The exact list varies a little depending on whether you're importing a vehicle from elsewhere or registering under a change of residency, but most cases need the same core set of documents. Here's what each one is actually for.
NIE and passport, or DNI
Your proof of identity, and for non-Spanish nationals, your NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) confirms you're entitled to hold a vehicle registered in Spain in your name.
Original vehicle registration certificate
The registration document from the vehicle's country of origin — this establishes what the car is and who currently owns it, and forms the basis for the new Spanish registration.
Certificate of Conformity (COC), if you have one
This covers the technical data side of registration in one document. If your vehicle doesn't have one, that's not a dead end — it just means a Ficha Reducida needs to be prepared instead.
Proof of address in Spain
Something showing where you're resident — a padrón certificate, a rental contract, or a utility bill in your name are the usual options.
Purchase invoice or sales contract
If you bought the vehicle recently, this confirms the transaction and the price, which also feeds into any tax assessment.
If it's a change-of-residency case
You'll also want anything that supports your move to Tenerife — proof of your previous address abroad and evidence of when you arrived, since the timing is what determines whether a tax exemption applies.
Missing one or two of these isn't unusual and doesn't mean starting over — send what you have and we'll tell you what's still needed for your specific case.