If you've just brought a car in from mainland Spain or another EU country, the registration process can look like a wall of unfamiliar acronyms — DUA, ITV, COC, DGT. Here's the order things actually happen in.
1. Customs clearance (DUA)
Before anything else, the vehicle needs to clear customs into the Canary Islands through a DUA declaration. This is a formal step even for vehicles coming from within Spain, since the islands sit outside the EU customs and VAT area.
2. Technical documentation
If your vehicle has a Certificate of Conformity (COC), this step is straightforward. If it doesn't, a Ficha Reducida — a reduced technical sheet — needs to be prepared instead, which takes a bit more work but is a standard, well-understood process.
3. ITV inspection
Imported vehicles typically need an ITV inspection before registration. Turning up with the right paperwork already prepared is what usually decides whether this goes quickly or turns into a second visit.
4. Tax assessment
Depending on the vehicle, certain import taxes may apply — or you may qualify for an exemption. This is worth checking before the file is submitted, not after.
5. Submission to the DGT
Once the technical and customs steps are complete, the full file goes to the Spanish traffic authority for registration. This is where you get your matrícula and official registration documents.
None of these steps are unusual on their own — the friction usually comes from doing them in the wrong order, or turning up to one office without what the next one will ask for. That's the part we handle.