Buying a Car in Valuengo: Download Your Essential Deposit Agreement Template (Arras)
If you are planning to purchase a vehicle in Valuengo, Spain, you need to protect yourself during the negotiation phase. In Spanish law, a Contrato de Arras is a private deposit agreement that formalizes the commitment between the buyer and the seller. By signing this document and paying a small deposit, you ensure that the seller reserves the car for you at the agreed price, preventing them from selling it to another party while you arrange the final payment or inspection.
How and where to use this document in Valuengo
This document is a private contract, meaning it does not need to be submitted to a government office or the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) at the moment of signing. You simply need to print two copies, have both the buyer and seller sign every page, and keep one copy each. If you are buying from a private individual in Valuengo, this contract serves as your legal guarantee. Once the final sale is completed, you will then proceed to the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico to officially transfer the vehicle's title (the Permiso de Circulación).
CONTRATO DE ARRAS PARA LA COMPRAVENTA DE VEHÍCULO / VEHICLE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
REUNIDOS / THE PARTIES:
VENDEDOR / SELLER: [Name], con DNI/NIE [Number], con domicilio en [Address].
COMPRADOR / BUYER: [Name], con DNI/NIE [Number], con domicilio en [Address].
OBJETO / OBJECT: El VENDEDOR se compromete a vender al COMPRADOR el vehículo / The SELLER agrees to sell to the BUYER the vehicle:
Marca/Make: [Brand] | Modelo/Model: [Model] | Matrícula/License Plate: [Plate] | Bastidor/VIN: [VIN]
PRECIO Y ARRAS / PRICE AND DEPOSIT:
El precio total acordado es de [Amount] €. / The total agreed price is [Amount] €.
El COMPRADOR entrega en este acto la cantidad de [Deposit Amount] € en concepto de arras. / The BUYER pays today the amount of [Deposit Amount] € as a deposit.
CONDICIONES / CONDITIONS:
Si el COMPRADOR desiste, perderá la cantidad entregada. Si el VENDEDOR desiste, deberá devolver el doble de la cantidad recibida (Art. 1454 Código Civil). / If the BUYER withdraws, the deposit is forfeited. If the SELLER withdraws, they must return double the deposit received (Art. 1454 Civil Code).
Firmado en Valuengo, a [Date]. / Signed in Valuengo, on [Date].
Firma Vendedor / Seller Signature: ____________________
Firma Comprador / Buyer Signature: ____________________
Additional documentation required
While the Contrato de Arras is your initial step, ensure you verify the following documents before handing over the full payment for the car:
- ITV Card (Ficha Técnica): Ensure the vehicle has passed its technical inspection and that the dates are current.
- Permiso de Circulación: Verify the identity of the owner matches the person signing the contract.
- Informe de Vehículo (DGT): I highly recommend requesting a report from the DGT to check for any "cargas" (liens, debts, or embargoes) on the vehicle.
- Proof of Tax Payment: Ensure the annual "Impuesto de Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica" (IVTM) has been paid for the current year.
Expert tip: Never pay the full amount for a used car until you have signed the formal Contrato de Compraventa and have the keys and the vehicle documentation in your possession. If you are unsure about the mechanical state of the car, use the time granted by this Contrato de Arras to take the vehicle to a trusted mechanic in the Valuengo area for a pre-purchase inspection.