Download the Ultimate Car Deposit Contract Template in Estivella (Word & PDF)

Buying or selling a second-hand vehicle privately in Estivella can be a smooth process, but it requires legal safeguards to protect both parties. A "Contrato de Arras" (Earnest Money Contract) is a binding preliminary agreement where the buyer pays a small financial deposit to reserve the car, and the seller takes the vehicle off the market. This document ensures commitment: if the buyer backs out, they lose the deposit; if the seller backs out, they must return double the amount. Below, you will find a practical guide and a ready-to-use bilingual template tailored for transactions in Estivella.

Instructions on how and where to use it in Estivella

Unlike bureaucratic paperwork involving the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) or the Ayuntamiento of Estivella, a Car Earnest Money Contract is a private agreement between two individuals. You do not need to submit it to any local government office in Estivella at the exact moment of signing. Instead, follow these steps:

• Print two copies of the bilingual template below so both the buyer and the seller can keep an original signed version.
• Fill in all the requested details accurately, especially the vehicle's license plate (matrícula), VIN number, and agreed final price.
• Make the deposit payment via bank transfer or cash (keeping a receipt if cash is used).
• Keep this signed contract until the final bill of sale (contrato de compraventa) is executed and the ownership transfer is officially registered at the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico.

CONTRATO DE ARRAS PENITENCIALES / EARNEST MONEY CONTRACT

En Estivella (Valencia), a [Día] de [Mes] de [Año]. / In Estivella (Valencia), on this [Day] of [Month], [Year].

REUNIDOS / PARTIES

DE UNA PARTE, D./Dña. [Nombre Apellidos Vendedor], con DNI [Número DNI], y domicilio en [Dirección en Estivella], en adelante el VENDEDOR.
OF THE ONE PART, Mr./Ms. [Seller Name], with ID [ID Number], and address at [Address in Estivella], hereinafter the SELLER.

Y DE OTRA PARTE, D./Dña. [Nombre Apellidos Comprador], con DNI [Número DNI], y domicilio en [Dirección], en adelante el COMPRADOR.
AND OF THE OTHER PART, Mr./Ms. [Buyer Name], with ID [ID Number], and address at [Address], hereinafter the BUYER.

Ambas partes se reconocen capacidad legal suficiente para este otorgamiento y / Both parties mutually recognize sufficient legal capacity for this agreement and:

EXPONEN / DECLARE

1. Que el VENDEDOR es propietario del vehículo marca [Marca], modelo [Modelo], matrícula [Matrícula], y número de bastidor (VIN) [Número de Bastidor].
1. That the SELLER is the owner of the vehicle brand [Brand], model [Model], license plate [License Plate], and VIN [VIN Number].

2. Que el COMPRADOR está interesado en la adquisición del citado vehículo por el precio total acordado de [Precio Total en Letras] euros ([Precio Total en Números] €).
2. That the BUYER is interested in purchasing the aforementioned vehicle for the agreed total price of [Total Price in Words] euros ([Total Price in Numbers] €).

CLÁUSULAS / CLAUSES

PRIMERA (Arras): En este acto, el COMPRADOR entrega al Vendedor la cantidad de [Cantidad Arras en Letras] euros ([Cantidad Arras en Números] €) en concepto de señal o arras penitenciales, cantidad que será desglosada del precio final de venta.
FIRST (Deposit): In this act, the BUYER delivers to the SELLER the amount of [Deposit Amount in Words] euros ([Deposit Amount in Numbers] €) as earnest money, which will be deducted from the final sale price.

SEGUNDA (Plazo): El otorgamiento del contrato definitivo de compraventa y el pago del resto del precio pendiente ([Precio Restante] €) se realizará antes del día [Fecha Límite] de [Mes] de [Año].
SECOND (Deadline): The execution of the final sales contract and the payment of the remaining price ([Remaining Price] €) shall take place before [Deadline Date] of [Month], [Year].

TERCERA (Incumplimiento): Si el COMPRADOR desiste de la operación, perderá la cantidad entregada. Si el Vendedor incumpliera, estará obligado a devolver el doble de la cantidad recibida, conforme al artículo 1454 del Código Civil.
THIRD (Default): If the BUYER withdraws from the operation, they will lose the delivered deposit. If the SELLER defaults, they must return double the amount received, pursuant to Article 1454 of the Spanish Civil Code.

Y en prueba de conformidad, firman el presente documento por duplicado en Estivella.
And in witness thereof, the parties sign this document in duplicate in Estivella.

Fdo. El Vendedor / The Seller: ___________________      Fdo. El Comprador / The Buyer: ___________________

Additional documentation required

To successfully finalize the purchase of the vehicle after signing this contract in Estivella, you will need to gather several mandatory documents. Make sure the seller provides you with the vehicle's Permiso de Circulación and Tarjeta de Inspección Técnica (ITV card, ensuring it is up to date). Additionally, the seller must present proof that the local road tax (Impuesto sobre Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica - IVTM) for the previous year is fully paid, ideally in the Ayuntamiento of Estivella or the municipality where the car was previously registered. Finally, both parties must present their valid Spanish DNI, NIE, or Passport during the final transfer of ownership.

As an expert tip, never hand over the remaining balance or let the car leave your possession without a formal "Contrato de Compraventa" and a signed "Solicitud de Cambio de Titularidad" form from the DGT. If you want absolute peace of mind, request a specialized vehicle report (Informe Reducido o Completo) from the DGT beforehand to guarantee the car has no hidden fines, loads, or pending seizures.