Buying and selling cars, traffic fines and car insurance in Spain
A used car sold between private individuals in Spain needs a sale contract; Spain's traffic authority (DGT) publishes a free standard one. Afterwards, the buyer pays the transfer tax in their region and applies to the DGT for the change of keeper within 30 days, and the seller notifies the sale within ten (art. 32 of the Spanish General Vehicle Regulation). Between private individuals the legal guarantee given by a trader does not apply: the Civil Code's rules on hidden defects apply, with six months from handover to claim.
A traffic fine can be paid with a 50 % discount or challenged with objections within 20 calendar days; against the penalty there is an appeal for reconsideration within one month (arts. 94 to 96 of the Spanish Traffic Act). Council fines for parking, pay-and-display zones or low-emission zones follow the same rules before the town hall (appeal against a council fine). If someone else was driving, the keeper has 20 calendar days to name the driver; the DGT and many town halls offer these steps free online.
Anyone lending a car can record it with an authorisation for another driver, which no law requires. An accident is reported to the insurer within seven days (art. 16 of the Spanish Insurance Contract Act), and the damage claim sent by burofax includes the attempt to negotiate that Spanish Organic Law 1/2025 requires before court. The documents are in Spanish, are up to date as at 19 October 2026 and are not official documents: DocMuse is a private paid service.
The documents
6 forms available to fill out or download.
Objection and appeal against a traffic fine (Spain)
This step is free on the online office of Spain's traffic authority (DGT); you do not need DocMuse for it. For anyone who has received a traffic fine in Spain from the DGT, a town hall, Catalonia's traffic service or the Basque Government and disagrees: objections (alegaciones) to the fine notice within 20 calendar days, or an appeal for reconsideration against the penalty within one month (arts. 95 and 96 of the Spanish Traffic Act). Paying with the 50 % discount within those 20 days closes the case and gives up the objection. Filed with the body that fined you, online, at a registry or a post office; companies must file online. In Spanish.
Appeal against a parking, pay-and-display or low-emission-zone fine (Spain)
This step is free on your Spanish town hall's online office; you do not need DocMuse for it. For anyone who has received a council fine in Spain for parking, for the regulated parking zone (ORA, blue zone) or for entering a low-emission zone, and disagrees: objections to the notice within 20 calendar days, or an appeal for reconsideration against the penalty within one month, with the ground and the evidence (arts. 95 and 96 of the Spanish Traffic Act). Paying with the 50 % discount closes the case. Filed at a registry office, a post office or the town hall's online office; companies must file online. In Spanish.
Statement naming the driver of a fined vehicle (Spain)
This step is free on the online office of Spain's traffic authority (DGT) and of many town halls; you do not need DocMuse for it. For the registered keeper of a vehicle who receives a fine for something another person did and a request to name the driver: the statement with the driver's details and licence, within 20 calendar days (art. 11.1.a of the Spanish Traffic Act). Not naming the driver is a very serious offence. Filed with the body that asks, at a registry office or a post office; companies file online. In Spanish.
Accident notice and damage claim to a car insurer (Spain)
For anyone who has had a road accident in Spain with damage to their vehicle: the letter to their own insurer or to the other vehicle's insurer that reports the accident, describes the damage to property, claims the amount and invites a settlement before court, as Spanish Organic Law 1/2025 requires. The policyholder must report the accident within seven days (art. 16 of the Spanish Insurance Contract Act). Sent by burofax with certified content. Not for personal injury claims. In Spanish.
Authorisation for another driver to use a vehicle (Spain)
For the registered keeper of a car or motorbike who lends it to someone else in Spain, for a few days or a set period: the authorisation signed by both, with the details of the vehicle, the insurance and the driver, the dates and the permitted use. It serves as proof with the police, the insurer or on a trip, and for naming the driver if a fine arrives (art. 11.1.a of the Spanish Traffic Act). No Spanish law requires this document to lend a vehicle. In Spanish.
Private sale contract for a used vehicle (Spain)
For two private individuals selling and buying a used car or motorbike in Spain: the contract with the vehicle's details, the price in words and figures, the date and time of handover, the roadworthiness test (ITV), known defects, charges and the steps with Spain's traffic authority (DGT). The buyer applies for the change of keeper within 30 days and pays the transfer tax (ITP) in their region; the seller notifies the DGT of the sale. Signed in duplicate, on every page, one copy each. In Spanish.
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