Contents
What vehicle charges are
Types of charges a car can have
How to check whether your car has charges
Can you sell a car with charges?
What to do depending on the type of charge
How much it costs to resolve vehicle charges
Risks of buying or selling a car with charges
Frequently asked questions
You want to sell your car and, when checking its status with the DGT, you discover that it has a registered charge. Or worse: you do not check it, you find a buyer, you go to complete the transfer and the DGT blocks it. It is a more common situation than it seems, and most sellers do not know exactly what it means or how to resolve it.
A charge on a vehicle is, in essence, an administrative note that limits what you can do with it. Some charges completely prevent the transfer. Others do not block it but create problems if they are not resolved. And a few are simple notes that do not affect the sale at all.
In this article we explain the types of charges a car can have, how to detect them, what options you have in each case, and what risks you should avoid.
What vehicle charges are
Vehicle charges are notes recorded in the DGT register that affect the legal or administrative status of the car. They work in a similar way to charges on a property in the Land Registry: while they are active, they limit the owner's ability to dispose of the asset freely.
Charges can have very different origins. Some are voluntary (such as the retention of title recorded when financing the car). Others are imposed by the authorities or by a court (such as a seizure for an unpaid debt). And others are the result of administrative issues (such as a vehicle immobilisation order for no insurance or no MOT).
What they all have in common is that, while they are active, the DGT does not allow the vehicle's change of ownership to be completed. This means that, in practice, you cannot sell your car until the charge is resolved.
Types of charges a car can have
Retention of title
This is the most common charge. It is recorded when you buy a car on finance and the finance company wants to make sure you do not sell the vehicle without paying off the debt. While the retention is active, the DGT blocks any transfer.
The good news is that it is the easiest charge to resolve: simply settle the outstanding debt with the finance company and present the cancellation certificate to the DGT. If you have already paid off all the finance but the retention still appears, it is because the finance company has not processed the cancellation in the register. Contact them so they can do it. If you need more detail on this process, see our guide on how to sell a financed car.
Seizure
A seizure is a judicial or administrative hold on the vehicle as a result of the owner's unpaid debt. It may come from the tax authority (AEAT), Social Security, a local council (for unpaid fines or taxes), or a court (for a civil debt).
The seizure blocks the transfer of the vehicle and, in the most serious cases, can lead to the car being auctioned to settle the debt. It is a more complex charge to resolve than retention of title, because it involves paying the debt to the body that ordered the seizure and waiting for it to notify the lifting of the seizure to the DGT.
Administrative immobilisation order
An immobilisation order is a precautionary measure that the DGT can impose when a vehicle does not meet the requirements to be driven. The most common causes are driving without compulsory insurance, not passing the MOT on time, or having the vehicle temporarily deregistered without meeting the conditions.
An immobilised car cannot be driven or transferred. To lift the immobilisation, you must resolve the cause that triggered it (take out insurance, pass the MOT, regularise the deregistration) and request the lifting from the DGT.
Notes for theft or stolen vehicle
If a vehicle has been reported stolen, the DGT records a note that blocks any operation involving it. This note is only removed when the report is withdrawn or when the authorities resolve the case.
If you buy a car that turns out to have a theft note, you face a serious legal problem. Hence the importance of always checking the vehicle's status before closing any deal.
Notes for negative technical inspection
When a vehicle fails the MOT and receives a poor or negative result, the DGT may record this incident in the register. The car cannot be driven until it passes a new inspection. Although this note does not always block the transfer itself, it makes the sale more difficult because the buyer knows they will have to spend money on repairs and pass the MOT before they can use the car.
How to check whether your car has charges
Before putting your car up for sale, it is essential to check its registration status. There are several ways to do this.
DGT electronic office (sede.dgt.gob.es). With a digital certificate, electronic ID card or Cl@ve, you can access your vehicle report, where all active charges and notes appear. It is free and the most reliable source, because it consults the official register directly.
DGT vehicle report. If you do not have electronic access, you can request a report in person at a traffic office (with an appointment) or through an agency. It costs around 8-10 euros.
History report services. Companies such as CARFAX or Carvertical offer detailed reports that include registration status, ownership history, recorded accidents and more. They are paid services (between 10 and 30 euros depending on the service) but offer more complete information than the basic DGT report.
Through your finance company. If you bought the car on finance and want to know whether the retention of title is still active, you can ask the finance company directly. They are obliged to inform you.
The recommendation is clear: always check your car's status before putting it up for sale. Discovering a charge when you already have a buyer waiting is the surest way to lose the deal.
In addition to checking the charges, make sure you have all the paperwork ready. See the documents needed to sell a car.
