How to Secure Your Vehicle Purchase in Parla: Essential Deposit Agreement (Contrato de Arras) Template
Buying a used car from a private seller in Spain can be daunting. To ensure that the seller does not sell the vehicle to someone else while you arrange your financing or schedule a mechanical inspection, you need a Contrato de Arras. This is a private deposit agreement that legally binds both parties: if the seller backs out, they must return double your deposit, and if you back out, you lose the deposit. This document provides the legal security you need when finalizing a vehicle transaction in Parla.
Instructions on how and where to use this document in Parla
This is a private contract between you and the seller. You do not need to submit this to the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) or the Parla Town Hall at this stage. Instead, follow these steps:
- Meet with the seller in person to inspect the vehicle and review the documentation (Permiso de Circulación and Ficha Técnica).
- Fill out the bilingual template below in two identical copies—one for you and one for the seller.
- Both parties must sign every page of the document.
- The deposit amount is typically between 200€ and 500€. Ensure you obtain a receipt or document the transfer method clearly.
- Once the final sale is agreed upon, you will proceed to the formal Contrato de Compraventa and the transfer of ownership at a local Gestoría in Parla or directly via the DGT website.
CONTRATO DE ARRAS PENITENCIALES / PENITENTIAL DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
REUNIDOS / PARTIES
De una parte, D./Dña. ___________________________, con DNI/NIE ____________, en adelante "EL VENDEDOR" / "THE SELLER".
De otra parte, D./Dña. ___________________________, con DNI/NIE ____________, en adelante "EL COMPRADOR" / "THE BUYER".
OBJETO / OBJECT
El VENDEDOR se compromete a vender al COMPRADOR el vehículo / The SELLER agrees to sell to the BUYER the vehicle:
Marca/Modelo: ____________ Matrícula/Plate: ____________ Bastidor/VIN: ____________
PRECIO Y ARRAS / PRICE AND DEPOSIT
El precio total de venta es de ________ € (Total sale price). El COMPRADOR entrega en este acto la cantidad de ________ € en concepto de ARRAS / The BUYER pays today the amount of ________ € as a DEPOSIT.
CONDICIONES / CONDITIONS
Si el COMPRADOR desiste de la compra, perderá las arras entregadas. Si el VENDEDOR desiste, deberá devolver el doble de la cantidad recibida (Art. 1454 Código Civil español) / If the BUYER withdraws, the deposit is forfeited. If the SELLER withdraws, they must return double the amount received.
FECHA LÍMITE / DEADLINE
La compraventa se formalizará antes del día ____ de __________ de 202__. / The sale shall be finalized before the date ____ of __________ 202__.
En Parla, a ____ de __________ de 202__.
Firma Vendedor / Seller Signature: _______________ Firma Comprador / Buyer Signature: _______________
Additional documentation required
While the Contrato de Arras secures the intent, the actual transfer of ownership will eventually require:
- The original Permiso de Circulación of the vehicle.
- Proof of payment of the Impuesto de Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica (IVTM) for the previous year (paid at the Parla City Hall).
- A copy of the DNI or NIE of both the buyer and the seller.
- A formal Contrato de Compraventa signed by both parties.
- Payment of the Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales (Model 620) to the Comunidad de Madrid.
Expert Tip: Never hand over cash without a signed receipt or a bank transfer trace. Before signing any agreement, check the vehicle's status on the DGT website (Informe de Vehículo) to ensure there are no outstanding liens, seizures, or unpaid fines (cargas) associated with the car. If you are unfamiliar with the process, visiting a local Gestoría in Parla is a small investment that can save you significant trouble later.