Before paying a non-refundable deposit, confirm the seller, history and lawful transport. No document guarantees a trouble-free purchase.
Before paying a non-refundable deposit, confirm the seller, history and lawful transport. No document guarantees a trouble-free purchase.
For private individuals already resident in Spain who buy an ordinary, used, already registered M1 passenger car in France for personal use. Excludes changes of residence, business purchases, historic vehicles, major modifications and special tax territories in the country of origin.
Documents · Leaving France · Taxes · ITV and DGT · Budget · Checks · Frequently asked questions
Check the seller and French documents
Compare the physical VIN, advert and complete certificat d’immatriculation, the carte grise. Confirm identity, the right to sell and the consent of all holders; distinguish the intermediary from the contractual seller.
Request a certificat de situation administrative less than fifteen days old and HistoVec shared by the holder. Clarify gage and opposition separately, documenting the steps taken. Cross-check their limited coverage against mileage, servicing and damage. French reference: 7/9/2026. Service-Public
Collect the whole carte grise, crossed out and signed with the date and time of sale, and the certificat de cession, Cerfa 15776. Simplimmat requires both parties to be resident in France. Keep the contract or invoice showing the actual seller, price and tax scheme; scans and annotations do not guarantee lawful ownership. FR1
Cross-check history, bodywork, structure and accessible underbody; document what was not checked. Contact CarAudit and check its scope before paying; confirm availability and access.
Resolve departure from France
French reference: 7/9/2026. For passenger cars over four years old sold to private individuals, check the contrôle technique: less than six months before the application for the new certificate; with a contre-visite, check the two-month deadline. Require the seller to document resolution of critical defects before this sale; do not make an irreversible commitment without that evidence. Do not extrapolate these deadlines to Spain or the test to the vehicle's entire condition. FR1
| Departure point | What to settle before collection |
|---|---|
| Documents and procedure | Collect originals and the cession; request evidence of its declaration and confirm how the sale abroad and any applicable deregistration steps are recorded. FR1 · ES01 |
| Permit and plates | The detachable coupon does not authorise driving abroad. Do not treat the coupon, CPI and CPI WW as equivalent. FR1 |
| Eligibility and validity | Under the rules effective from 1/1/2026, the standard CPI WW provides for four months, only for the categories in Article 8.I. Do not assume a used car in the French SIV is eligible: confirm the category and start and end dates. Reference: 8/9/2026. FR2 |
| Technical condition | Cross-check the test result, defects and technical requirements of the specific permit. FR1 · ES17 |
| Insurance and route | Confirm the holder, plates, dates and cover in France, Spain and every transit country. Spain's acceptance of valid temporary plates with insurance does not demonstrate universal recognition. ES01 · ES17 · ES31 |
| French fees or taxes | Request an itemised breakdown for the applicable procedure; do not assume zero cost or a refund without evidence. FR1 · FR2 |
| Transported alternative | If you cannot establish permission to drive, hire transport and check cover for the loaded car. Also resolve how it will reach the ITV. ES17 |
Identify the territory and taxes
The main route is mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, within the VAT territory: with Union status and ordinary French origin, do not budget for an import from outside the EU. The Canary Islands, outside Spanish VAT, require a declaration and determination of applicable IGIC: with ordinary French origin and evidenced Union status, this is the introduction of a Union vehicle, not an import from a third country. Without evidence of that status, do not rule out customs duties. Ceuta and Melilla, outside the Union customs and VAT territories, have IPSI and their own rules. VAT territory · Canary Islands · Ceuta and Melilla
To be used for VAT purposes, the car must simultaneously exceed 6,000 km and six months since first entry into service; “second-hand” is not enough. Reference: 8/9/2026. Your Europe
Buying a used car from a private individual does not carry business VAT; resolve regional ITP. With a professional, identify the ordinary or margin scheme: do not assume an invoice without itemised VAT is subject to ITP. For distance sales, the scheme and organisation of transport matter: do not assume French taxation. ES05 · ES12 · ES28
If the car fails the used-vehicle test, it is a new means of transport. Under ordinary AEAT administration, file form 309 within thirty days of the transaction and before final registration. Do not extrapolate this form to special territories or foral jurisdictions. Reference: 8/9/2026. Form 309 instructions
Identify the regional or foral authority, tax base, rate, deadline, form and ITP evidence, without using national figures. Madrid and Catalonia document different regional procedures.
