Bringing a car into Spain from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France or the mainland — and getting it onto Spanish (Mallorca) plates — is a well-defined process, but it has real paperwork and a few traps that catch out most first-timers. This guide walks through the whole thing: what "importing" actually means legally, which documents you need, what it costs, and how long a proper matriculación (registration) really takes.
Why import a car instead of buying one in Mallorca
Cars are frequently cheaper in Germany or on the Spanish mainland than in the Balearic Islands, and if you're relocating you may already own a car you'd rather keep than sell. Either way, once a foreign-plated vehicle is going to stay in Spain long-term (broadly, more than six months), Spanish law requires it to be registered on Spanish plates — driving around indefinitely on German or other foreign plates is not a legal grey area, it's simply not allowed once you're a resident. If you're weighing up the numbers, we break down exactly why buying in Germany usually works out cheaper — and gets you a better car.
Step 1 — Check the car actually qualifies
Most passenger cars registered anywhere in the EU/EEA qualify, but a few things can complicate or block registration in Spain: vehicles older than roughly 30 years follow a separate "historic vehicle" process, some US-spec or JDM imports need extra homologation, and cars that don't meet current Spanish/EU emissions categories can face restrictions in some municipalities. A quick document check before you buy — or before you ship — avoids expensive surprises.
Step 2 — Gather your documents
- Original vehicle registration certificate / title from the country of origin
- COC certificate (Certificate of Conformity) or the technical data sheet (ficha técnica)
- Purchase invoice or bill of sale
- Your NIE (foreigner ID number) and proof of address in Mallorca
- Valid Spanish or EU-recognised insurance for the vehicle
- Proof the car has passed a technical inspection (see the ITV section below)
If any of these are missing — a lost COC is the most common gap — they can usually be re-requested from the manufacturer or original registration authority, but it adds time, so it's worth checking early.
Step 3 — Pay the registration tax (Impuesto de Matriculación)
Spain charges a one-off registration tax based on the car's CO₂ emissions and value — this is separate from any import duty (which typically only applies to vehicles coming from outside the EU). For most EU imports, the registration tax is what dominates the final bill; low-emission cars can pay very little, while higher-emission vehicles pay significantly more. As a rough guide, all-in registration costs for a typical import to Mallorca land between €1,700 and €3,200, taxes included.
Step 4 — Pass the ITV inspection
Before Tráfico (the Spanish traffic authority) will issue Spanish plates, the car has to pass Spain's periodic technical inspection, the ITV — the same idea as the German TÜV or the Dutch APK keuring. For an import this is a one-off pre-registration ITV rather than the routine annual one. We cover exactly what's checked and how non-residents can get it done without flying over in our separate ITV guide.
Step 5 — Register with Tráfico and get your plates
With the tax paid and the ITV passed, the final step is filing the registration itself with Tráfico. Done correctly and with a complete file, this last step is fast — the delays people run into almost always trace back to Steps 2–4, not the filing itself.
How long does it actually take?
Handled by someone who does this daily, a full import-to-plates process fits comfortably under 45 days — about 6 weeks — from the moment your documents are complete. Handled without local help, or with an incomplete document set, it commonly stretches to 3–6 months, mostly spent waiting on missing paperwork or ITV appointment slots.
Can't collect the car yourself?
If you've bought a car in Germany or on the mainland but can't fly over to drive it back, it can be collected, driven or shipped to Mallorca on your behalf and delivered ready for registration — see our car transport service.
Want this handled end to end, with a fixed price agreed upfront? See our Express Car Registration service — documents checked in 24 hours, ITV and Tráfico handled for you, Spanish plates in hand in under 45 days.