Index
The used car market in Bilbao
Bilbao's LEZ: current status and what it means for your sale
ITP in Bizkaia: how much the buyer pays
Options to sell your car in Bilbao
Selling on portals from Bilbao: what to expect
Dealerships and second-hand car dealers in Bilbao
Dealcar: receive offers from dealerships all over Spain from Bilbao
Specific procedures in Bilbao
FAQs
The used car market in Bilbao
Bilbao is a city with an active vehicle fleet and a constant demand for used cars. Its status as the capital of the most populated metropolitan area in the Basque Country makes it a market with quite a lot of activity, from both local buyers and individuals from surrounding municipalities: Barakaldo, Getxo, Basauri, Portugalete.
The profile of the Bilbao buyer tends to favor compact cars and city cars, although SUVs have gained market share in recent years just like in the rest of Spain. The proximity to the industrial north and the topography of the area mean that diesels still have a market, although the pressure of the LEZ is progressively changing buying preferences.
A relevant factor for sellers: Bilbao has heavy road traffic on working days, meaning that buyers increasingly value the vehicle's environmental label before closing a deal. If your car has a C, ECO, or zero-emissions label, you are in a better position than if it has a B label or no sticker at all.
If you have doubts about how the label affects the price, the first step is to know precisely how much your car is worth in the current market.
Bilbao's LEZ: current status and what it means for your sale
The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) of Bilbao entered into force on June 15, 2024, and covers the neighborhoods of Abando and Indautxu, bounded by Autonomía, Sabino Arana, Bailén streets, Ferrocarril Avenue, and San Francisco. Control is carried out using automatic license plate readers, without the need to carry the sticker on the windshield.
The restriction hours are Monday to Friday from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on working days. There are no restrictions on weekends and public holidays.
The full sanctioning regime started in January 2025. The fine for accessing the LEZ with an unauthorized vehicle is 200 euros.
Regarding which vehicles can circulate:
Vehicles with 0, ECO, and C labels have free access. Vehicles with a B label can only access under specific exceptions: residents registered in the LEZ before June 15, 2024, special transport vehicles, people with reduced mobility, and some specific professional uses. Vehicles without a label (the oldest ones, generally pre-2001 for petrol or pre-2006 for diesel) are banned from accessing except for exceptions similar to those mentioned above.
What this means for the sale of your car: if you have a vehicle with a B label or without a label and the potential buyer lives or works in the affected area, the market value of your car suffers. This is not a reason not to sell it, but it is advisable to adjust price expectations and be transparent with interested parties from the very first moment.
ITP in Bizkaia: how much the buyer pays
The ITP (Property Transfer Tax) in the Basque Country, including Bizkaia where Bilbao is located, has a general rate of 4% on the fiscal value of the vehicle. This tax is always paid by the buyer, not the seller, but it is useful to know as it influences how much the person buying your car is willing to pay.
The Basque Country has its own regional tax system, so the management of the ITP does not go to the state Tax Agency but rather to the Provincial Council of Bizkaia. The form to be submitted is 620 or 621, and the maximum period to pay it is one month from the signature of the purchase agreement.
To give you an idea of the real cost: if the fiscal value of your car is 10,000 euros, the buyer will pay 400 euros of ITP. If it is 15,000 euros, they will pay 600 euros. This is useful data for anticipating objections during negotiation.
Options to sell your car in Bilbao
You have four main routes, each with clear advantages and disadvantages.
Classifieds portals. Wallapop, Coches.net, Milanuncios, or AutoScout24 allow you to publish the car and reach private buyers willing to pay the real market price. The process involves managing contacts, visits, test drives, and transfer procedures on your own. The average time to close the sale can range from two weeks to several months depending on the model and price.
Local dealerships and second-hand car dealers. Bilbao and its metropolitan area have several direct purchase points where you can value and sell the car on the same day. The advantage is speed; the disadvantage is that the price offered subtracts the business's resale margin.
National direct purchase platforms. Companies like Compramostucoche, Flexicar, or Clicars have a presence in Bilbao or the metropolitan surroundings. They work similarly to local dealerships: estimated online valuation and final offer after an in-person inspection.
Before accepting any direct purchase offer, it is useful to know what lies behind these platforms and how the process works.
Dealcar. Instead of negotiating with a single buyer, your car reaches more than 1,000 verified dealerships across Spain competing for it. There is no need to travel: collection is from your home. It is free for the seller, and payment is received before delivering the car.
