Until the transfer is registered, the seller remains the owner on record in the Spanish DGT Vehicle Register. Fines are addressed to the owner on record, and so is the municipal road tax. So the problem is not the buyer's: it is yours until you solve it.
Who has to do what
Apply for the change of ownership within 30 days
After signing the contract, the buyer must apply for the transfer into their name within 30 days, paying the DGT fee (€55.70 in 2026) and the applicable tax.
Notify the sale to the DGT
The seller must notify the DGT of the sale as soon as it happens. With that notice, and the sale contract with the buyer's details, you are exempt from any fines incurred with the vehicle even if the change of ownership has not yet been completed.
If you already sold and the buyer has done nothing
Notify the sale now
If you did not do it at the time, do it now. You need the signed sale contract, dated, with the full details of the buyer and the vehicle. The sooner the sale is on record, the sooner you stop answering for what the new driver does.
Gather the evidence
Contract, proof of payment (a bank transfer is better than cash), messages with the buyer and, if you have it, the date and time of handover. If a fine arrives dated after the sale, this evidence identifies the actual driver.
Demand in writing that the buyer acts
A burofax asking the buyer to complete the transfer by a specific date proves you tried. If they do not respond, the contract allows you to claim back whatever you had to pay because of them.
The town hall charges road tax to whoever is the owner on record on 1 January. If the buyer never transfers the car, the bill may reach you even though you no longer have it. That is why the notice of sale and the contract are not a minor formality: they are your defence.
How to avoid it next time
The safest approach is not to hand over the car until the transfer has been filed, or to do it together on the same day through a gestor. If that is not possible, notify the DGT of the sale before the car leaves your garage and keep a copy of the contract. We explain it step by step in transferring a car between private individuals.
How we handle it at Equus Capital
Our traffic gestoría notifies the DGT of the sale, files the transfer on the buyer's behalf if needed and, when fines have already arrived, prepares the appeals with the sale documents so they go to the right person. You do not have to visit the traffic office.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I sell my car and the buyer does not transfer it?
You will remain the owner on record at the DGT, so fines and road tax may reach you. To protect yourself, notify the DGT of the sale and keep the sale contract.
How long does the buyer have to transfer the car?
30 days from signing the sale contract, according to the DGT.
Does the notice of sale protect me from fines?
Yes. With the notice of sale you are exempt from fines incurred with the vehicle after the sale, even if the buyer has not yet completed the transfer.
Can I be charged road tax for a car I already sold?
Yes, if you are still the owner on record on 1 January. That is why the transfer should be completed as soon as possible and the contract kept to claim from the buyer.
What do I do if a fine arrives dated after the sale?
File an appeal identifying the buyer as the driver, providing the sale contract and, if you made it, the notice of sale.