiso de circulación) and technical card (ficha técnica / tarjeta ITV)Original documents handed to the buyer; the Comunidad de Madrid lists both among the documents for the ITP filing.Required by law
• ID of buyer and seller (DNI / NIE / passport)The buyer's ID is required for the transfer; the DGT recommends the seller keeps a copy of the buyer's ID.Required by law
• Proof of ITP payment (modelo 620/621)Proof of payment, exemption or non-subjection of the Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales.Required by law
• Proof of local road tax paid (Impuesto de Circulación / IVTM)The previous year's tax must be paid or the car cannot be transferred.Required by law
• Lien cancellation letter (carta de cancelación de reserva de dominio)Only if the car was financed with a reserva de dominio; the cancellation must be recorded at the Registro de Bienes Muebles before the transfer.Recommended

Stay safe when buyers contact you

• File the notificación de venta as soon as you sign: until the sale is notified or the buyer transfers the car, speed-camera, insurance and ITV fines can keep reaching you (DGT).
• Keep a copy of the signed contract and of the buyer's ID before handing over the car (DGT).
• Buyers: request the free DGT informe reducido by plate before paying; it shows whether anything blocks the transfer (DGT).