Download Free Car Deposit Contract Template (Contrato de Arras) for Vilagarcia De Arousa (Word/PDF)

Buying or selling a used car privately in Spain can be a straightforward process, but it requires legal precautions to protect both parties. A Contrato de Arras para Reserva de Compra de Coche (Car Purchase Deposit Contract) is a legally binding preliminary agreement. It allows a buyer to reserve a vehicle by paying a small deposit (arras), guaranteeing that the seller will take the car off the market, while committing the buyer to complete the final purchase within an agreed timeframe. If the buyer backs out, they lose the deposit; if the seller backs out, they must legally return double the amount.

Instructions on how and where to use it in Vilagarcia De Arousa

Unlike official government paperwork, a private car deposit contract does not need to be submitted to a local office like the Ayuntamiento de Vilagarcia de Arousa or the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) at the moment of signing. Instead, it is signed privately between the buyer and the seller, ideally in duplicate so both parties keep an original signed copy.

Here is how to handle the process step-by-step in Vilagarcia de Arousa:

• Meet in person: Inspect the vehicle thoroughly. It is common practice to meet in a public, accessible area within Vilagarcia de Arousa (such as near the port or a local commercial parking lot) to review the car and sign the paperwork.
• Sign the contract: Both the buyer and seller must fill out and sign the bilingual template provided below.
• Transfer the deposit: Pay the agreed-upon deposit amount via bank transfer or cash, ensuring you obtain a signed receipt if paid in cash.
• Finalize at the DGT: Once the final payment is made and the main sales contract is signed, you must complete the official change of ownership (cambio de titularidad) through the DGT or via a gestoría in Pontevedra/Vilagarcía.

CONTRATO DE ARRAS PENITENCIARIALES / PENITENTIAL DEPOSIT CONTRACT

En Vilagarcia de Arousa, a [Día] de [Mes] de [Año]
(In Vilagarcia de Arousa, on [Day] of [Month] of [Year])

REUNIDOS / PARTIES

DE UNA PARTE (EL VENDEDOR / THE SELLER):
Nombre y Apellidos (Name and Surname): [Nombre del Vendedor]
DNI/NIE: [DNI del Vendedor]
Domicilio (Address): [Dirección], Vilagarcia de Arousa, Pontevedra
Teléfono (Phone): [Teléfono]
Correo Electrónico (Email): [Email]

Y DE OTRA PARTE (EL COMPRADOR / THE BUYER):
Nombre y Apellidos (Name and Surname): [Nombre del Comprador]
DNI/NIE: [DNI del Comprador]
Domicilio (Address): [Dirección]
Teléfono (Phone): [Teléfono]
Correo Electrónico (Email): [Email]

Ambas partes se reconocen mutua y recíprocamente la capacidad legal necesaria para el otorgamiento del presente contrato y, a tal fin,
(Both parties mutually recognize each other's legal capacity to enter into this contract and, to that end,)

EXPONEN / DECLARE

PRIMERO: Que el Vendedor es dueño del vehículo que se detalla a continuación:
(FIRST: That the Seller is the owner of the vehicle detailed below:)
- Marca / Make: [Marca]
- Modelo / Model: [Modelo]
- Matrícula / License Plate: [Matrícula]
- Bastidor / VIN: [Número de Bastidor]

SEGUNDO: Que estando interesado el Comprador en la adquisición del citado vehículo, ambas partes han acordado celebrar un CONTRATO DE ARRAS PENITENCIARIALES, el cual se regirá por las siguientes:
(SECOND: That the Buyer being interested in acquiring the aforementioned vehicle, both parties have agreed to enter into a PENITENTIAL DEPOSIT CONTRACT, which will be governed by the following:)

CLÁUSULAS / CLAUSES

PRIMERA (Precio): El precio total pactado para la compraventa del vehículo es de [Importe Total en Letras] euros ([Importe en Números] €).
(FIRST (Price): The total agreed price for the sale of the vehicle is [Total Amount in Words] euros ([Amount in Numbers] €).)

SEGUNDA (Arras): En este acto, el Comprador entrega al Vendedor en concepto de señal o arras la cantidad de [Importe de la Seña en Letras] euros ([Importe en Números] €) a través de [Método de pago: efectivo / transferencia bancaria], sirviendo este documento como eficaz recibo de dicho pago.
(SECOND (Deposit): In this act, the Buyer delivers to the Seller as a deposit the amount of [Deposit Amount in Words] euros ([Amount in Numbers] €) via [Payment method: cash / bank transfer], this document serving as an effective receipt for said payment.)

TERCERA (Plazo): La firma del contrato definitivo de compraventa y el pago del importe restante de [Importe restante] € se realizarán antes del día [Fecha límite] de [Mes] de [Año].
(THIRD (Term): The signing of the final sales contract and the payment of the remaining amount of [Remaining amount] € shall be carried out before [Deadline Date] of [Month] of [Year].)

CUARTA (Incumplimiento): Si el Comprador desistiere del contrato, perderá la cantidad entregada en concepto de arras. Si el Vendedor desistiere, estará obligado a devolver al Comprador el doble de la cantidad recibida, de conformidad con el artículo 1454 del Código Civil español.
(FOURTH (Breach): If the Buyer withdraws from the contract, they will lose the amount delivered as a deposit. If the Seller withdraws, they shall be obliged to return to the Buyer double the amount received, in accordance with Article 1454 of the Spanish Civil Code.)

Y en prueba de conformidad, ambas partes firman el presente documento por duplicado y a un solo efecto en el lugar y fecha arriba indicados.
(And in proof of conformity, both parties sign this document in duplicate and for a single purpose at the place and date indicated above.)

Fdo. El Vendedor / Signed by the Seller: _____________________

Fdo. El Comprador / Signed by the Buyer: _____________________

Additional documentation required

To successfully complete the car purchase transaction in Vilagarcia de Arousa after signing the deposit contract, you will need to gather and verify the following documents:

• Permiso de Circulación (Registration Certificate): Proves the car is legally registered in Spain.
• Tarjeta de Inspección Técnica (ITV Card): Must show that the vehicle has passed its periodic inspections (ITV) up to date. Ask to see the physical ITV sheet with the latest inspection stamp.
• Receipt of IVTM (Impuesto sobre Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica): Proof that the local municipal vehicle tax for Vilagarcia de Arousa (or the corresponding municipality where the car was last registered) has been paid for the current year.
• Valid DNI / NIE / Passport: Identification copies from both the buyer and the seller for drafting the final bill of sale (contrato de compraventa).

As an expert tip, always request a "Informe Reducido o Completo del Vehículo" from the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) before handing over any money for the deposit. This report costs a small fee online and will reveal if the car has any hidden fines, outstanding financial embargoes, or unresolved administrative blocks that could prevent you from registering it in your name at the DGT office in Pontevedra.