The Spanish Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has provided useful guidelines for owners of vehicles registered in the United Kingdom who wish to register their vehicles in Spain.
Background:
On February 1, 2020, the United Kingdom officially withdrew from the European Union, becoming a “third country.” The Withdrawal Agreement included a transitional period that ended on December 31, 2020. After this date, EU customs and VAT regulations no longer apply to the UK, except for Northern Ireland, where they continue to do so.
Required Documents for Vehicle Registration (excluding Northern Ireland):
In addition to those listed in Annex XIII of the General Vehicle Regulations, the following documents are necessary:
- For new vehicles imported before January 1, 2021:
No DUA (Declaration of Union Customs) is required.
- For new vehicles imported after January 1, 2021:
DUA is required.
- For vehicles registered in the UK before January 1, 2021:
If proof of entry into the EU customs territory before that date is provided, the vehicle maintains its EU status, and no customs declaration is needed. A certification may still be required.
- If EU status cannot be proven:
The DUA must be presented.
- For vehicles registered in the UK after January 1, 2021:
Either a DUA or customs certification of EU status is required. This requirement is not applicable for vehicles registered in Northern Ireland if the V5C registration document shows a Northern Irish address.
