• Present their NIE/NIF number
• Holding a residence card
• Present a title deed or a rental contract of a Spanish property
• Present a certificate of residence (certificado de empadronamiento) issued by the Town Hall where the foreigner is registered

If you buy a second-hand car in Spain, whether privately or from a car dealer, you should be provided with the following documents.

• The circulation permit (permiso de circulación) duly signed on the reverse of the document, together with the technical sheet of the car
• Receipt of the municipal vehicle tax. This is a municipal tax, you should keep this with you in your car
• ITV test certificate, when applicable. ITV is the inspection for vehicles older than 4 years to verify its condition

Check the vehicle history before buying any car, as the vehicle may have past debts and the creditor is entitled to use the car as an asset for seizure.

Either the seller or buyer, depending on what both parties agreed, shall apply for a new registration certificate, in order to transfer the ownership of the vehicle (notificación de transferencia de vehículos), obtainable from the provincial traffic department. Both parties must sign this document.

The buyer must pay:

• the transfer tax at the tax office at a rate of 4 percent of the car price
• The Traffic fees, when applying for the transfer of vehicle's ownership

Selling your car in Spain

If you are willing to sell your old car in Spain, make sure that the vehicle's transfer is completed into the new owner's name, otherwise you are still liable for any unpaid tax due on the car or any fine imposed to the new owner. In this case you may apply to the traffic department for de-registration (baja del vehículo) of your car already sold to avoid later consequences.