Can you sell a car with charges?
The short answer is that, while the charges are active, the transfer cannot be completed. The DGT will reject the change of ownership until the situation is regularised.
However, this does not mean you cannot start the selling process. What you need is to resolve the charges as part of the transaction. And this is where the options vary depending on the type of charge and who you are selling to.
If you sell to a private buyer. The private buyer will probably not want to get involved with a car that has charges. Most private buyers look for clean transactions with no issues. If your car has charges, you will have to resolve them before finding a buyer, or find a buyer willing to wait while you sort them out.
Before deciding, find out the true value of your vehicle after deducting any outstanding charges. See how to find out how much your car is worth.
If you sell to a professional dealer. Here the situation changes. Dealers are used to buying cars with charges, especially with retention of title. Many of them handle the cancellation of finance, the lifting of the charge and the transfer directly. For the seller, it is the easiest route because it delegates all the complexity to a professional who knows how to deal with it.
If you sell through a professional platform. With Dealcar, you can upload your car and indicate that it has charges. The dealers in the network know the situation from the outset and, if interested, bid for the car while taking on the management of the charges. The purchasing dealer takes care of cancelling the finance, lifting the retention of title or resolving the issue, and you only sign and receive the difference.
What to do depending on the type of charge
If your car has a retention of title
Step 1. Contact the finance company and request the exact amount required for early cancellation.
Step 2. Pay off the debt. You can do this with your own funds, with the money from the sale (coordinating with the buyer) or through a dealer that handles everything.
Step 3. Obtain the cancellation certificate from the finance company.
Step 4. Present the certificate to the DGT (in person or via the electronic office) to lift the retention.
Step 5. Once free of charges, complete the transfer as normal.
The total process usually takes one to three weeks, depending on how quickly the finance company acts.
Once free of charges, complete the transfer following the usual steps for selling a car in Spain.
If your car has a seizure
Step 1. Identify who ordered the seizure (tax authority, Social Security, court, local council). This information appears in the DGT report.
Step 2. Contact the relevant body to find out the amount of the debt and the payment conditions.
Step 3. Pay off the debt or negotiate a payment plan. Some bodies allow the debt to be paid in instalments.
Step 4. Once the debt has been settled, the body notifies the DGT of the lifting of the seizure. This process can take from a few days to several weeks, depending on the body.
Step 5. Check with the DGT that the seizure has been lifted and proceed with the transfer.
Seizures are more complex than retention of title because they involve public bodies with their own deadlines and procedures. If the debt is high or there are several seizures piling up, it may be advisable to seek advice from an agency or a solicitor.
If your car has an immobilisation order
Step 1. Identify the cause of the immobilisation order (no insurance, expired MOT, temporary deregistration).
Step 2. Resolve the cause: take out insurance, pass the MOT or regularise the administrative status.
Step 3. Request the lifting of the immobilisation order from the DGT, providing the documentation proving that the cause has been resolved.
Step 4. Once the immobilisation order has been lifted, the car can be driven and transferred.
How much it costs to resolve vehicle charges
The cost varies hugely depending on the type of charge.
Retention of title. The main cost is the outstanding capital on the finance. Early repayment fees are legally capped at 1% (or 0.5% if less than 12 months remain). The lifting procedure at the DGT costs around 5-10 euros, plus 40-60 euros for an agency if you delegate it.
Seizure. The cost is the amount of the debt that triggered the seizure, plus any surcharges and late-payment interest. It can range from a few hundred euros (unpaid fines) to thousands (debts with the tax authority or Social Security). There is no additional cost for lifting it at the DGT once the debt has been paid.
Immobilisation order. The cost depends on the cause. Taking out insurance (200-600 euros per year depending on the profile), passing the MOT (30-50 euros), or regularising a temporary deregistration (DGT fees, around 10-20 euros).
In all cases, management costs (agency, advice) are additional and usually range from 40 to 150 euros depending on the complexity.
Risks of buying or selling a car with charges
Risks for the seller
Selling without declaring the charges. If you sell a car without telling the buyer that it has charges, you expose yourself to legal claims for concealment. The buyer may demand that the defect be remedied, a reduction in price or even cancellation of the sale.
Not resolving the charges before or during the sale. If you sell it "on trust" and the buyer cannot complete the transfer because of the charges, you will remain listed as the owner. Any fine, accident or liability will still be yours.
Selling below the debt. If the car is worth less than what you owe (retention of title or seizure), you will need to put money in yourself. If you do not, the charge is not lifted and the sale is not completed.