Selling on portals from Bilbao: what to expect
Publishing on Wallapop or Coches.net from Bilbao works well for high-turnover models: city cars, compact family cars, and SUVs from mainstream brands. For cars with a B label or no label, interest is usually lower among local buyers due to the LEZ restrictions, although there may be demand from suburban municipalities where the LEZ does not apply.
A couple of practical aspects for those selling from here: meet-ups are usually in the Ensanche area or in car parks around the Casco Viejo (Old Town), although the ideal scenario is to meet at a point where the buyer can test drive the car comfortably. For transfer documentation, the nearest DGT (Traffic Authority) office to Bilbao is located on Licenciado Poza street.
The purchase agreement between private individuals is mandatory and should be signed in duplicate. If you want a downloadable template, you can use the Dealcar purchase agreement model for free.
Dealerships and second-hand car dealers in Bilbao
The Bilbao metropolitan area concentrates a wide offer of used car dealerships, both official brands and independent dealers. Flexicar, OcasionPlus, and several national networks have a presence in the area, along with established local businesses in municipalities like Barakaldo or Basauri.
If you decide to go this route, the usual advice applies here too: ask for a valuation in more than one place before accepting any offer. The difference between the first valuation you receive and the best one you can get by comparing can be several hundred euros, sometimes more.
The reason is simple: receiving multiple offers always improves the final price compared to negotiating with a single buyer.
Bring the car clean, with a valid MOT (ITV) and all documentation at hand: registration certificate, technical sheet, proof of the latest insurance and, if you have it, the maintenance history. These details facilitate the valuation and convey confidence to the buyer or professional valuer.
Specific procedures in Bilbao
Once the sale is closed, the procedures are the usual ones anywhere in Spain with some particularities of the regional tax regime.
The buyer manages the ITP at the Provincial Council of Bizkaia. It is not your procedure as a seller, but it is useful to know how to explain it to the buyer to avoid delays in the transfer.
The change of ownership is processed at the DGT. You can do it in person at the Provincial Head Office of Bizkaia (Licenciado Poza street, Bilbao) or online if you have a digital certificate. This procedure can be done by the buyer, the seller, or an authorized agency (gestoría).
Notify the sale to the DGT. As a seller, you are obliged to report the transfer of the vehicle to prevent future fines or charges from coming in your name. You can do this online on the DGT electronic office with a digital certificate or through an agency.
If you want a complete review of the whole process, the article on procedures to sell a car covers each step in detail.
Dealcar: receive offers from dealerships all over Spain from Bilbao
Selling your car in Bilbao does not have to be limited to the buyers you have on hand. With Dealcar, your car enters competition among more than 1,000 verified professional dealerships across Spain, causing the price to rise due to the competitive effect.
You do not have to travel to any dealership or manage visits from private individuals: the process is online and the car is collected from your home in Bilbao.
100% free for you. No commissions or hidden costs.
Get paid before handing over the keys. Bank transfer before the car changes hands.
Your car is collected from your home in Bilbao. No travel needed.
No paperwork. The dealer manages the transfer, DGT, and all the paperwork.
On average, 1,400 euros more than selling on Wallapop.
More than 12,000 cars sold and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.
Use the free Dealcar valuation tool.
FAQs
Does Bilbao's LEZ affect the price at which I can sell my car?
Yes, especially if your car has a B label or has no environmental sticker. Buyers who live or work in the Abando or Indautxu neighborhoods will face restrictions on driving that vehicle during working hours, which reduces their interest. For cars with a C, ECO, or zero-emissions label, the LEZ is not an issue.
How much ITP does the buyer of my car pay if they live in Bilbao?
The general rate in Bizkaia is 4% on the fiscal value of the vehicle. If your car has a fiscal value of 12,000 euros, the buyer will pay 480 euros of ITP to the Provincial Council of Bizkaia. The period to pay it is one month from signing the agreement.
Can I sell my car in Bilbao without going to a dealership?
Yes. With platforms like Dealcar, the process is completely online: you receive the purchase offer and the car is collected from your home in Bilbao without you having to go anywhere.
What documents do I need to sell my car in Bilbao?
Registration certificate, technical sheet, valid MOT (ITV), seller's ID (DNI), and a purchase agreement signed by both parties. If the car has outstanding charges or reservation of title, these must be cancelled before formalising the sale.
Where is the change of ownership processed in Bilbao?
