American Imports

Importing Vehicles From The USA To Spain

Do you own a vehicle that was previously registered in the United States and want to register it in Spain?

We can assist you with the entire process.

To begin, it is very important that you provide us with as much detail as possible about the vehicle’s current status. With that information, we can determine whether the vehicle can legally be registered in Spain.

When a Vehicle Can Not Be Registered

There are several situations where a vehicle can’t be registered in Spain:

The vehicle has been heavily modified in ways that make it non-compliant with Spanish/EU technical standards.
The vehicle was first registered outside Europe before 2015 (older technical standards may not be accepted without special procedures). The only exception is when you import the car as part of your move to Spain (ask us for the specific requirements for that).

If the vehicle is over 30 years old it can sometimes be registered as a historic vehicle, which has a different set of requirements and exemptions. Each case is evaluated on its own merits.

What Happens After Eligibility Is Confirmed

Once we determine that the vehicle can be registered in Spain, we proceed to:

Cost Calculation

For vehicles with a last registration outside Europe, the following may apply:

Import duties and taxes (customs / VAT / registration tax)
Individual homologation costs
- Official inspection to ensure vehicle meets Spanish/EU technical standards

These costs depend on the vehicle’s value, engine, emissions, and technical specifications.

Why Pictures Are Important

Physical appearance matters for compliance. Examples include:

✔ Window tint levels
✔ Side markers
✔ Lighting (brake, indicator lights)
✔ Exterior accessories

For these reasons, we ask you to send clear photos of all 4 sides of the vehicle, showing condition and configuration.

We Manage the Entire Proces

Once you approve the estimated costs:

We take care of:

Customs clearance
Homologation procedures
DGT (Tráfico) registration
ITV (technical inspection)
Moving the vehicle where it needs to be

We use dealer registration plates to drive the car between:
✔ Homologation offices
✔ ITV stations
✔ Specialist garages
✔ Our own facility for adjustments

Common Adjustments Needed

Most imported vehicles require some modifications to meet Spanish/EU rules. Examples:

🔹 Rear Indicators

In the U.S., indicators are often red.
In the EU, rear indicators must be amber/orange.
On older vehicles, this can often be solved by a bulb change.
On modern vehicles with LEDs, a specialist modification is usually required.

We Have the Right Contacts

We work with experienced specialists and can perform small adjustments in-house when possible. Larger or more complex modifications are handled by trusted partners.

You don’t have to worry about navigating this yourself, we handle it from start to finish.

Summary

We check whether the vehicle can be registered in Spain
We calculate all import duties & homologation costs
We guide you through customs, ITV, and Tráfico steps
We coordinate necessary modifications
We support you every step of the way

Let’s Get Started

To begin the evaluation process, please send us the following so we can check whether your vehicle can be registered in Spain:

1️: Clear photos of all four sides of the vehicle
showing its overall condition and configuration.
2: A short video of the rear lights, including:
– indicators (each side for a few seconds)
– brake lights
– reverse lights
– fog light (if installed — most U.S. vehicles do not have one)
3:️ Clear scans of all vehicle paperwork you currently have.
4:️ A clear scan of your identification.

Please inform us whether you are currently a resident in Spain.

Once we receive this information, we can carry out an initial assessment and advise you on the next steps.

Vehicle Registration Eligibility Tool

Before you ship your vehicle, use our eligibility checker to understand whether it can legally be registered in Spain.

This interactive tool helps you identify potential blockers such as emissions restrictions, pre-2015 registration issues, modification risks, and EU lighting requirements. In just a few steps, you’ll receive an instant assessment and a summary you can send directly to our team for review.