A question from the community: "I have a car on Ukrainian (or Polish) plates — how long can I drive it like this, and what happens afterwards?" The chats are full of answers, and they contradict each other: 30 days, 6 months, "after 180 days they tow it". Below is what the sources actually say, and where they are silent.
What we verified, and what we didn't
We checked the 30-day rule and the IEDMT tax against the text of the law (BOE) and the Agencia Tributaria and DGT pages. The 213-day period and the "NIE + address" condition rest on official Ministerio de Inclusión / ACNUR pages that restate a 2022 DGT instruction. We did not open the instruction itself, and the Ucrania Urgente site was down at the time of checking. Confirm the deadline with your Jefatura de Tráfico (provincial traffic office) before applying.
What you will need
- The temporary protection resolution (its date starts the 213-day count) and your NIE.
- Proof of address in Spain (for example, empadronamiento).
- Car documents: the registration document from the country of registration, the purchase contract or invoice.
- EU certificate of conformity (CoC) or ficha técnica — for the ITV (technical inspection).
- Tax data: the car's value and CO₂ emissions (for IEDMT).
How long you can drive: three cases
| Situation | Period | Basis | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | | Resident of Spain, car on foreign plates | 30 days | Agencia Tributaria; Ley 38/1992, art. 65.1.d) | | Resident, moving permanently, IEDMT exemption possible | 60 days | Ley 38/1992, art. 65.1.d) | | Temporary protection, car brought from Ukraine or another country | 213 days (183 + 30) from the resolution date | Ucrania Urgente; ACNUR España |
Agencia Tributaria puts it plainly: residents of Spain cannot drive on foreign plates; imported cars must be registered on arrival. While the paperwork is in progress, the DGT issues temporary green plates (placas verdes).
The 213 days run from the resolution, not from entry
If you waited six months for the decision, part of the period has already passed. Check the date on the resolution and work out what is left, rather than counting on "213 days from arrival".
What the chats say about "180 days and the tow truck"
The figure 180 is close to the 183 in the 213-day formula, but it is not a separate rule. In chats it is often counted from a different starting point, with towing added on top. What can be said for certain:
- the period for temporary protection holders is 213 days from the resolution date;
- by law, using a car in Spain that was not registered within the deadline is subject to IEDMT (art. 65.1.d);
- we found no published DGT rule on towing on this specific ground.
Don't build your plan on rumours: apply early and the question never arises.
Step by step: a car from Ukraine (non-EU)
According to the DGT page on importing a car from outside the EU (dated 03.11.2025):
- Customs. Obtain the Certificado de Importación H1 confirming that the car has cleared customs. Which duties and VAT apply to a refugee's car we did not verify; the DGT itself advises checking this with Agencia Tributaria first.
- ITV. Pass the technical inspection at an ITV station. You need the registration document from the country of origin, proof of European homologation (CoC, ficha técnica reducida) and the purchase contract or invoice.
- IEDMT. File form 576, 06 or 05 (which one depends on your case) with Agencia Tributaria and obtain the tax document.
- IVTM. Pay the municipal vehicle tax and keep the receipt.
- DGT. Apply for registration and pay tasa 1.1. Under the instruction, the application is accepted if the applicant is authorised to reside, has been assigned a NIE and has a confirmed address.
- Placas verdes. While the paperwork is in progress, the DGT issues temporary plates for 2 months, renewable.
A car from another EU country goes through a different procedure, described on a separate DGT page.
The IEDMT tax: how much, and can you avoid it
IEDMT is a one-off tax on first registration. If the region has not set its own rates, the base rates from art. 70 of Ley 38/1992 apply (Península):
| CO₂ emissions | Rate | | ------------------ | ------ | | up to 120 g/km | 0% | | 120–159 g/km | 4.75% | | 160–199 g/km | 9.75% | | 200 g/km and above | 14.75% |
Autonomous communities may set their own rates, so check the rate for your region. Older cars often fall into the upper bands.
The relocation exemption (art. 66.1.n) is granted only if all the conditions are met:
- you lived outside Spain for at least 12 consecutive months before moving;
- the car was bought with normal taxation in the country of origin;
- you used the car at your previous place of residence for at least 6 months before leaving;
- the application is filed within the deadline of art. 65.1.d);
- the car is not sold within 12 months after registration (otherwise the tax is charged retroactively).
The exemption is not guaranteed
In consultation V0313-23 of the Dirección General de Tributos, a Ukrainian citizen asked for an IEDMT exemption for a car brought from Ukraine under temporary protection. According to press reports, the exemption was refused because the condition of 6 months' use before departure was not met. We have not read the full text of the consultation; the link is in the sources. Check your case with a gestoría (paperwork agency) before filing, not after.
Driving licence and insurance
Licence. A valid Ukrainian driving licence is recognised in the EU for as long as you are under temporary protection. No sworn translation or international permit is needed (DGT note of 4 August 2025). When protection ends, the licence loses its validity. If temporary protection is extended, the licence remains valid for the whole new period. Details on the exchange are in our driving licence exchange guide.
Insurance. Compulsory insurance is required on foreign plates too. According to OFESAUTO, outside the EEA a car drives on an international insurance certificate (CIS, the "green card") from its own insurer or on insurance bought at the border. Whether your policy covers Spain for the whole period, ask your insurer: we did not verify this. Once the car is re-registered, take out a Spanish policy.
Common mistakes
- Counting 213 days from entry. The count runs from the resolution date.
- Waiting until the last day. ITV, the tax and the DGT appointment take weeks, and the cita previa may be booked up.
- Counting on the IEDMT exemption without checking. The conditions are strict; the refusal in V0313-23 shows it.
- Believing figures from chats. "180 days" and "tow truck" are not confirmed by sources.
- Forgetting insurance. An expired "green card" turns any check into a problem.
Useful contacts
- DGT, Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico — car registration, placas verdes. Information line: 060.
- Agencia Tributaria — customs clearance (H1) and the IEDMT tax (forms 576, 06).
- Gestoría de tráfico — get the full cost of re-registration for your car calculated before starting the procedure.
This material is for reference and does not replace advice. Deadlines and tax rates change: check them on the DGT and Agencia Tributaria websites before applying. Sources last checked: 26 September 2026.