At the Provincial Traffic Head Office of Bizkaia, on Licenciado Poza street. It can also be managed online on the DGT electronic headquarters or through an agency.
gestoría
Index
The used car market in Bilbao
Bilbao's LEZ: current status and what it means for your sale
ITP in Bizkaia: how much the buyer pays
Options to sell your car in Bilbao
Selling on portals from Bilbao: what to expect
Dealerships and second-hand car dealers in Bilbao
Dealcar: receive offers from dealerships all over Spain from Bilbao
Specific procedures in Bilbao
FAQs
The used car market in Bilbao
Bilbao is a city with an active vehicle fleet and a constant demand for used cars. Its status as the capital of the most populated metropolitan area in the Basque Country makes it a market with quite a lot of activity, from both local buyers and individuals from surrounding municipalities: Barakaldo, Getxo, Basauri, Portugalete.
The profile of the Bilbao buyer tends to favor compact cars and city cars, although SUVs have gained market share in recent years just like in the rest of Spain. The proximity to the industrial north and the topography of the area mean that diesels still have a market, although the pressure of the LEZ is progressively changing buying preferences.
A relevant factor for sellers: Bilbao has heavy road traffic on working days, meaning that buyers increasingly value the vehicle's environmental label before closing a deal. If your car has a C, ECO, or zero-emissions label, you are in a better position than if it has a B label or no sticker at all.
If you have doubts about how the label affects the price, the first step is to know precisely how much your car is worth in the current market.
Bilbao's LEZ: current status and what it means for your sale
The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) of Bilbao entered into force on June 15, 2024, and covers the neighborhoods of Abando and Indautxu, bounded by Autonomía, Sabino Arana, Bailén streets, Ferrocarril Avenue, and San Francisco. Control is carried out using automatic license plate readers, without the need to carry the sticker on the windshield.
The restriction hours are Monday to Friday from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on working days. There are no restrictions on weekends and public holidays.
The full sanctioning regime started in January 2025. The fine for accessing the LEZ with an unauthorized vehicle is 200 euros.
Regarding which vehicles can circulate:
Vehicles with 0, ECO, and C labels have free access. Vehicles with a B label can only access under specific exceptions: residents registered in the LEZ before June 15, 2024, special transport vehicles, people with reduced mobility, and some specific professional uses. Vehicles without a label (the oldest ones, generally pre-2001 for petrol or pre-2006 for diesel) are banned from accessing except for exceptions similar to those mentioned above.
What this means for the sale of your car: if you have a vehicle with a B label or without a label and the potential buyer lives or works in the affected area, the market value of your car suffers. This is not a reason not to sell it, but it is advisable to adjust price expectations and be transparent with interested parties from the very first moment.
ITP in Bizkaia: how much the buyer pays
The ITP (Property Transfer Tax) in the Basque Country, including Bizkaia where Bilbao is located, has a general rate of 4% on the fiscal value of the vehicle. This tax is always paid by the buyer, not the seller, but it is useful to know as it influences how much the person buying your car is willing to pay.
The Basque Country has its own regional tax system, so the management of the ITP does not go to the state Tax Agency but rather to the Provincial Council of Bizkaia. The form to be submitted is 620 or 621, and the maximum period to pay it is one month from the signature of the purchase agreement.
To give you an idea of the real cost: if the fiscal value of your car is 10,000 euros, the buyer will pay 400 euros of ITP. If it is 15,000 euros, they will pay 600 euros. This is useful data for anticipating objections during negotiation.
Options to sell your car in Bilbao
You have four main routes, each with clear advantages and disadvantages.
Classifieds portals. Wallapop, Coches.net, Milanuncios, or AutoScout24 allow you to publish the car and reach private buyers willing to pay the real market price. The process involves managing contacts, visits, test drives, and transfer procedures on your own. The average time to close the sale can range from two weeks to several months depending on the model and price.
Local dealerships and second-hand car dealers. Bilbao and its metropolitan area have several direct purchase points where you can value and sell the car on the same day. The advantage is speed; the disadvantage is that the price offered subtracts the business's resale margin.
National direct purchase platforms. Companies like Compramostucoche, Flexicar, or Clicars have a presence in Bilbao or the metropolitan surroundings. They work similarly to local dealerships: estimated online valuation and final offer after an in-person inspection.
Before accepting any direct purchase offer, it is useful to know what lies behind these platforms and how the process works.
Dealcar. Instead of negotiating with a single buyer, your car reaches more than 1,000 verified dealerships across Spain competing for it. There is no need to travel: collection is from your home. It is free for the seller, and payment is received before delivering the car.
