Advice on buying used car from dealer?

[anderso]

I want to buy a used car (Audi A3) and have found a few I like online.

I have only been in Spain for a couple of months so I don't have the nerves to attempt a private buy. Instead I have focused on cars from dealers that offer to do the "transferencia" + offer a year's guarantee.

So far so good.

The car I am most interested in is at a dealer 9 hours from where we live. But the dealer replied to my email that if I buy the car, they are happy to deliver it at my door. Sounds good.

So I am planning to drive up there next week to view it.

Now, what if I like it and want to buy it? How does it work? I have googled and found some information but am still a little unsure.

Should I pay then and there? Or ask for an invoice that I will pay via bank transfer later? Can you generally trust car dealers to perform the transferenica and deliver the car? Do I need to do anything except provide the dealer with my NIE-number and some cash? They generally take care of absolutely everything? And what about insurance? I am guessing that has to be sorted before I drive the car, but is there an overlap where the car's existing insurance will cover while I get the new insurance set up?

Would be very happy with some advice from more seasoned expats who have been through it.

Thanks,

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by anderso

I want to buy a used car (Audi A3) and have found a few I like online.

I have only been in Spain for a couple of months so I don't have the nerves to attempt a private buy. Instead I have focused on cars from dealers that offer to do the "transferencia" + offer a year's guarantee.

So far so good.

The car I am most interested in is at a dealer 9 hours from where we live. But the dealer replied to my email that if I buy the car, they are happy to deliver it at my door. Sounds good.

So I am planning to drive up there next week to view it.

Now, what if I like it and want to buy it? How does it work? I have googled and found some information but am still a little unsure.

Should I pay then and there? Or ask for an invoice that I will pay via bank transfer later? Can you generally trust car dealers to perform the transferenica and deliver the car? Do I need to do anything except provide the dealer with my NIE-number and some cash? They generally take care of absolutely everything? And what about insurance? I am guessing that has to be sorted before I drive the car, but is there an overlap where the car's existing insurance will cover while I get the new insurance set up?

Would be very happy with some advice from more seasoned expats who have been through it.

Thanks,

I bought from a small dealer and he handled the transfer for me. I paid him up front of course, because they arent going to to the transfer unless they know you are serious about the purchase. If it is a genuine audi dealer, then I doubt if they are going to mess you about because then you could of course complain to audi and they would risk their dealership

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

I bought from a small dealer and he handled the transfer for me. I paid him up front of course, because they arent going to to the transfer unless they know you are serious about the purchase. If it is a genuine audi dealer, then I doubt if they are going to mess you about because then you could of course complain to audi and they would risk their dealership

Sorry, I should add that you should gain insurance cover before collecting, as usual

Your "car tax2 reminder, when it expires will be sent to you, being the new owner. The tax on there is valid

In the valencia region we had to take passport, NIE, residencia and an up to date padron in order for them to get the car registered in our name. Some people will tell you that you dont need a padron, but we were specifically told we needed it before they would be able to register

[Seb*]

Most dealers will be able to arrange insurance as well (if they deliver to you - nothing to worry, you can do it yourself online via linea directa) and they will tell you what documents you need (passport copy, NIE copy, residencia/padron/rental contract copy) for the transferencia. I doubt that there will be an insurance policy running on it right now, this would be more likely for a private sale. Insurance in Spain is on the car and mostly covers all drivers over a certain age range (check the certificate!). Organising insurance is not a big deal and can be quickly done.

If you like the car, most serious dealers will want a deposit and then payment on delivery. I doubt they will accept bank transfer via invoice after delivery, so depending on the price it will be cash / credit card / cheque. Do not pay the full price before you have a sale contract AND a"Justificante" of a gestoria in your hand, this is a legal document valid for 60 days that acts as prove that the car is being transferred into your name (which can take 2-12 weeks).

[gus-lopez]

The only concern I would have would be A) the delivery & B) what happens if you have a problem & need guarantee work ? 9 hrs is a long way unless you can use a local audi dealer.
Having experienced a car (a friends fortunately ) being 'delivered' in the UK & seeing it appear over the brow of a hill, in excess of 100mph & airborne I would have reservations. A 9 hr trip in a vehicle that is now registered in your name means any infractions, speeding etc ; will be laid at your door.You also have no idea how it's going to be driven.

