How to export a car from Andorra to Spain in 2026: complete step-by-step guide

Bringing a car registered in Andorra into Spain is completely legal, but it involves several customs procedures, paying Spanish VAT and a registration process that can take between 4 and 8 weeks. In this guide we explain, step by step, how to do it, what requirements your car must meet, how much it costs and in which cases it actually makes sense.

Who can export a car from Andorra to Spain?

The operation requires two parties:

• Seller: an Andorran resident (individual or company) who is the legal owner of the car and appears on the yellow card.
• Buyer: a Spanish resident (Spanish nationality is not required). Individual or company.

The Andorran yellow card is the document that in Spain is equivalent to the technical inspection sheet + vehicle registration certificate combined into one.

Important before starting: the car must be free of any liens in Andorra. If it has a retention of title (for example, a financed car), it must be cancelled first or the cancellation document issued by the bank obtained. Without this, it is impossible to deregister the car in Andorra.

Which cars can be exported

To register the car in Spain it must meet:

• European homologation (COC – Certificate of Conformity). Without this document, registration is not possible. If the car does not have one, it can be bought from the official brand dealership or through specialised websites such as EuroCOC.
• No mileage limit. A high-mileage car can be exported just the same.
• Cars over 30 years old fall into the "historic vehicles" category and follow a specific procedure (not covered in this guide).
• It is recommended to check the car's history (serious accidents, desertion deregistration, etc.) before starting the process. Some cases may require additional inspections.

The process step by step

1. Car deregistration in Andorra

First step: deregister the car in Andorra. The owner goes to the Government of Andorra with the yellow card signed on the back.

Key tip: request that the deregistration takes effect on a deferred date (30 days or whatever deadline they grant). This way you can keep driving the car legally to do the paperwork in Spain without having to apply for temporary plates. It saves time and hassle.

The Andorran insurance remains valid during that period because the car is not technically deregistered yet.

2. Export declaration at Andorran customs

Next step is to go to La Farga de Moles, the border town between Sant Julià de Lòria (Andorra) and Spain.

Right next to customs there are wooden huts where Andorran freight forwarders operate. A well-known one is TED Transitaris Duanes.

You bring:

• The Andorran yellow card
• Documentation from seller and buyer
• Invoice or purchase contract

The freight forwarder prepares the export declaration. Approximate cost: €80.

Then you take the document to the Andorran customs for the police to stamp the export confirmation.

3. Import declaration at Spanish customs

You cross the border and immediately, instead of passing through where all vehicles go, you have to go to the right (the "something to declare" lane) and stop.

You have to get out of the car and go on foot to find a Spanish freight forwarder. The Guardia Civil officers will tell you where they are. A common one is Fornesa.

Two things happen here:

• Import declaration with all documentation
• Payment of 21% VAT on the value of the car

VAT tax base: it's calculated on the value appearing in the invoice or purchase contract. But this value can never be lower than the one indicated by the Tax Agency's tables. If it's lower, the Tax Agency uses the tables as base and you pay VAT on that higher value.

Approximate cost of the Spanish freight forwarder: €100-150.

4. Drive the car to your home

With the VAT paid and the import documents in hand, you can legally drive the car to your home in Spain. The Andorran insurance still covers you because the Andorran deregistration hasn't taken effect yet (thanks to the trick in step 1).

Remember: you need an agreement with the Andorran seller to keep the insurance active during the transfer.

5. Appointment for the registration technical inspection

In your city, book an appointment at the nearest inspection centre (or the one you prefer) indicating "vehicle registration". It's not the standard inspection: it's a more thorough check, and that's why it usually takes longer to get the appointment.

Bring:

• The car
• Customs documents (Andorran export + Spanish import)
• Original yellow card
• COC (Certificate of Conformity) of the vehicle

Once approved, the inspection centre gives you 3 stamped technical sheets.

Inspection cost: €115.

6. Registration: recommended agency

With the 3 technical sheets you can register the car. Although you can do it yourself, we recommend outsourcing it to a traffic-specialised agency (called "gestoría" in Spain) because there are many procedures and payments to manage (some can only be done in specific hours and offices).

A well-known online agency is gestoriatrafico.es. You send them all the documentation and they handle the registration in Spain.

7. Final taxes

The payments that complete the process:

• Registration fees: ~€100
• Agency fees: ~€100
• Registration tax: depends on the car's CO₂ emissions (see table below)
• Road tax: set by each town hall, varies widely (€80-500 per year depending on model and municipality)

Registration tax by CO₂ emissions

The registration tax is what can push up the total the most. It's calculated as a percentage on the car's value (invoice or Tax Agency tables, whichever is higher):

CO₂ emissions	Registration tax
Less than 120 g/km	0% (exempt)
120 - 159 g/km	4.75%
160 - 199 g/km	9.75%
200 g/km or more	14.75%

Brackets may be updated each year. Always check with the Tax Agency for exact values.

