How do you bring a car to the Canary Islands?

By MotorCanarias team Last reviewed: 22 October 2026 5 min read

In short

The Canary Islands sit outside the EU VAT area, so bringing a car from mainland Spain or abroad counts as an import: you file a customs declaration (DUA), and IGIC on import and, in some cases, the ATC-managed registration tax may apply. Relocating residents may qualify for an exemption. Before shipping, compare the total cost with buying locally.

Why it counts as an import, even from Spain

The Canaries are part of Spain and the EU, but they have their own tax system and are outside the EU VAT area. Instead of VAT (IVA) there is IGIC, the Canary Islands general indirect tax, managed by the Agencia Tributaria Canaria (ATC).

So when a car arrives in the Canaries from mainland Spain, the Balearics or another country, it is treated as an import for tax purposes: it goes through customs at the port of arrival and has to be declared. That applies even if the car already has Spanish plates and you have owned it for years.

DUA, IGIC on import and registration tax

General information. Taxes, fees and amounts change and depend on each case. Always check the current figures with the official sources linked here or ask a gestoría (licensed paperwork agent).

The DUA

The DUA (Documento Único Administrativo) is the customs declaration used to import the car. It is lodged with the Spanish tax agency (Agencia Tributaria, customs) and is usually handled by a customs agent, who can also coordinate with the shipping. The car cannot leave the port until it has cleared customs.

IGIC on import

As a general rule, importing a vehicle is subject to IGIC, which is settled with the ATC. How it is calculated depends on the vehicle and its value; check the current information on the ATC website.

Registration tax

In the Canaries, the special tax on certain means of transport (the registration tax) is managed by the ATC. If the car is already registered in Spain, it was normally paid when the car was first registered; if the car comes from abroad and is being registered here, it may be due. Whether it applies depends on the vehicle and your circumstances.

Exemptions when you move here

If you are moving your residence to the Canaries, the import of your personal belongings, including your car, may be exempt. The exemption comes with conditions, for example having owned and used the car for a minimum period before the move, proving the change of residence and not selling the car for a period afterwards. Check the exact requirements with the ATC and the Agencia Tributaria before shipping, because the exemption is claimed as part of the import itself.

Step by step: bringing your car over

Check whether you qualify for the relocation exemption and gather the paperwork (padrón certificate, proof of leaving your previous address, purchase invoice or ownership documents).
Get shipping quotes, by passenger ferry or ro-ro cargo ship, from a mainland port to your destination island.
Arrange customs clearance (the DUA) through a customs agent, or do it yourself if you know the process.
Pay the IGIC on import to the ATC, or claim the exemption if you are entitled to it.
Collect the car from the port once it has cleared customs.
Spanish-plated car: tell the DGT your new address and update your insurance with it.
Foreign-plated car: pass the pre-registration ITV inspection, pay the registration tax if due and apply to the DGT for Spanish plates.
Road tax (IVTM): once the DGT has your new address, or registers the car, the town hall of your new address collects it. Ask the town hall whether it needs anything from you when a car is first registered.

Shipping and inter-island ferries

Your car has to come by sea, either on a passenger ferry that carries vehicles or on a ro-ro cargo ship. Get several quotes and ask whether the price includes customs handling, insurance in transit and delivery to the port on your island.

If you are moving to one of the smaller islands, the car may arrive in Gran Canaria or Tenerife first and then need an inter-island ferry. Bear in mind the islands are split into two provinces, Las Palmas (Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro), each with its own provincial traffic office; the DGT also has local offices on Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Palma.

Before the car is loaded, keep copies of the registration certificate (the V5C logbook for a UK car), the technical card and your ownership documents, as customs and the DGT will ask for them. Also ask your insurer whether your policy covers the car in transit and whether it needs updating once you change address.

UK and foreign-plated cars, and right-hand drive

If you bring a car from the UK or another country and become resident, you will need to register it in Spain on top of importing it. That means a pre-registration ITV inspection to check the vehicle meets Spanish rules, and type-approval paperwork (for example the manufacturer's certificate of conformity). Since Brexit the UK is outside the EU, so a car from the UK goes through customs in any case.

Right-hand-drive cars can be registered, but they may need adaptations for driving on the right, such as adjusting the headlights, and the ITV may check them. Ask an ITV station authorised by the Gobierno de Canarias before you ship the car.

Costs: who pays what

General information. Taxes, fees and amounts change and depend on each case. Always check the current figures with the official sources linked here or ask a gestoría (licensed paperwork agent).

Item	Who pays	Where it is paid or managed	Official source
Sea freight	The owner	Shipping line or freight forwarder	Get a quote first
Customs clearance (DUA)	The owner	Agencia Tributaria (customs), usually via a customs agent	Agencia Tributaria
IGIC on import (unless exempt)	The importer	ATC	Agencia Tributaria Canaria
Registration tax (if due)	The registered keeper	The relevant self-assessment on the ATC electronic office	Agencia Tributaria Canaria
Pre-registration ITV (foreign cars)	The owner	Authorised ITV station	Gobierno de Canarias
DGT registration or change-of-address fee (current amount on the DGT website)	The registered keeper	DGT	DGT
Annual road tax (IVTM)	The registered keeper	Town hall of your address	Your town hall

Is it simpler to buy a car here?

Bringing your own car makes sense if it is fairly new, you are attached to it and you qualify for the relocation exemption. Otherwise, add up shipping, customs, taxes and the weeks without a car, and compare that with the cost of an equivalent car on the islands. A left-hand-drive car bought locally is also easier to live with on Canarian roads.

The market page shows real used-car prices in the Canaries, so you can get an idea of what your current car is worth. If you decide to sell before moving and buy when you arrive, browse the cars for sale and read our guide to buying a car in the Canaries as a foreigner.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay tax to bring a car from mainland Spain to the Canaries?

Generally yes: it is treated as an import and IGIC on import may apply. If you are moving your residence to the Canaries and meet the conditions, you may be exempt.

What is a DUA?

It is the customs declaration used to import the car into the Canaries. It is lodged with the Agencia Tributaria and is usually handled by a customs agent.

Do I need new plates if my car is already Spanish?

No, Spanish plates stay the same. You do need to give the DGT your new address and pay road tax to your new town hall.

Can I bring my UK car to the Canary Islands?

Yes, but it is a customs import, and if you become resident you will need to register it in Spain after an ITV inspection. Right-hand-drive cars may need adaptations.

Is it cheaper to buy a car in the Canaries?

It depends on the car and on whether you qualify for an exemption. Compare the full cost of shipping and importing with real prices on the market page.

Official sources

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. We review it regularly; if you spot something out of date, let us know through the contact form.