[anderso]

Thanks to everybody! I have a follow up:

I do not have a residencia nor a padron. The thing is that I own and run a small internet based company and have stationed myself (+wife and daughter) in Spain indefinitely. This means that I do not pay Spanish tax. This is all pretty standard EU stuff. Because I am "stationed" here, health care for the whole family is paid for by Denmark for up to 3 years and I still pay my taxes in Denmark - not Spain.

Will this cause problems in terms of getting the residencia (and padron)? I do have my NIE number and a long term rental contract.

I am quite happy with avoiding complex double-taxation issues by not registering with public offices more than I absolutely need to. If I start the whole residencia/padron registration I see problems up ahead.

But maybe I am wrong?

By the way, I live in Valencia, so it sounds like I will also need the padron (hadn't heard of it before today ...)

[Seb*]

Originally Posted by anderso

Thanks to everybody! I have a follow up:

I do not have a residencia nor a padron. The thing is that I own and run a small internet based company and have stationed myself (+wife and daughter) in Spain indefinitely. This means that I do not pay Spanish tax. This is all pretty standard EU stuff. Because I am "stationed" here, health care for the whole family is paid for by Denmark for up to 3 years and I still pay my taxes in Denmark - not Spain.

Will this cause problems in terms of getting the residencia (and padron)? I do have my NIE number and a long term rental contract.

I am quite happy with avoiding complex double-taxation issues by not registering with public offices more than I absolutely need to. If I start the whole residencia/padron registration I see problems up ahead.

But maybe I am wrong?

By the way, I live in Valencia, so it sounds like I will also need the padron (hadn't heard of it before today ...)

So you say you are living all year round in Spain and don't pay taxes? Better not tell the tax man. And how does the whole health care work? Without residencia / padron you cant register with the local doctors. I have my doubts that this is all legal. Hope your health care is sorted in case something happens, european health insurance cards are for emergency treatment only. You are considered a resident in Spain if living more than 183 days in the country. In the future you might run into trouble without a residencia (doctors, buying car, school). But not the topic of this post, so let's see:

Well officially you can not transfer ownership of a car without padrón. Lately more and more people are reporting that they even need a residencia certificate. You probably read about the problems obtaining residencia now. So getting a residencia cert might be difficult for you (needs prove of income and health insurance).

Saying all that there is still a chance that you can use your rental contract, with passport copy and NIE. All this depends on the local trafico office and more importantly the gestor that is used to do the transfer, so before you commit to buy a car make sure the dealer's gestoria accepts the rental contract!

[gus-lopez]

Originally Posted by anderso

Thanks to everybody! I have a follow up:

I do not have a residencia nor a padron. The thing is that I own and run a small internet based company and have stationed myself (+wife and daughter) in Spain indefinitely. This means that I do not pay Spanish tax. This is all pretty standard EU stuff. Because I am "stationed" here, health care for the whole family is paid for by Denmark for up to 3 years and I still pay my taxes in Denmark - not Spain.

Will this cause problems in terms of getting the residencia (and padron)? I do have my NIE number and a long term rental contract.

I am quite happy with avoiding complex double-taxation issues by not registering with public offices more than I absolutely need to. If I start the whole residencia/padron registration I see problems up ahead.

But maybe I am wrong?

By the way, I live in Valencia, so it sounds like I will also need the padron (hadn't heard of it before today ...)

The padron shouldn't be problem , you should just need a rental contract . ( I assume you haven't bought ?) This is enough here in Murcia, along with your passport , to purchase a vehicle.
Unfortunately , due to this law that they are attempting to modify ,it is possible that they will ask for a certificate of registration on the 'registro ciudado de la union europa'.

[playamonte]

As far as I know .........
You will be unable to pay the registration tax due on the car unless you have a Spanish Tax number (so I was told by the local Gestor)

Anderso have you spoken to www.assanchis (dot) com who are based in Valencia & have a very good service into traffico and anything else you need.

[anderso]

To the best of my knowledge my setup is perfectly legal. The EU has allowed this kind of "stationing" to make it easy for EU citizens to temporarily work for their companies in other EU countries. All 3 of us have EU health insurance cards along with a signed and stamped certificate that health expenses are covered by the Danish state. Denmark allows this for up to 3 years. After that it's either go back home or start paying your tax in Spain. So I am assuming Spain is ok with this as we are in the EU together. I hope I am right.

The Spanish tax number? Isn't that identical to my NIE?

Sounds like I can get my padron without any major issues. Think I will try that.

Apart from that, I guess I need to let the dealer know exactly what documentation I have and ask if that is enough.

Haven't talked to Assanchis. Do they speak English?

Thanks to everybody again ...!