Driving a Borrowed Car Abroad: Download Your Legal Authorization Template for Molins de Rei

Planning a road trip outside of Spain with a vehicle that isn't registered in your name? Whether you are borrowing a friend’s car or using a family member’s vehicle, Spanish authorities and international border controls require proof that you have the owner's explicit permission to take the car across the border. This article provides a practical guide and a ready-to-use legal authorization template to ensure you avoid complications while traveling from Molins de Rei or elsewhere in Spain.

Instructions on how and where to submit it in Molins de Rei

This document is a private authorization between the vehicle owner and the driver. It does not need to be submitted to the local Molins de Rei Town Hall (Ajuntament) or the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) offices. Instead, you must carry the physical, signed document with you at all times during your trip. To ensure its legal validity, follow these steps:

• Download and complete the template below with the owner's and driver's details.
• Notarization: While not strictly mandatory by law, it is highly recommended to have the owner's signature "legitimized" by a Notary Public. This provides an official seal that prevents any questioning of the document’s authenticity by foreign police or border guards.
• Print the document in color and keep it in the glove compartment alongside the vehicle’s original registration papers (Permiso de Circulación) and the ITV card.

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

D./Dña. ________________________________________, con DNI/NIE ________________, en calidad de propietario/a del vehículo con matrícula _______________ y marca/modelo __________________________.

Mr./Ms. ________________________________________, holder of ID/NIE ________________, as the owner of the vehicle with license plate _______________ and make/model __________________________.

AUTORIZA A / AUTHORIZES:

D./Dña. ________________________________________, con DNI/NIE ________________, a conducir el vehículo anteriormente mencionado fuera de las fronteras de España, incluyendo la circulación por territorio europeo y países extranjeros, durante el periodo comprendido entre el ____/____/____ y el ____/____/____.

Mr./Ms. ________________________________________, holder of ID/NIE ________________, to drive the aforementioned vehicle outside the borders of Spain, including circulation within European territory and foreign countries, during the period from ____/____/____ to ____/____/____.

En Molins de Rei, a ____ de ____________ de 20____.

Firma del propietario / Owner's Signature: ______________________

Additional documentation required

Beyond this authorization, you must ensure you have the following documents ready for your trip:

• Original Registration Certificate (Permiso de Circulación): Never travel with a photocopy; the original is required.
• ITV (Inspection Card): Ensure the vehicle has a valid ITV sticker and the corresponding report, as foreign police will check this.
• Proof of Insurance: Carry the latest payment receipt and the "Carta Verde" (Green Card), which is an international certificate of insurance that proves you are covered outside of Spain.
• Driver's License: Ensure your Spanish or EU driving license is valid and current.

Expert Tip: If you are traveling outside the European Union, check if your insurance policy covers the specific countries you intend to visit. Some insurers exclude certain zones. Additionally, if the vehicle is financed or leased, you should contact the financial institution to request a specific letter of authorization, as the bank technically holds interest in the vehicle, and a standard private template may not be sufficient for them.