More than 160 vehicles in the Balearic Islands have been fined for unregulated registration. Spanish authorities are stepping up checks on foreign-registered vehicles traveling in Spain without meeting the required tax and administrative requirements.
As part of a recent operation called Filtrocar, the Guardia Civil and the Customs Surveillance Service inspected over 1,000 vehicles in the Balearic Islands and fined 166 of them for failing to convert to Spanish license plates despite being resident in Spain.
If you are a resident of Spain or run a business here and use your vehicle with foreign license plates on Spanish roads for more than 30 consecutive days, you are legally required to register it locally. This applies regardless of whether you are from another EU country or a third country.
Ignoring this rule can result in significant penalties—including fines of between 50% and 150% of the tax owed. In some cases, your vehicle may even be impounded.
Why is this necessary?
The switch to Spanish license plates is not just a bureaucratic step; it also has implications for taxation, customs compliance, and road safety. Spanish residents are legally obligated to pay the relevant taxes, properly register their vehicle, and ensure all documents and insurance are up to date.
Initiatives like Filtrocar aim to combat fraud and ensure that all vehicles on Spanish roads comply with applicable regulations.
What is the process?
- Go to an ITV (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) station for a technical inspection.
- Pay the registration and vehicle tax.
- Register the vehicle with the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico), which issues Spanish license plates.
- Take out insurance valid in Spain.