IEDMT taxes the first final registration in Spain: confirm state or foral jurisdiction. Form 576 is the self-assessment; 05 concerns certain cases requiring prior recognition and 06 the corresponding cases without it. A zero rate is not an exemption and does not imply using form 06. ES09 · ES10
For ordinary passenger cars in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, reference of 8/9/2026: CO₂ ≤120 g/km, 0%; more than 120 and less than 160, 4.75%; from 160 to less than 200, 9.75%; from 200, 14.75%. These are basic rates: check jurisdiction and any regional modification. If required CO₂ evidence is missing, category 4 applies, not zero or data from another version. ES07 · ES08
For a used vehicle, the base starts from the fiscal market value and the statutory treatment of the residual component of indirect taxes, not automatically the purchase price. ES07 · ES08
IVTM is municipal: confirm the amount and apportionment with the local authority corresponding to the address on the registration document. Reference: 8/9/2026. ES15
As a resident buyer, apply for final registration within thirty days of the start of use in Spain defined by Article 65.1.d of Law 38/1992. This tax rule neither guarantees completion of the procedure nor authorises driving; it is separate from form 309 and IVTM. Reference: 8/9/2026. ES07
Prepare the ITV and Spanish registration
Before the deposit, send the technical documents and VIN to the ITV: confirm type approval, CoC or an acceptable alternative. A ficha reducida describes characteristics; it does not create a missing type approval. The French test does not automatically replace the Spanish ITV card. ES04 · ES01
Prepare originals, the ITV card, identification according to your residence, tax evidence and the DGT application. Private purchase: translated contract and ITP evidence. Foreign trader: invoice with VAT identification. The application receipt is not the registration document. Physical plates and insurance follow. ES01 · ES02
Green plates while awaiting final registration are valid for sixty days; extension is conditional, not automatic. They require documentation and a simultaneous final registration application: they do not resolve an incomplete file. Physical plates and insurance are budgeted separately. Reference: 8/9/2026. DGT temporary permit
Budget for each item
“To be determined” never means zero. Do not add alternatives, territorial branches or VAT already included. No total has been calculated.
| ID | Item | Amount | Condition and missing input | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B01 | Vehicle price | To be determined | Offer, currency and seller are missing; identify included VAT without duplicating it. | ES05, ES12 |
| B02 | History and documents | To be determined | Service is unspecified; no fee for HistoVec is assumed. | FR1 |
| B03 | CarAudit inspection | 289 EUR | Reference: 8/9/2026, including VAT; confirm scope, availability and access in France. | BR01, BR03, BR05 |
| B04 | Battery diagnostics | 179 EUR | Supplement on 8/9/2026 for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles; not included in B03. | BR01, BR03 |
| B05 | CoC or technical documentation | To be determined | Acceptable route for the VIN is missing; do not add alternative documents. | ES04 |
| B06 | Translations | To be determined | Documents and recipient's requirements are missing; a sworn translation is not always required. | ES01, ES02 |
| B07 | French procedure, permit and plates | To be determined | Confirmed regime and itemised applicable French fees or taxes are missing. | FR1, FR2 |
| B08 | Professional transport | To be determined | Route, load and quotation are missing; an alternative to B09. | ES17 |
| B09 | Collection, fuel, tolls and ferries | To be determined | Route, dates and consumption are missing; an alternative to B08. | Individual estimate |
| B10 | Transfer insurance | To be determined | Permit, driver, countries and dates are missing; check cover already included. | ES17, ES31 |
| B11 | Customs duties | To be determined | Not budgeted on the ordinary France–mainland Spain/Balearic route with Union status. | ES06, ES19, ES20 |
| B12 | Import VAT | To be determined | Not added on that ordinary route; another territory or status requires assessment. | ES05, ES06 |
| B13 | Customs clearance or transit | To be determined | Outside the ordinary route; territorial circumstances and quotation are missing. | ES19, ES20 |
| B14 | VAT on a new means of transport | To be determined | Only if the used-vehicle test fails; tax base and authority are missing. | ES05, ES11 |
| B15 | ITP, where applicable | To be determined | Actual seller, competent authority and fiscal valuation are missing. | ES13, ES14, ES28 |
| B16 | IEDMT | To be determined | Fiscal market value, residual treatment of indirect taxes, accepted CO₂, territory and regime are missing. | ES07, ES08, ES09, ES10 |
| B17 | Municipal IVTM | To be determined | Local authority, tax characteristics and registration date are missing. | ES15 |
| B18 | Registration ITV | To be determined | Station, territory and inspection type are missing. | ES01, ES04 |
| B19 | DGT: fee 1.1 | 99.77 EUR | Reference: 8/9/2026, ordinary passenger car. Excludes taxes, ITV, plates and administrative-agent fees. | ES02 |
| B20 | DGT: fee 1.4, temporary permit | 20.61 EUR | Reference: 8/9/2026, if applicable; does not replace B19 or include plates or insurance. | ES16 |
| B21 | Spanish plates | To be determined | Supplier and plates are missing; manufacture is separate from fees. | ES02, ES16 |
| B22 | Optional administrative agent | To be determined | Instructions and quotation are missing; an optional service separate from CarAudit. | ES02, BR05 |
| B23 | Insurance for use in Spain | To be determined | Car, driver and cover are missing; a separate recurring cost. | ES31 |
| B24 | IGIC or IPSI | To be determined | Relevant territorial branch: destination, classification and clearance are missing. Alternatives must not be added together. | ES19, ES20 |
| B25 | Refund promised by the seller | To be determined | Entitlement, beneficiary and evidenced agreement are missing; do not deduct it. | Individual estimate |
Check documents and outstanding steps
The complete table works without JavaScript and can be printed. Everything starts as “To check”.
