Importing a car from Germany to Tenerife: steps, taxes and costs

Why there is a customs step even though the car comes from the EU

The Canary Islands are inside the EU customs territory but outside the EU VAT area. So a car from Germany pays no duty, but on arrival you must file a declaration of introduction and pay IGIC, the Canary tax that replaces VAT. The declaration goes through VEXCAN, the joint single window of the Spanish Tax Agency and the Canary government.

Then comes the traffic side: the car passes the ITV inspection, Spanish registration tax (IEDMT) is settled and the car is registered with the DGT on Spanish plates.

Shipping: ferry from Huelva or Cádiz, or container

• Road and ferry: the car is driven or carried on a transporter to Huelva or Cádiz and loaded onto a ro-ro ferry. The Huelva–Santa Cruz de Tenerife crossing takes around 32–38 hours.
• Container: from the big northern European ports (Hamburg, Rotterdam or Antwerp) – handy if the car travels with your household goods.

Shipping costs depend on the route, the size of the car and the season. We suggest the option that suits your case.

Step by step

1. Enquiry: send us the car’s details (make, model, year, engine size, CO₂) and departure city on WhatsApp.
2. Paperwork check: we review the documents and whether transfer-of-residence relief applies.
3. Shipping: we coordinate road and ferry, or a container.
4. Declaration and IGIC: on arrival we file the declaration; IGIC is paid or relief is claimed.
5. ITV: the car is inspected in Tenerife and gets its Spanish technical card.
6. Registration tax: IEDMT is paid according to CO₂ emissions, or relief is claimed.
7. DGT registration: €99.77 fee, Spanish plates and local road tax with your town hall.

Documents you need

• German registration certificate, parts I and II (Zulassungsbescheinigung), originals.
• Invoice or purchase contract and a statement of the car’s value.
• European Certificate of Conformity (CoC), if you have it – it makes the ITV easier.
• Passport or ID card and your NIE if you have one.
• Ferry ticket or transport document showing the arrival date.
• For relief: registration on the town hall’s census in the Canaries (empadronamiento) and proof of your previous residence.

What determines the cost

• IGIC: 0% for electric cars and electric hybrids up to 110 g/km CO₂ (WLTP); 9.5% up to 11 Spanish fiscal horsepower; 15% above.
• Registration tax in the Canaries: 0% up to 120 g/km CO₂; 3.75%, 8.75% or 13.75% above.
• Shipping: route, car size and season.
• ITV, plates and DGT fee (€99.77).
• Our fees: depend on the job – we confirm them in your quote.

Estimate the taxes with our car import cost calculator.

Moving to Tenerife: transfer-of-residence relief

If you move your main residence to the Canaries, your car can come in free of IGIC. As a rule you must have used it for a minimum period at your old home before moving (the rules refer to 6 months), have lived there at least 185 days per calendar year, bring it within 12 months of moving and not sell, lend or hire it out for the following 12 months. You also need to be on the town hall census.

Registration tax has its own relief for people moving from abroad: at least 12 consecutive months’ residence outside Spain, the car bought with normal taxes paid in the country of origin, used there for at least 6 months, registration applied for on time and no sale within 12 months. We check your case before the car sets off.

Timeframe

The ferry from Huelva takes around 32–38 hours, plus the drive to the port, clearance and the ITV appointment. We give you a realistic schedule once we know your case. If you already live in Spain, Spanish registration must be applied for within 30 days of starting to use the car here (60 days if transfer-of-residence relief applies).

Common mistakes

• Assuming nothing is needed within the EU: the declaration and IGIC are compulsory.
• Buying the car VAT-free for export and then expecting registration-tax relief, which requires normal taxation in the country of origin.
• No proof of CO₂: without an official figure the top registration-tax rate (13.75%) applies.
• Selling within 12 months after using relief.