What it costs to import a car from Germany to Spain in 2026
Short answer: on top of the car’s price in Germany you pay three blocks: transport to Spain (€1,300 as a reference), Spanish taxes and fees (registration tax based on CO₂, the town's annual road tax and a €99.77 traffic fee) and the turnkey service (€1,400 + VAT, i.e. €1,694). On two real cars from an October 2026 search, everything on top of the car’s price came to €3,126.14 and €3,545.73 (estimated).
Turnkey price breakdown
| Item | Amount | How it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| The car | Advertised price | Directly to the seller in Germany |
| Transport from Germany + insurance | €1,300 reference (VAT included) | Confirmed for each car before you reserve |
| Registration tax (IEDMT) | €0 up to 120 g/km of CO₂; above that, see the table below | At cost, separately |
| Road tax (IVTM), first year | Depends on the town and the fiscal horsepower; pro-rated by quarter | At cost, separately |
| Traffic fee | €99.77 | At cost, separately |
| Turnkey service | €1,400 + VAT = €1,694 | Fixed price, green plates included |
| Spanish VAT on the car | €0 on a used car; 21% only if it counts as new | See "VAT or customs?" |
Registration tax: the line that varies most
It does not depend on what you pay for the car. It depends on two things: the car’s type-approved CO₂ emissions (WLTP) and its fiscal value, which starts from the official average price of the model when new and falls with age. That is why an expensive older car can pay little, and a cheap recent one quite a lot.
| Type-approved CO₂ | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to 120 g/km | 0% |
| Over 120 and under 160 g/km | 4.75% |
| 160 to under 200 g/km | 9.75% |
| 200 g/km or more (registered resident in the Valencian Community) | 16% |
One gram matters: at 199 g/km the car is taxed at 9.75%; at 200 g/km, at 16%. Each region sets the top-band rate, so outside the Valencian Community it may differ.
Three real cases
Cars from an October 2026 search, with no client data. Road tax is for Torrevieja, first year pro-rated.
| Item | Toyota RAV4 2.5 Hybrid AWD, 2018 · 118 g/km | Mercedes ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC, 2013, diesel · 194 g/km |
|---|---|---|
| Car (price in Germany) | €13,490.00 | €16,900.00 |
| Transport + insurance | €1,300.00 | €1,300.00 |
| Registration tax | €0.00 | €411.63 |
| Road tax, first year | €32.37 | €40.33 |
| Traffic fee | €99.77 | €99.77 |
| Service €1,400 + VAT | €1,694.00 | €1,694.00 |
| Turnkey total (estimate) | €16,616.14 | €20,445.73 |
The RAV4 hybrid pays no registration tax because it emits less than 120 g/km. The diesel, at 194 g/km, is taxed at 9.75% yet pays only €411.63: being more than twelve years old, its fiscal value is 10% of the model's average price when new.
Third case, a recent car: a Volkswagen T-Roc R between one and two years old, 199 g/km. Fiscal value: €47,200 × 84% = €39,648. Registration tax: €2,956.54, the same figure, to the cent, that was actually assessed on the file.
The first two totals are estimates made before seeing the car’s papers: CO₂ comes from the official IDAE consumption guide, and the final figure comes from the car’s technical documents.
VAT or customs?
No customs. Germany is in the European Union: there is no customs clearance and no import duty.
Spanish VAT only if the car counts as new. A private buyer of a used car in Germany does not pay VAT again in Spain. The 21% is paid here when the car is less than six months from its first registration or has done no more than 6,000 km. Watch out for nearly-new cars.
Service price for your situation
| Your situation | Service | Green plates |
|---|---|---|
| The car is already in Spain, or you bring it yourself | €900 + VAT | Optional, on request |
| We find it, check it, negotiate with the seller and bring it | €1,400 + VAT | Included |
| The same, plus an independent inspection of the car in Germany before you buy | €1,750 + VAT | Included |
| Only the ITV inspection of a car already on Spanish plates | €125 + the station's fee | — |
In every case transport and taxes are separate, at cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to import a car from Germany to Spain?
On top of the car itself: transport (€1,300 as a reference), registration tax based on CO₂ (€0 up to 120 g/km), the town’s road tax, a €99.77 traffic fee and the turnkey service at €1,400 + VAT. For a 2018 Toyota RAV4 hybrid listed at €13,490, the estimated turnkey total was €16,616.14.
How much is the registration tax on a car brought from Germany?
It depends on CO₂ and on the model’s fiscal value by age: 0% up to 120 g/km, 4.75% under 160, 9.75% under 200 and, for residents registered in the Valencian Community, 16% from 200 g/km. A 2013 diesel at 194 g/km comes to €411.63 (estimate); a T-Roc R between one and two years old at 199 g/km was assessed at €2,956.54.
Do I pay Spanish VAT on a used car bought in Germany?
If you are a private buyer and the car is used, no. The 21% VAT is paid in Spain only if the car counts as new: less than six months from its first registration or no more than 6,000 km.
Are there customs or import duties on a car from Germany?
No. Germany is in the European Union, so there is no customs clearance and no import duty.
What does the €1,400 service include?
Finding the car, checking it, negotiating with the seller, arranging transport and handing it over registered in Spain, with green plates included. It is €1,400 + VAT (€1,694); transport and taxes are separate, at cost.
What if the car is already in Spain?
Then the service is €900 + VAT. Green plates are optional and added only if you ask for them. Taxes are paid separately, at cost.
Send us the link to the listing and we will send back this same table with that car’s figures. You can also try the calculator.
Official sources
Checked on 17 Oct 2026 (all in Spanish):
- Fiscal value of each model: Orden HAC/1501/2025, average sale prices (BOE)
- Registration tax rates: Ley 38/1992 on Excise Duties (BOE); Valencian Community rate: Ley 13/1997 (BOE)
- When a car counts as new for VAT: Ley 37/1992 on VAT (BOE)
- Road tax base rates: Local Finance Act (BOE)
- Type-approved CO₂ by model: IDAE consumption and emissions guide
Guidance only, checked on 17 Oct 2026. Not tax advice: the final amount of each tax depends on the documents of the specific car.
→ Is it worth buying a car in Germany? When yes and when no
→ How much an agent charges to import a car from Germany to Spain
→ How the Spanish registration tax (IEDMT) is calculated
→ What registering an imported car in Spain costs, line by line
Three ways to reach us
We answer during business hours, Monday to Friday, 9:00–18:00.
ITV Costa Blanca · Import Trade Vehicles Costa Blanca · sole trader · C/ Sant Josep, 16, 03700 Dénia (Alicante) · Service terms