Which document is which
| Document | What it shows or records |
|---|---|
| Vehicle registration certificate (permiso de circulación) | Gives the vehicle authorisation to use the road and connects its identifying details with its registered keeper. |
| ITV card (tarjeta ITV or ficha técnica) | Sets out the vehicle's technical characteristics and records the inspections it has undergone. |
| Proof of compulsory insurance | Shows that the vehicle has compulsory insurance cover. It serves a different purpose from the registration certificate and ITV card. |
Which certificate details to check
Look for the registration plate, make and model, then the intended service, seating capacity including the driver, maximum authorised mass and power-to-weight ratio. The keeper's details and first registration date also appear. That first registration date provides the starting point for the periodic ITV timetable. When reading the certificate, distinguish the vehicle details from the information about its keeper.
Change of keeper: each party's responsibilities
Seller: notify the transfer
When you sell the vehicle, notify the Traffic Office of the transfer. You must do this within 10 days of the sale.
Buyer: apply for renewal
When you buy the vehicle, apply to renew its registration certificate within 30 days of acquiring it. Your application is a separate obligation from the seller's notification.
Keep the vehicle off the road until renewal
A change of keeper requires a renewed certificate. Until it is renewed, the vehicle cannot legally be driven; the application deadline is not permission to use it on the road.
If an officer requests the documents
An officer can ask to see the certificate and may withdraw it following a serious offence or driving without passing the ITV. Carrying it does not replace the other vehicle documents. For information about the issuing authority, see the Traffic Offices guide.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a vehicle registration certificate (permiso de circulación)?
- It is the vehicle's document authorising road use, issued by the Provincial Traffic Office. It identifies the vehicle alongside its registered keeper.
- How does the vehicle registration certificate (permiso de circulación) differ from a driving licence?
- Registration concerns the vehicle; a driving licence concerns the driver. Having the vehicle's paperwork does not replace the licence of the person driving it.
- When must the vehicle registration certificate (permiso de circulación) be renewed?
- It needs renewal when the vehicle changes keeper. Following a sale, the seller notifies the transfer and the buyer applies for renewal, within the separate deadlines explained above.
- Which documents must you carry in the car?
- Carry the vehicle's registration certificate, ITV card and evidence of compulsory insurance cover. The driver must also carry their own driving licence alongside the vehicle documents.
- Do trailers need a vehicle registration certificate (permiso de circulación)?
- Trailers and semi-trailers with a maximum authorised mass above 750 kg require a certificate. They also carry their own ITV card and compulsory insurance policy.