Risks for the buyer
Buying without checking charges. The most serious risk. If you buy a car with charges without knowing it, you will not be able to transfer it into your name and you may lose the money. You should always check the registration status before paying.
Trusting the seller's word. "The car is free of charges" is not enough. Always ask for an up-to-date DGT report or check the situation yourself.
Assuming the charges will clear themselves. Charges do not disappear over time. A retention of title on finance paid off years ago may still be active if nobody has processed the cancellation. A seizure is not lifted until the debt is paid.
The safest way to avoid these risks, for both seller and buyer, is to check the vehicle's status before closing any deal and to record everything in the sale and purchase agreement.
Dealcar: value your car for free and receive offers from dealers
Dealcar provides you with a free valuation tool that قيمates your car in less than 30 seconds. If your car has charges, it is not a problem: you can indicate this when uploading the vehicle, and the dealers in the Dealcar network will bid knowing the situation. The purchasing dealer takes care of managing the cancellation of charges, the transfer and all the paperwork.
100% free for you. No commissions or hidden costs.
You get paid before handing over the keys. Payment reaches your account by bank transfer before you hand over the car.
They collect the car from your home. The purchasing dealer collects the car wherever you say.
No paperwork. The dealer handles charges, transfer, notification to the 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.
If you want to know how much your car is worth, use Dealcar's free valuation tool.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell a seized car?
While the seizure is active, the DGT does not allow the transfer. You need to pay off the debt and wait for the relevant body to notify the lifting of the seizure. Once it is free of seizure, you can sell it as normal.
Will a dealer buy cars with charges?
Yes. Most professional dealers are used to handling cars with retention of title and, in some cases, seizures. Many of them take care of resolving the charges as part of the transaction.
How long does it take for a retention of title to be lifted?
Once the debt has been paid, the finance company has a legal period of 15 days to issue the cancellation certificate, although many do so in less than a week. The DGT procedure to lift the charge is immediate once you have the certificate.
Can I drive a car that has a retention of title?
Yes. Retention of title does not stop you from driving, only from transferring it. You can use the car normally while the retention is active. What you cannot do is sell it or transfer it to another person.
How can I tell if a car I want to buy has charges?
Check the DGT electronic office using the registration number, request a vehicle report or ask the seller to show you an up-to-date report. Never buy a car without verifying its registration status.
Contents
What vehicle charges are
Types of charges a car can have
How to check whether your car has charges
Can you sell a car with charges?
What to do depending on the type of charge
How much it costs to resolve vehicle charges
Risks of buying or selling a car with charges
Frequently asked questions
You want to sell your car and, when checking its status with the DGT, you discover that it has a registered charge. Or worse: you do not check it, you find a buyer, you go to complete the transfer and the DGT blocks it. It is a more common situation than it seems, and most sellers do not know exactly what it means or how to resolve it.
A charge on a vehicle is, in essence, an administrative note that limits what you can do with it. Some charges completely prevent the transfer. Others do not block it but create problems if they are not resolved. And a few are simple notes that do not affect the sale at all.
In this article we explain the types of charges a car can have, how to detect them, what options you have in each case, and what risks you should avoid.
What vehicle charges are
Vehicle charges are notes recorded in the DGT register that affect the legal or administrative status of the car. They work in a similar way to charges on a property in the Land Registry: while they are active, they limit the owner's ability to dispose of the asset freely.
Charges can have very different origins. Some are voluntary (such as the retention of title recorded when financing the car). Others are imposed by the authorities or by a court (such as a seizure for an unpaid debt). And others are the result of administrative issues (such as a vehicle immobilisation order for no insurance or no MOT).
What they all have in common is that, while they are active, the DGT does not allow the vehicle's change of ownership to be completed. This means that, in practice, you cannot sell your car until the charge is resolved.
Types of charges a car can have
Retention of title
This is the most common charge. It is recorded when you buy a car on finance and the finance company wants to make sure you do not sell the vehicle without paying off the debt. While the retention is active, the DGT blocks any transfer.
The good news is that it is the easiest charge to resolve: simply settle the outstanding debt with the finance company and present the cancellation certificate to the DGT. If you have already paid off all the finance but the retention still appears, it is because the finance company has not processed the cancellation in the register. Contact them so they can do it. If you need more detail on this process, see our guide on how to sell a financed car.
Seizure
A seizure is a judicial or administrative hold on the vehicle as a result of the owner's unpaid debt. It may come from the tax authority (AEAT), Social Security, a local council (for unpaid fines or taxes), or a court (for a civil debt).