This is why electric, hybrid and low-CO₂ cars are the most efficient to export. Sports cars and large SUVs with emissions over 200 g/km lose most of the savings to this tax.

When is it actually worth exporting from Andorra to Spain?

Let's be honest: in most cases, exporting a car from Andorra to Spain is NOT worth it. The reason is mathematical:

• The Andorran car is sold with IGI at 4.5% (Andorran tax, low).
• When exporting to Spain, you pay 21% VAT on the car's value.
• You also pay the registration tax (0 – 14.75% depending on emissions).
• Combined, these two taxes usually equal or exceed the price difference compared to buying an equivalent car in Spain.

That said, there are two specific scenarios where it does make sense:

Case 1 — The car doesn't exist in the Spanish market

There are models, versions, trims or specific colours that simply aren't available in Spain or have waiting lists of months. If the car already exists in Andorra with an owner willing to sell, exporting can be the only way to access it, and then cost stops being the main factor: it's access to the vehicle.

Case 2 — The car is well below Spanish market price

If an individual or Andorran company sells their car at a price significantly lower than Spanish market value (for example, a company decapitalising and selling at book value, an inheritance, a personal urgency), the discount can offset the VAT + registration tax paid on import.

Practical rule: the car in Andorra must be at least 25-30% cheaper than the equivalent in Spain for the operation to compensate after taxes and procedures. With smaller discounts, the total cost in Spain ends up very similar to buying the same car already registered here.

When it's NOT worth it

Even if you think you can save money, in these cases the process rarely pays off:

• Cars under €20,000. Fixed costs (VAT, registration tax, freight forwarders, agency, inspection) are proportionally very high.
• Cars with high emissions (>200 g/km). The 14.75% registration tax applies on a large base and eats any margin.
• Cars under 30 years old where similar models are available at good prices in Spain.
• Urgency. The complete process takes between 4 and 8 weeks. If you need the car right now, buy directly in Spain.
• Active financing. You can't export a car with active retention of title. First cancellation, then export.

The honest way to know if it's worth it in your case is to do the actual calculation: price of the Andorran car + all the process costs, compared with the cost of buying that same car in Spain. If the difference is positive and significant, go ahead. If it's marginal or negative, don't bother.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Not checking the car's liens before the operation. If there's an unpaid retention of title, you won't be able to deregister in Andorra and the process stalls.

2. Setting a sale value lower than the Tax Agency tables. The Agency applies the tables anyway and may also investigate the operation.

3. Not requesting the Andorran deregistration with a deferred date. If you deregister immediately, you lose valid insurance and have to apply for temporary plates.

4. Forgetting the COC. Without Certificate of Conformity, the inspection centre cannot register the car. And buying it at the last minute takes weeks.

5. Trying to register without an agency. You can, but you'll easily lose 2-3 days between offices, queues and form errors.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the whole process take?

Between 4 and 8 weeks from signing the sale until receiving the car with Spanish plates. The usual bottlenecks are the inspection appointment and the tax value calculation at the Tax Agency.

Do I have to travel to Andorra or to customs myself?

If you hire the turnkey service (like the one Importocotxe.ad offers), no. We handle the whole operation including transport and paperwork. If you do it on your own, yes, you'll have to go to the border several times.

Can I finance the car before exporting?

The financing has to be cancelled before the process. Otherwise, the car cannot be deregistered in Andorra. Many clients finance directly in Spain once registered.

Is the tax value (Tax Agency tables) the same as market value?

Not necessarily. The tables are an official reference updated annually. For very new or very specific cars, they can differ quite a bit from actual value. It's one of the most important calculations to do before starting the operation.

Can you export a car that has been accidented or has a special history?

It depends on the specific case. If the car passed the Andorran inspection after the accident and has a valid COC, it usually can. But the process may be longer and require additional inspection. Consult beforehand.

How much does Importocotxe.ad charge for the full service?

The cost depends on the value of the car and whether we also need to get the COC. Contact us and we'll prepare a closed quote with no obligation.

We handle everything

If all this seems complicated, that's because it is. The operation is completely legal and accessible, but it involves coordinating at least 5 different parties (Andorran seller, Andorran customs, Spanish customs, Spanish inspection centre, Spanish agency) and any mistake in one step delays the whole process.

At Importocotxe.ad we handle the whole process turnkey:

• We review the documentation and car condition before starting (liens, COC, history)
• We manage the Andorran deregistration and all customs procedures
• We obtain the COC if not available
• We coordinate inspection and registration in Spain
• We deliver the car with Spanish plates already fitted

If you're considering exporting a car from Andorra to Spain and have doubts about whether it's worth it in your specific case, contact us. We'll give you an approximate calculation of the total cost and an honest assessment with no obligation.

Do you have a car in Andorra that you want to bring into Spain or are you about to buy one? Tell us your case and we'll advise you with no obligation — we'll tell you if in your situation exporting is worth it or not, and what real costs you'll have. [Form / WhatsApp]