You can take your car to Spain by driving it yourself, having it transported on a car carrier, or moving it by train via the car train. For most people moving internationally to Spain, driving yourself is the simplest choice, but a professional car transporter offers more comfort and less wear and tear over long distances. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about taking your car when moving to Spain.

What options are there to transport your car to Spain?

There are three common ways to transport your car to Spain: driving yourself, using a car transport company, or shipping the car via a specialised service. The best choice depends on the distance, the condition of your car, your budget, and how much inconvenience you are willing to accept.

Driving yourself

The most obvious option is simply to drive the car to Spain yourself. From the Netherlands to, for example, Malaga, that is roughly 2,200 kilometres, which amounts to a driving time of approximately 20 to 22 hours. You can comfortably cover the journey in two days via France. The advantage is that you incur no additional transport costs, but you do pay for fuel, toll charges, and possibly an overnight stay along the way.

Using a car transport company

A car transport company carries your car on a special low-loader or enclosed trailer, while you travel by plane or together with the moving van. This is ideal if the car has high mileage, if you do not want to drive, or if you want to move multiple vehicles. Enclosed transport offers extra protection against weather conditions and stone chips; open transport is cheaper but leaves the car exposed to the elements.

Car train

Via the car train you can take your car on certain international train routes, although direct connections from the Netherlands to Spain are limited. You could then use a car sleeper train from Paris or another French city heading south. This is a comfortable but relatively expensive option that is not available for all destinations.

What does it cost to take your car to Spain?

The costs of transporting a car to Spain vary greatly depending on the method. Driving yourself costs roughly 200 to 400 euros in fuel and tolls for the Netherlands–Malaga route. A professional car transport company typically charges between 500 and 1,500 euros, depending on the type of transport, the distance, and the size of the vehicle.

When calculating the total costs, also take into account additional items that can add up quickly:

Toll charges in France and Spain (easily 80 to 150 euros per trip)
Fuel costs when driving yourself
Accommodation costs along the way
Insurance during transport (see below)
Any import tax or registration costs in Spain

Also keep in mind that some employers reimburse relocation costs, including car transport. If you are moving with an employer’s budget, it is worth checking whether car transport is covered under the relocation package.

What documents do you need to import your car into Spain?

To import your car into Spain, you need at minimum your vehicle registration document, a valid identity document or passport, and proof of insurance. If you are officially emigrating and wish to permanently import the car, additional documents are required, such as proof of registration in the Spanish municipality (empadronamiento) and a proof of purchase or valuation report for the vehicle.

When moving as an EU citizen from the Netherlands to Spain, there are no customs formalities for importing goods for personal use, including your car. In principle, you do not need to pay import duties if you have owned the car for more than six months and can demonstrate that you are permanently emigrating. Nevertheless, it is advisable to have the following documents to hand:

Dutch vehicle registration document (part I and part II)
Passport or identity card
Proof of insurance (minimum third-party liability cover valid in Spain)
Proof of purchase or proof of ownership of the car
Proof of emigration or registration in Spain (for permanent import)

We always advise preparing this kind of documentation well in advance. Our own car import service helps you get the right paperwork in order, so that upon arrival in Spain you do not run into any problems.

Do you need to re-register your car with a Spanish licence plate?

Yes, if you settle permanently in Spain, you are required to re-register your car with a Spanish licence plate. Spanish law stipulates that you do this as soon as you have officially registered as a resident, which in practice means that after obtaining your NIE number (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) and your empadronamiento, you must proceed with the re-registration.

The re-registration is processed through the Spanish traffic authority (DGT) and requires, among other things, a technical inspection (ITV, comparable to the Dutch MOT), proof of payment of the registration tax, and the previously mentioned documents. The costs for re-registration vary, but expect a few hundred euros in fees and any inspection costs. In some regions, such as Andalusia, specific local taxes apply that affect the total costs.

If you are only temporarily in Spain, for example as an expat for a period of less than six months per year, you do not necessarily need to re-register the car. But with permanent residence, re-registration is not a choice but an obligation.

How do you insure your car during transport to Spain?

During transport to Spain, your car is generally covered by the transport insurance of the car transport company, but this coverage is often limited to damage that demonstrably occurred during transport. It is advisable to check in advance exactly what the policy covers and whether additional insurance is needed.

If you drive yourself, your existing car insurance is in most cases valid throughout Europe, including Spain. Do check whether your green card is current and whether your insurance also provides comprehensive cover abroad. Not all Dutch insurers offer standard comprehensive cover outside the Netherlands.

When engaging a professional transporter, the following points deserve attention:

Request a detailed overview of the transport insurance
Document the condition of the car before departure with photos and a written report
Check whether the transporter is liable in the event of their own fault
Consider additional all-risk transport insurance for valuable or classic cars

After arriving in Spain, you must convert your Dutch car insurance to a Spanish policy as soon as you re-register the car. A Dutch insurance policy generally does not cover a vehicle with a Spanish licence plate.

Is it smart to take your car with you or buy a new one locally?

Whether it is wise to take your car to Spain or buy one locally depends on the age and value of your current car, the costs of transport and re-registration, and the car market in Spain. For a relatively new car with a good value, taking it along is in most cases financially more advantageous. For an older car with high mileage, buying locally may be more attractive.