Selling on portals from Bilbao: what to expect
Publishing on Wallapop or Coches.net from Bilbao works well for high-turnover models: city cars, compact family cars, and SUVs from mainstream brands. For cars with a B label or no label, interest is usually lower among local buyers due to the LEZ restrictions, although there may be demand from suburban municipalities where the LEZ does not apply.
A couple of practical aspects for those selling from here: meet-ups are usually in the Ensanche area or in car parks around the Casco Viejo (Old Town), although the ideal scenario is to meet at a point where the buyer can test drive the car comfortably. For transfer documentation, the nearest DGT (Traffic Authority) office to Bilbao is located on Licenciado Poza street.
The purchase agreement between private individuals is mandatory and should be signed in duplicate. If you want a downloadable template, you can use the Dealcar purchase agreement model for free.
Dealerships and second-hand car dealers in Bilbao
The Bilbao metropolitan area concentrates a wide offer of used car dealerships, both official brands and independent dealers. Flexicar, OcasionPlus, and several national networks have a presence in the area, along with established local businesses in municipalities like Barakaldo or Basauri.
If you decide to go this route, the usual advice applies here too: ask for a valuation in more than one place before accepting any offer. The difference between the first valuation you receive and the best one you can get by comparing can be several hundred euros, sometimes more.
The reason is simple: receiving multiple offers always improves the final price compared to negotiating with a single buyer.
Bring the car clean, with a valid MOT (ITV) and all documentation at hand: registration certificate, technical sheet, proof of the latest insurance and, if you have it, the maintenance history. These details facilitate the valuation and convey confidence to the buyer or professional valuer.
Specific procedures in Bilbao
Once the sale is closed, the procedures are the usual ones anywhere in Spain with some particularities of the regional tax regime.
The buyer manages the ITP at the Provincial Council of Bizkaia. It is not your procedure as a seller, but it is useful to know how to explain it to the buyer to avoid delays in the transfer.
The change of ownership is processed at the DGT. You can do it in person at the Provincial Head Office of Bizkaia (Licenciado Poza street, Bilbao) or online if you have a digital certificate. This procedure can be done by the buyer, the seller, or an authorized agency (gestoría).
Notify the sale to the DGT. As a seller, you are obliged to report the transfer of the vehicle to prevent future fines or charges from coming in your name. You can do this online on the DGT electronic office with a digital certificate or through an agency.
If you want a complete review of the whole process, the article on procedures to sell a car covers each step in detail.
Dealcar: receive offers from dealerships all over Spain from Bilbao
Selling your car in Bilbao does not have to be limited to the buyers you have on hand. With Dealcar, your car enters competition among more than 1,000 verified professional dealerships across Spain, causing the price to rise due to the competitive effect.
You do not have to travel to any dealership or manage visits from private individuals: the process is online and the car is collected from your home in Bilbao.
100% free for you. No commissions or hidden costs.
Get paid before handing over the keys. Bank transfer before the car changes hands.
Your car is collected from your home in Bilbao. No travel needed.
No paperwork. The dealer manages the transfer, DGT, and all the paperwork.
On average, 1,400 euros more than selling on Wallapop.
More than 12,000 cars sold and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.
Use the free Dealcar valuation tool.
FAQs
Does Bilbao's LEZ affect the price at which I can sell my car?
Yes, especially if your car has a B label or has no environmental sticker. Buyers who live or work in the Abando or Indautxu neighborhoods will face restrictions on driving that vehicle during working hours, which reduces their interest. For cars with a C, ECO, or zero-emissions label, the LEZ is not an issue.
How much ITP does the buyer of my car pay if they live in Bilbao?
The general rate in Bizkaia is 4% on the fiscal value of the vehicle. If your car has a fiscal value of 12,000 euros, the buyer will pay 480 euros of ITP to the Provincial Council of Bizkaia. The period to pay it is one month from signing the agreement.
Can I sell my car in Bilbao without going to a dealership?
Yes. With platforms like Dealcar, the process is completely online: you receive the purchase offer and the car is collected from your home in Bilbao without you having to go anywhere.
What documents do I need to sell my car in Bilbao?
Registration certificate, technical sheet, valid MOT (ITV), seller's ID (DNI), and a purchase agreement signed by both parties. If the car has outstanding charges or reservation of title, these must be cancelled before formalising the sale.
Where is the change of ownership processed in Bilbao?
At the Provincial Traffic Head Office of Bizkaia, on Licenciado Poza street. It can also be managed online on the DGT electronic headquarters or through an agency.
gestoría
