Car purchased not in buyers name

It is the buyer's responsibility in Spain to change the ownership details. 

Annual car taxes stay with the car. Although it may be in the old owner's name, when your friend eventually gets around to putting it in his name then any outstanding debts stay with the car and he will be responsible for any outstanding fees (and possible late fines).

If he's unsure how to put it in his name, get him to go to a gestor or company that does transfer of ownership. 

"It is the buyer's responsibility in Spain to change the ownership details"

True however I don't believe there is any actual law on the matter and the cost is usually by agreement between seller and buyer. Suma is the responsibility of the registered owner on Jan 1st.

I hope your friend has the correct paperwork signed by the owner (who still is BTW) otherwise he will likely encounter some difficulty in transferring it without. Even with it there may be some awkward questions to be answered especially if there any offences registered against the vehicle whilst in your possession, or indeed prior to buying it.

He may well need the services of someone like https://www.spanish-number-plates.com/

Correos, who will also do the change of registration, states "The Change of Vehicle Ownership process must be completed whenever any motor vehicle is bought or sold. This is the legal process by which the buyer formally notifies the Traffic Authority about the new individual who owns the vehicle."

It is also pointed out on the DGT site that the purchaser is to provide the paperwork and identification required to change the ownership in order to ensure that previous fines, either administrative or traffic, are removed from the record for the new driver.

English advice lawyers state "it is the buyer's responsibility to notify the DGT of change of ownership".

Sounds pretty much like the law to me.

OK, if you buy through a dealer he will normally do it for you but you have to sign the paperwork for it to go through. 

Correos will do the transfer of ownership for you for 25 euro plus the (was) 55.70 DGT fee. 

Thank you everyone

He has had the car for at least 8 yrs and still not transferred. 

Anyone who drives a vehicle in Spain should take a look at the N332 website as it deals with anything to do with driving in Spain.   It is for English speaking people and is run in conjunction with officers of the Guardia Civil.   There is an English version of the Spanish equivalent of the Highway Code on there.

Biggest problem will probably be when he comes to sell it if he doesn't have the registered owners ID etc.

Also if the previous years road tax wasn't paid it will not be able to be transferred.

As your friend still isn't the registered keeper and therefore not paid the Suma/road tax, ask him to check with his insurer how they view this, different insurers take different views on this, he could have been driving around uninsured for years.

Ken

How has he ma aged to insure a vehicle if the registration details are not in his name?

That company is for registering cars ie. imports isn't it?

I can recommend this company for car ownership transfers

https://simpleenglishadvice.com/