The seizure blocks the transfer of the vehicle and, in the most serious cases, can lead to the car being auctioned to settle the debt. It is a more complex charge to resolve than retention of title, because it involves paying the debt to the body that ordered the seizure and waiting for it to notify the lifting of the seizure to the DGT.
Administrative immobilisation order
An immobilisation order is a precautionary measure that the DGT can impose when a vehicle does not meet the requirements to be driven. The most common causes are driving without compulsory insurance, not passing the MOT on time, or having the vehicle temporarily deregistered without meeting the conditions.
An immobilised car cannot be driven or transferred. To lift the immobilisation, you must resolve the cause that triggered it (take out insurance, pass the MOT, regularise the deregistration) and request the lifting from the DGT.
Notes for theft or stolen vehicle
If a vehicle has been reported stolen, the DGT records a note that blocks any operation involving it. This note is only removed when the report is withdrawn or when the authorities resolve the case.
If you buy a car that turns out to have a theft note, you face a serious legal problem. Hence the importance of always checking the vehicle's status before closing any deal.
Notes for negative technical inspection
When a vehicle fails the MOT and receives a poor or negative result, the DGT may record this incident in the register. The car cannot be driven until it passes a new inspection. Although this note does not always block the transfer itself, it makes the sale more difficult because the buyer knows they will have to spend money on repairs and pass the MOT before they can use the car.
How to check whether your car has charges
Before putting your car up for sale, it is essential to check its registration status. There are several ways to do this.
DGT electronic office (sede.dgt.gob.es). With a digital certificate, electronic ID card or Cl@ve, you can access your vehicle report, where all active charges and notes appear. It is free and the most reliable source, because it consults the official register directly.
DGT vehicle report. If you do not have electronic access, you can request a report in person at a traffic office (with an appointment) or through an agency. It costs around 8-10 euros.
History report services. Companies such as CARFAX or Carvertical offer detailed reports that include registration status, ownership history, recorded accidents and more. They are paid services (between 10 and 30 euros depending on the service) but offer more complete information than the basic DGT report.
Through your finance company. If you bought the car on finance and want to know whether the retention of title is still active, you can ask the finance company directly. They are obliged to inform you.
The recommendation is clear: always check your car's status before putting it up for sale. Discovering a charge when you already have a buyer waiting is the surest way to lose the deal.
In addition to checking the charges, make sure you have all the paperwork ready. See the documents needed to sell a car.
Can you sell a car with charges?
The short answer is that, while the charges are active, the transfer cannot be completed. The DGT will reject the change of ownership until the situation is regularised.
However, this does not mean you cannot start the selling process. What you need is to resolve the charges as part of the transaction. And this is where the options vary depending on the type of charge and who you are selling to.
If you sell to a private buyer. The private buyer will probably not want to get involved with a car that has charges. Most private buyers look for clean transactions with no issues. If your car has charges, you will have to resolve them before finding a buyer, or find a buyer willing to wait while you sort them out.
Before deciding, find out the true value of your vehicle after deducting any outstanding charges. See how to find out how much your car is worth.
If you sell to a professional dealer. Here the situation changes. Dealers are used to buying cars with charges, especially with retention of title. Many of them handle the cancellation of finance, the lifting of the charge and the transfer directly. For the seller, it is the easiest route because it delegates all the complexity to a professional who knows how to deal with it.
If you sell through a professional platform. With Dealcar, you can upload your car and indicate that it has charges. The dealers in the network know the situation from the outset and, if interested, bid for the car while taking on the management of the charges. The purchasing dealer takes care of cancelling the finance, lifting the retention of title or resolving the issue, and you only sign and receive the difference.
What to do depending on the type of charge
If your car has a retention of title
Step 1. Contact the finance company and request the exact amount required for early cancellation.
Step 2. Pay off the debt. You can do this with your own funds, with the money from the sale (coordinating with the buyer) or through a dealer that handles everything.
Step 3. Obtain the cancellation certificate from the finance company.
Step 4. Present the certificate to the DGT (in person or via the electronic office) to lift the retention.
Step 5. Once free of charges, complete the transfer as normal.
The total process usually takes one to three weeks, depending on how quickly the finance company acts.
Once free of charges, complete the transfer following the usual steps for selling a car in Spain.
If your car has a seizure
Step 1. Identify who ordered the seizure (tax authority, Social Security, court, local council). This information appears in the DGT report.
Step 2. Contact the relevant body to find out the amount of the debt and the payment conditions.
Step 3. Pay off the debt or negotiate a payment plan. Some bodies allow the debt to be paid in instalments.
Step 4. Once the debt has been settled, the body notifies the DGT of the lifting of the seizure. This process can take from a few days to several weeks, depending on the body.
