How to Transfer a Car?

In the event that you are interested in buying a car or selling it (in the latter case you will want to know how much your car is worth and how to value it) you need to know that you must follow a series of steps that are duly regulated by the Administration to be able to change ownership of the car.

In this sense, it must be borne in mind that, in Spain, the buyer of a vehicle has a period of 30 days after the purchase to make the change of ownership before the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT).

The amount of changing the name of the car will depend on whether we do it ourselves or if we use an agency. The latter can charge between 50 and 200 euros, depending on each of them. If you are going to do the process yourself, you will want to know how to transfer a car and everything you need. In this case, you will have to collect the documentation needed to make the transfer and go to the Treasury and Traffic offices. In some communities it is possible to carry out this process by means of a digital certificate, through electronic means.

Documentation needed to transfer a car

If you want to know how to transfer a car, you must, first of all, gather the required documentation for it:

• Purchase contract. It must be duly signed by both the buyer and the seller. This can be written by oneself or be a downloaded model. It must include a series of fundamental data such as the full name, address and ID of the buyer and seller; vehicle registration number; frame number; brand; model; and the price. There should be three copies, one for each of the parties and a third for Traffic.
• Photocopies of identity documents. It will be necessary to present photocopies of the identity documents of both the buyer and the seller, together with the original DNI. If the original cannot be submitted, a certified copy must be submitted.
• Mandatory car documents. They must show you the vehicle’s circulation permit; and if the buyer wants to use the vehicle immediately, the current ITV must also be passed.
• Road tax. The last paid receipt must be presented in order to carry out the request to change ownership of the vehicle.
• Model 620 (or 621) of the Treasury. This is the model that must be completed for the transfer of assets. It must be filled in with the details of the buyer, the seller and the vehicle itself. Then it will be sealed in the Treasury and the corresponding payment will be made.

Instructions for transferring a car

To know how to transfer a car you have to follow a few steps, which are the following:

1. In the first place, we must go to the Treasury office of the buyer’s province, where Form 620 for the transfer of assets will be filled out and the payment of the Property Transfer Tax (ITP) will be made. In this way, the proof of payment will be stamped, which will then be needed in Traffic. To present the model, it will also be necessary to present the contract of sale of the car, and it must be stamped. In some autonomous communities this process can be carried out online, while in others there will be no choice but to go to one of their offices.
2. Once the above is done, you will have to request an appointment at the Traffic Headquarters. This process can be done electronically.
3. In order to carry out the transfer and, therefore, the change of ownership at the General Directorate of Traffic, the transfer fee or fee for changing ownership of the car must be paid, which can be paid online or in person.
4. Subsequently, all the documentation must be presented: Completed change of ownership application form; form 620 (or 621) stamped by the Treasury; sales contract sealed by the Treasury; proof of payment of the change of ownership of the car; vehicle documentation; Original ID and photocopy or certified photocopy of the identity documents of both the buyer and the seller.
5. Once all these documents have been submitted for the request to change ownership of the vehicle, the transfer will be completed. For this you will only have to wait about 30 minutes.

It should be remembered that whenever a vehicle is sold, the buyer is obliged to make the change of ownership of the vehicle at the General Directorate of Traffic; and for this it has a limitation, since it must be done in less than 30 days.

To make this request, you can use an agency, thus simplifying the entire process in exchange for an amount to be determined by it, or do it yourself. In the latter case, the process is more laborious, but you can save the money of having to hire an agency, although it also means investing time in carrying out the different procedures that are necessary to be able to carry out this transfer of the vehicle.