Considerations for taking your current car:

You know the maintenance history and condition of your own car
Re-registration costs are a one-off and straightforward
You drive a familiar vehicle immediately upon arrival
Transport costs are manageable, especially if you drive yourself

Considerations for buying locally in Spain:

You avoid transport and re-registration costs
You immediately choose a car suited to the Spanish climate and local roads
The second-hand market in Spain is large and diverse, especially in regions such as Andalusia
But: you have less certainty about the maintenance history of an unknown car

For many people planning an international move, taking the car is the most practical choice, especially when the move is reimbursed by an employer. In our daily practice we see that clients making the move to Spain often take the car as part of the overall relocation, together with their household goods. This way, upon arrival you do not immediately need to look for transport and can focus fully on settling into your new environment.

With more than 100 years of experience and our own office in Malaga, we also manage the international relocation of your household goods from start to finish, so that you can focus on what really matters: a great start in Spain.

Veelgestelde vragen

Hoe lang van tevoren moet ik beginnen met de voorbereiding van het autotransport naar Spanje?

Het is verstandig om minimaal vier tot zes weken voor je verhuisdatum te beginnen met de voorbereiding. Zo heb je voldoende tijd om offertes van autotransporteurs te vergelijken, de benodigde documenten te verzamelen en je verzekering te regelen. Bij een definitieve emigratie komen daar ook zaken bij zoals het aanvragen van je NIE-nummer en het regelen van je inschrijving in Spanje, wat extra tijd kost.

Wat zijn de meest gemaakte fouten bij het zelf rijden naar Spanje?

Een veelgemaakte fout is onderschatten hoeveel de tolgelden in Frankrijk en Spanje oplopen — reken op 80 tot 150 euro alleen al voor de tol. Verder vergeten veel mensen te controleren of hun groene kaart geldig en actueel is, of nemen ze te weinig pauzes op een lange rit van meer dan 20 uur. Zorg ook dat je auto technisch in orde is vóór vertrek: een pech onderweg in het buitenland is kostbaar en stressvol.

Kan ik mijn auto tijdelijk op Nederlands kenteken in Spanje blijven rijden als ik nog niet zeker weet of ik definitief blijf?

Als EU-burger mag je je auto op Nederlands kenteken in Spanje gebruiken zolang je er niet officieel als inwoner bent ingeschreven. Zodra je je inschrijft bij de gemeente (empadronamiento) en een Spaanse verblijfsstatus aanvraagt, begint de verplichting tot omregistratie te lopen. Blijf je korter dan zes maanden per jaar in Spanje, dan is omregistratie doorgaans niet verplicht, maar bij twijfel is het verstandig juridisch advies in te winnen.

Hoe werkt de ITV-keuring in Spanje en verschilt die veel van de Nederlandse APK?

De ITV (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) is de Spaanse equivalent van de Nederlandse APK en controleert de technische staat van je voertuig op vergelijkbare punten, zoals remmen, verlichting en uitstoot. Het grote verschil is dat de ITV-frequentie afhangt van de leeftijd van je auto: nieuwe auto’s worden na vier jaar gekeurd, daarna elke twee jaar, en auto’s ouder dan tien jaar jaarlijks. Een auto die in Nederland door de APK is gekomen, zal de ITV doorgaans ook doorstaan, maar kleine aanpassingen kunnen soms nodig zijn.

Wat gebeurt er met mijn Nederlandse autoverzekering als ik definitief naar Spanje verhuis?

Zodra je je auto omregistreert naar een Spaans kenteken, is je Nederlandse autoverzekering niet langer geldig en ben je verplicht een Spaanse verzekering af te sluiten. Informeer je Nederlandse verzekeraar tijdig over je verhuizing, zodat je de polis correct kunt beëindigen en eventueel een schadevrij-verklaring (No Claims-bewijs) kunt meekrijgen. Dit bewijs kun je in Spanje gebruiken om korting te krijgen op je nieuwe Spaanse autoverzekering.

Is het mogelijk om een camper of motorfiets op dezelfde manier naar Spanje te vervoeren als een personenauto?

Ja, autotransporteurs vervoeren naast personenauto’s ook motorfietsen, campers, oldtimers en bestelwagens, maar de kosten en logistiek verschillen. Een camper of grote bestelwagen vereist vaak speciaal transport en is duurder dan een standaard personenauto. Voor motorfietsen zijn er ook gespecialiseerde motortransporteurs die vaker rijden en soms goedkopere tarieven bieden dan een algemene autotransporteur.

Zijn er specifieke regels voor het rijden met een aanhanger of dakkoffer op de rit naar Spanje?

In zowel Frankrijk als Spanje gelden specifieke regels voor het rijden met een aanhanger, zoals lagere maximumsnelheden (doorgaans 90 km/u op snelwegen met aanhanger in Spanje) en verplichte veiligheidsmiddelen zoals reflecterende vesten en gevarendriehoeken. Een dakkoffer is toegestaan, maar controleer of het gewicht en de afmetingen binnen de limieten van je auto vallen en of je verzekering dit dekt. Vergeet ook niet dat tolgelden in sommige gevallen hoger uitvallen als je met een aanhanger rijdt.

How do you transport your car when moving to Spain?