Step 5. Check with the DGT that the seizure has been lifted and proceed with the transfer.
Seizures are more complex than retention of title because they involve public bodies with their own deadlines and procedures. If the debt is high or there are several seizures piling up, it may be advisable to seek advice from an agency or a solicitor.
If your car has an immobilisation order
Step 1. Identify the cause of the immobilisation order (no insurance, expired MOT, temporary deregistration).
Step 2. Resolve the cause: take out insurance, pass the MOT or regularise the administrative status.
Step 3. Request the lifting of the immobilisation order from the DGT, providing the documentation proving that the cause has been resolved.
Step 4. Once the immobilisation order has been lifted, the car can be driven and transferred.
How much it costs to resolve vehicle charges
The cost varies hugely depending on the type of charge.
Retention of title. The main cost is the outstanding capital on the finance. Early repayment fees are legally capped at 1% (or 0.5% if less than 12 months remain). The lifting procedure at the DGT costs around 5-10 euros, plus 40-60 euros for an agency if you delegate it.
Seizure. The cost is the amount of the debt that triggered the seizure, plus any surcharges and late-payment interest. It can range from a few hundred euros (unpaid fines) to thousands (debts with the tax authority or Social Security). There is no additional cost for lifting it at the DGT once the debt has been paid.
Immobilisation order. The cost depends on the cause. Taking out insurance (200-600 euros per year depending on the profile), passing the MOT (30-50 euros), or regularising a temporary deregistration (DGT fees, around 10-20 euros).
In all cases, management costs (agency, advice) are additional and usually range from 40 to 150 euros depending on the complexity.
Risks of buying or selling a car with charges
Risks for the seller
Selling without declaring the charges. If you sell a car without telling the buyer that it has charges, you expose yourself to legal claims for concealment. The buyer may demand that the defect be remedied, a reduction in price or even cancellation of the sale.
Not resolving the charges before or during the sale. If you sell it "on trust" and the buyer cannot complete the transfer because of the charges, you will remain listed as the owner. Any fine, accident or liability will still be yours.
Selling below the debt. If the car is worth less than what you owe (retention of title or seizure), you will need to put money in yourself. If you do not, the charge is not lifted and the sale is not completed.
Risks for the buyer
Buying without checking charges. The most serious risk. If you buy a car with charges without knowing it, you will not be able to transfer it into your name and you may lose the money. You should always check the registration status before paying.
Trusting the seller's word. "The car is free of charges" is not enough. Always ask for an up-to-date DGT report or check the situation yourself.
Assuming the charges will clear themselves. Charges do not disappear over time. A retention of title on finance paid off years ago may still be active if nobody has processed the cancellation. A seizure is not lifted until the debt is paid.
The safest way to avoid these risks, for both seller and buyer, is to check the vehicle's status before closing any deal and to record everything in the sale and purchase agreement.
Dealcar: value your car for free and receive offers from dealers
Dealcar provides you with a free valuation tool that قيمates your car in less than 30 seconds. If your car has charges, it is not a problem: you can indicate this when uploading the vehicle, and the dealers in the Dealcar network will bid knowing the situation. The purchasing dealer takes care of managing the cancellation of charges, the transfer and all the paperwork.
100% free for you. No commissions or hidden costs.
You get paid before handing over the keys. Payment reaches your account by bank transfer before you hand over the car.
They collect the car from your home. The purchasing dealer collects the car wherever you say.
No paperwork. The dealer handles charges, transfer, notification to the 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.
If you want to know how much your car is worth, use Dealcar's free valuation tool.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell a seized car?
While the seizure is active, the DGT does not allow the transfer. You need to pay off the debt and wait for the relevant body to notify the lifting of the seizure. Once it is free of seizure, you can sell it as normal.
Will a dealer buy cars with charges?
Yes. Most professional dealers are used to handling cars with retention of title and, in some cases, seizures. Many of them take care of resolving the charges as part of the transaction.
How long does it take for a retention of title to be lifted?
Once the debt has been paid, the finance company has a legal period of 15 days to issue the cancellation certificate, although many do so in less than a week. The DGT procedure to lift the charge is immediate once you have the certificate.
Can I drive a car that has a retention of title?
Yes. Retention of title does not stop you from driving, only from transferring it. You can use the car normally while the retention is active. What you cannot do is sell it or transfer it to another person.
How can I tell if a car I want to buy has charges?
Check the DGT electronic office using the registration number, request a vehicle report or ask the seller to show you an up-to-date report. Never buy a car without verifying its registration status.
