Buying New And Used Cars In Spain

If you’re thinking of buying a new or used car in Spain, you may be concerned about paying more than you should. Here we give you a few tips about what to look out for before you even look at the engine!

At your local newsagent there are magazines that have new & used car prices (such as Supermotor), but for used cars in Spain prices only tend to be for cars up to 5 years old. However the problem with printed price guides (or online guides) is that they are average prices and don’t take into account any extras. Extras add cost to a vehicle, however they not be of value to a buyer. Even so, it’s probably a good idea to start out by looking at used car selling prices online to get an idea of the range of prices before going to look at any vehicles.

If you’re thinking of buying a second hand car in Spain, you need to take into account the difference between KM 0, ex-rental cars and second hand private cars:

• KM 0: All car showrooms in Spain register a few vehicles which they then sell after a couple of months as “KM 0” – supposedly at a price a lot lower than new – the saving will depend on each seller. Contrary to what their name suggests, KM 0 cars have actually been used, for example for test drives, but they tend to have a lower number of km on the clock than ex-rental cars. On the plus-side these cars will still (normally) be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
• Ex-rental cars: These cars must pass the official technical inspection (ITV) at 2 years after purchase instead of the usual 4 years for a new car. Many people don’t know this and it can invalidate your insurance if you have to make a claim and the car hasn’t passed the ITV. If the car is under two years old, it will have to pass the ITV for you to be able to put it in your name. This may also apply to KM 0 cars too, it depends how they were originally registered.
• Second hand private sale cars in Spain can be found at dealers (search for “coche segundamano” & your city) or via an online site such as Coches.net or Segundamano, at both sites you’ll find cars from dealers and private sales. Dealers must give a six-month (minimum) warranty with the car, however private sellers are only obliged to cover faults which existed at the time of sale, which could be difficult (and costly) to prove. It’s always a good idea to check with the local Traffic Office (Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico) regarding who the car belongs to if you don’t want to be involved in a scam. Also there they can tell you details about the car registration, previous owners and if any fines are outstanding. Remember to check with the seller that the car has passed the latest ITV and that the local road tax has been paid to the Ayuntamiento.

Regarding taxes, in the case of buying a second hand car in Spain from a dealer you’ll have to pay sales tax, but if you buy from an individual you’ll have to pay the Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales. This tax will be calculated on the official value placed on the car (make, model, age) and NOT the selling price. As for the paperwork, buying from a dealer often means they’ll deal with it directly. Otherwise you’ll be responsible for the paperwork for changing the vehicle over to your name.

If you’re great at negotiating for a price reduction in your native language, but worry that in Spain you won’t be able to get the same result, why not get in touch with Busco Coche Por Ti. This company is similar to a “personal shopper” service for both new and second hand cars in Spain. To get a discount on their basic service, just let them know that you read about them here.

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