Documents or conditions still need checking. Do not treat the file as complete. The list does not guarantee the vehicle's condition, registration or suitability for purchase. It does not authorise the purchase.
| Check | Required evidence | What it means | What it does not prove | If there is a discrepancy | Sources | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identity and French registration | VIN on the car, complete certificat d’immatriculation and sale annotation. | Allows comparison of the vehicle with the documents handed over. | Does not by itself prove lawful ownership or freedom from encumbrances. | Stop the deposit and clarify any inconsistent VIN, holder or document. | FR1, ES01 | To check |
| Seller and sale | Identity, authority to sell, signatures, cession and contract or invoice with tax scheme. | Records who sells and on what terms. | Does not guarantee authenticity, performance or VAT deduction. | Require correction of the seller, signatures, price or scheme before paying. | FR1, ES05, ES12 | To check |
| History and administrative status | Shared HistoVec, current certificat de situation administrative and cross-checked mileage. | Shows recorded information within its coverage. | Does not establish absence of accidents, unrecorded encumbrances or tampering. | Clarify every gage, opposition or mileage jump with evidence. | FR1 | To check |
| Physical condition and roadworthiness test | Contrôle technique report and physical inspection report with photographs and unchecked areas. | Distinguishes test results from inspection observations. | Does not guarantee every part or future condition. | Request additional checks and documented resolution of relevant defects. | FR1, BR02 | To check |
| Departure and transfer | Cession and applicable French procedure; permit, plates, dates, insurance and route, or booked transport. | Records the chosen departure and transfer plan. | Is not Spanish registration and does not validate any foreign permit. | Confirm every requirement and cost; if permission to drive cannot be established, hire transport. | FR1, FR2, ES01, ES17, ES31 | To check |
| Spanish file | Accepted technical route and CO₂, ITV card, originals, identity and tax and DGT evidence. | Allows the conditions of the specific file to be checked. | Does not guarantee approval or authorise driving merely by submitting an application. | Resolve missing items with the ITV, tax authority, municipality or DGT. | ES01, ES02, ES04, ES08, ES15 | To check |
Documents or conditions still need checking. Do not treat the file as complete.
In the interactive version, “Conflict found” takes priority, followed by any pending item; “Document checked” appears only when you have checked all documented conditions and exceptions in the six rows. Each result is shown only for its corresponding state. Tab moves through labelled controls with a visible focus; arrow keys change options; Space or Enter activates buttons. “Reset checklist” returns to pending; “Print checklist” retains rows, sources, limitations, states and result. Changes are announced in text without relying on colour. No personal data, automatic document validation or amount calculations.
Frequently asked questions
Does Simplimmat accept buyers resident in Spain?
No. Simplimmat requires both parties to be resident in France. Agree the cession and procedure for your Spanish residence with the seller; collect complete signatures and documents. Service-Public
Does HistoVec guarantee a trouble-free car?
No. HistoVec has limited coverage: cross-check the administrative certificate, mileage, servicing and physical condition. Clarify gage and opposition separately; the absence of recorded accidents does not prove that none occurred. Service-Public
Does a crossed-out carte grise allow driving to Spain?
No. The coupon does not permit driving abroad. CPI WW requires an eligible category: establish the permit, dates, technical condition, insurance and countries; otherwise, transport the car. FR1 · FR2 · ES17
Does the contrôle technique replace the Spanish ITV?
No. You need the Spanish ITV card: keep the French report and check which technical documents are accepted. It does not guarantee current condition, ownership or absence of damage either. FR1 · ES01 · ES04
Can a used car be new for VAT purposes?
Yes. It must simultaneously exceed 6,000 km and six months since first entry into service to be used. If either condition fails, review the invoice and budget as a new means of transport. Reference: 8/9/2026. Your Europe
Does CarAudit include transport and registration?
It covers inspection and a report within its scope: confirm availability and access. It does not automatically include transport, registration or legal representation, nor guarantee detection of all faults or the outcome of the purchase. Scope · Terms
Contact CarAudit: France appears in the Spanish offer of 8/9/2026. Confirm availability and terms; no guaranteed visit deadline.
