How to Legally Drive a Borrowed Car Abroad from Alcover: Download Your Authorization Template

Planning a road trip across borders using a vehicle that isn't registered in your name? If you are departing from Alcover or anywhere in Spain, you cannot simply take the keys and drive. To avoid complications with border police, insurance claims, or potential vehicle theft reports, you must carry a formal authorization document signed by the vehicle's owner. This guide provides a practical template to ensure your travel remains stress-free.

Instructions on how and where to submit it in Alcover

This document is a private agreement between you and the vehicle owner. It does not need to be "submitted" to the Alcover Town Hall (Ajuntament d'Alcover) or the DGT, but it must be ready to be presented to authorities if requested. For maximum legal weight, we strongly recommend the following steps:

• Notarization: Visit a Notary Public (Notario) in the Valls or Tarragona area to have the owner's signature "legitimized" (legalized). This proves the signature is authentic.
• Language: Always keep a copy in Spanish (the official language of the country of registration) to ensure local police can understand the authorization immediately.
• Validity: Ensure the document clearly states the start and end dates of your trip.

AUTORIZACIÓN PARA LA CONDUCCIÓN DE VEHÍCULO EN EL EXTRANJERO / AUTHORIZATION TO DRIVE A VEHICLE ABROAD

DATOS DEL PROPIETARIO / OWNER DATA:
Nombre/Name: ____________________________ DNI/Passport: ________________
Dirección/Address: ____________________________________________________

DATOS DEL VEHÍCULO / VEHICLE DATA:
Matrícula/License Plate: ________________ Marca/Make: ____________________
Bastidor/VIN: __________________________

DATOS DEL CONDUCTOR AUTORIZADO / AUTHORIZED DRIVER DATA:
Nombre/Name: ____________________________ DNI/Passport: ________________
Carné de Conducir/Driver’s License: ______________________________________

DECLARACIÓN / DECLARATION:
ES: El abajo firmante, como propietario del vehículo arriba indicado, AUTORIZA expresamente a la persona designada para conducir dicho vehículo fuera del territorio nacional español, desde el día [Fecha Inicio] hasta el día [Fecha Fin].
EN: The undersigned, as the owner of the vehicle mentioned above, EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZES the designated person to drive said vehicle outside of Spanish territory, from [Start Date] to [End Date].

Firmado en/Signed in Alcover, a [Día] de [Mes] de [Año].

Firma del Propietario / Owner’s Signature: _______________________

Additional documentation required

Beyond this authorization letter, you must carry the following original documents to comply with Spanish and international traffic laws:

• Permiso de Circulación: The original vehicle registration document.
• Tarjeta de Inspección Técnica (ITV): Proof that the vehicle has a valid technical inspection.
• Insurance Policy: A copy of the insurance policy (Recibo del seguro). Check with your provider if your policy covers international travel (Carta Verde/Green Card is highly recommended for countries outside the EU/EEA).
• Valid Driver's License: Ensure your license is valid for the countries you intend to visit.

Expert Tip: Before leaving Alcover, contact your insurance company to inform them that someone else will be driving the car abroad. Some insurance policies have clauses that restrict coverage if the driver is not the policyholder or a named driver. Having this written authorization is your best defense, but having the insurance company's confirmation is your best safety net.