When you own or register a vehicle in Spain, you almost always have to pay some form of vehicle tax. The type and amount that applies depends on the vehicle.
Local Vehicle Tax
IVTM Impuesto sobre Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica is the Spanish equivalent of what we refer to in the UK as road tax. Almost all vehicles driven on public roads in Spain, are subject to this tax, which is administered and collected locally by the Town Hall.
The tax is set by the municipal authorities, and varies from area to the next. IVTM is paid to the local authority and can be paid in person at the relevant Town Hall office (Ayuntamiento), at a bank or by direct debit.
Vehicle Tax When Registering a Vehicle in Spain
When you register a vehicle in Spain, either new or used, in all cases locally collected road tax‘ – IVTM (Impuesto Sobre Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica), must be up to date.
There are 3 main circumstances and taxes that apply when registering a vehicle in Spain. These are:
- Purchase of a new vehicle
- Buying a second hand vehicle or changing ownership
- Importing or registering of a foreign vehicle
Tax – New Vehicle Purchase
New vehicle purchases in Spain are subject to IVA (Impuesto sobre el Valor Añadido), Spanish VAT – currently 21% of purchase value.
In addition, when a vehicle is first registered in Spain, it may be subject to an additional registration tax.
This vehicle tax is based on the new value of the vehicle and it’s CO2 emissions. Vehicles with CO2 emissions below 120g/km are exempt from the tax, and the rate increases with the level of emissions as follows:
- 121g/km – 159g/km = 4.75%
- 160g/km – 199g/km = 9.75%
- 200g/km or higher = 16.75%