Index
What temporary deregistration is and what it means for the sale
Can you sell a car on temporary deregistration?
The right order: re-register before transferring
What documents you need to reactivate the car
How much it costs and how long it takes to re-register a car on temporary deregistration
What happens with the ITV when you reactivate the car
Options for selling without having to reactivate it yourself
Dealcar: sell your car on temporary deregistration without hassle
FAQs
What temporary deregistration is and what it means for the sale
Temporary deregistration (baja temporal) is a DGT administrative procedure that lets you provisionally remove a vehicle from the traffic register when the owner isn't going to use it for a while. While the car is on temporary deregistration, it's exempt from road tax (IVTM) and doesn't need valid insurance or ITV, as long as it's kept on private property and doesn't occupy the public road.
Temporary deregistration is valid for a maximum of one year per application, renewable before it expires. If it isn't renewed, the car automatically returns to active registration.
For a private seller, temporary deregistration involves three specific practical limitations:
The car can't be driven until it's re-registered. That includes any journey, even just to take it to the garage or show it to a buyer. The DGT won't process the change of ownership while the vehicle is on temporary deregistration. The buyer can't transfer it into their name until the car is re-registered. If the car has been off the road for a while, the ITV has probably expired during that period, which adds a step to the reactivation process.
If you want to know what your car on temporary deregistration is worth before starting any paperwork, getting it valued with real market data is the starting point.
Can you sell a car on temporary deregistration?
Yes. Nothing stops you from agreeing a sale and signing a sale contract for a car on temporary deregistration. What you can't do is process the change of ownership with the DGT until the car is administratively re-registered.
In practice, there are two ways to handle the sale:
The first is to re-register the car yourself before closing the sale, so the car is back to normal status and the buyer can process the transfer without restrictions.
The second is to agree with the buyer that re-registration is part of the sale process: the buyer pays, you use part of that money to re-register the car (if needed) and the transfer is handled. This option requires coordination and trust between the parties, and is more common when selling to a professional buyer who already knows the process.
The right order: re-register before transferring
For the sale and change of ownership to be completed correctly, the order of steps is:
Step 1: Apply to the DGT to re-register the vehicle. Re-registration (also called lifting the temporary deregistration) is requested on the DGT online portal with Cl@ve or a digital certificate, or in person at the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico by appointment. You need the vehicle registration certificate, the ITV card and the owner's DNI. There's no fee for re-registration: the procedure is free. The result is immediate online or on the spot at the office.
Step 2: Take out compulsory insurance. For the car to be driven, it needs valid insurance. Insurance is essential for re-registration and for any subsequent journey.
Step 3: Check the ITV status. The ITV period keeps running even while the car is on temporary deregistration. If the ITV expired during the deregistration period, it has to be passed before the car can be driven. This doesn't block administrative re-registration, but it does block driving.
Step 4: Process the sale and change of ownership. With the car re-registered, the sale and the transfer into the buyer's name can be processed as normal.
Once the car is re-registered, the sale and transfer process is the usual one. The article on procedures for selling a car covers every step in detail.
What documents you need to reactivate the car
To apply for re-registration on the DGT online portal:
The owner's DNI or NIE (for identification with Cl@ve or a digital certificate). The vehicle's registration number and chassis number. Proof of valid compulsory insurance (or the policy number).
For the in-person procedure at the Jefatura de Tráfico, in addition to the above: the original vehicle registration certificate and the ITV card.
No additional fee is needed for re-registration: the procedure is free both online and in person.
To document the sale properly, Dealcar's free template includes all the necessary fields.
How much it costs and how long it takes to re-register a car on temporary deregistration
Lifting temporary deregistration is free under the regulations in force in 2026. There's no DGT fee for this procedure.
It's practically immediate: online, you get the receipt straight away. At the office, it's resolved on the spot by appointment, although the wait to get an appointment can be several days depending on the province.
If the car needs an ITV before it can be driven, the time and additional cost depend on the inspection station's availability and the vehicle's condition. An ITV with no defects costs between 30 and 50 euros for a passenger car. If there are defects to repair, the cost and time vary depending on the repair.
What happens with the ITV when you reactivate the car
This is the point that surprises sellers with cars on temporary deregistration the most. The ITV keeps counting down to its expiry date even if the car hasn't been driven.
If the car had 18 months of ITV left when you put it on temporary deregistration and 2 years have passed, the ITV expired 6 months ago. It doesn't matter that the car hasn't moved: the ITV deadline is based on time, not use.
An expired ITV doesn't stop you from administratively re-registering the car or processing the sale and change of ownership. What it does stop is the car being driven. If you want to show the car to a buyer somewhere else or take it to the inspection, you need a valid ITV before driving it.
If the ITV has expired and you need to understand the impact on the price and the process, the article on the ITV for selling a car explains all the options available.
For cars that have been on temporary deregistration for a long time, it's worth checking the ITV status before agreeing anything with the buyer. If the ITV has expired and there are defects, the cost of putting things in order can affect the sale price.
Options for selling without having to reactivate it yourself
If you want to simplify the process and avoid handling the re-registration, the ITV and the transfer on your own, the most direct option is to sell to a professional buyer.
Dealerships and direct-purchase platforms are used to buying cars on temporary deregistration and handling the reactivation process as part of the deal. In these cases, the professional buyer takes care of the re-registration, the ITV if needed and the transfer, and the purchase price reflects the vehicle's condition and the costs of putting things in order.
It's the fastest option if you don't want to handle the process yourself or if the car has been off the road for a long time and its mechanical condition is uncertain after the period of inactivity.
Before choosing a professional buyer, it is advisable to understand well how that process works so as not to leave money on the table.
Dealcar: sell your car on temporary deregistration without hassle
With Dealcar, your car on temporary deregistration reaches over 1,000 verified professional dealerships competing for it. Declare the vehicle's condition during the valuation (temporary deregistration, expired ITV, time off the road) and you'll get an offer that reflects reality, with no surprises later.
You don't have to re-register the car or pass the ITV before selling: the process is coordinated as part of the deal.
100% free for you. No commissions or hidden costs.
You get paid before handing over the keys. Bank transfer before the car changes hands.
They collect the car from your home. No travel required.
No paperwork. The buyer handles 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.
FAQs
Can you sell a car on temporary deregistration?
Yes. You can agree the sale and sign the sale contract. What you can't do is process the change of ownership with the DGT until the car is administratively re-registered. Re-registration is free and can be requested online on the DGT online portal.
How much does it cost to re-register a car on temporary deregistration?
The re-registration procedure is free in 2026, with no DGT fee. If the car needs an ITV before it can be driven, the inspection cost is extra: between 30 and 50 euros for a passenger car with no defects.
Does the ITV expire even if the car is on temporary deregistration?
Yes. The ITV period keeps running regardless of whether the car is driven or not. If the ITV expired during the deregistration period, you need to pass it before the car can be driven, although it doesn't affect administrative re-registration or the transfer.
Can I move the car to show it to a buyer if it's on temporary deregistration?
No. A car on temporary deregistration can't be driven on public roads. If you want to show it to a buyer somewhere else, you first have to apply for re-registration, take out insurance and, if the ITV has expired, pass it before driving.
Do dealerships buy cars on temporary deregistration?
Yes. Professional buyers are used to this kind of situation and can handle the re-registration, the ITV and the transfer as part of the deal. It's the fastest option if you don't want to handle the process on your own.
