Road tax, as its name suggests, is a tax that must be paid by owners of vehicles traveling on public roads. This fee is intended to contribute to Expenditure on maintenance and improvement of road infrastructuresuch as roads or highways, among others, and its amount can depend on several factors, such as the type of vehicle, its age, its power or the emissions it emits outside.
How much does road tax cost?
In Spain, road tax It is managed by the municipal councils of each commune.the cost can therefore vary considerably depending on the city or autonomous community in which you reside. For small cars, the price varies between 300 and 100 euros per year. In medium-sized vehicles, the figure usually rises to 100 or 250 euros. In medium-sized cars, this rises to 250 or 500 euros per year.
On the other hand, hybrid and electric vehicles, thanks to their characteristics, will pay a fee of 30 or 100 euros per year, 50% less than combustion cars which have the same qualities. Motorcycles, for their part, will pay from 10 to 50 euros; and vans and utility trucks around 100 or 500 euros per year, depending on various aspects, as is the case in all the cases mentioned (weight, pollution, etc.).
How to pay road tax online
In many cases, Town Halls allow you to consult and pay road tax online, even without needing to receive the physical receipt. To do this, specifically follow these steps:
- Access the town hall website of your municipality or at the electronic headquarters of the Tax Agency of your autonomous community.
- Look for the option of paying taxes or road tax. This option is usually found under the “Tributes” or “Local taxes”.
- Enter vehicle details: you will need to enter the registration number or file number. On other platforms, they also allow you to search for the receipt by entering the car owner’s ID.
- Payment by check: Once the data is entered, you will be able to see the amount you have to pay. If there is no problem or error regarding the vehicle, you can proceed to pay the fee.
- Make payment online: Official websites usually offer various payment options, such as credit cards, debit cards or bank transfers. Make sure you get payment confirmation.
- Receive proof of payment: After making the payment, be sure to keep the receipt, whether in digital or printed format. This document will serve as proof that you have paid the tax.
How to pay road tax without a receipt
If you have not received your road tax receipt or lost it directly, you can still pay the fees without the relevant documentsbecause there are several alternatives to do so. Next, we will detail what the right methods are.
- As we explained above, we can pay online via the town hall website by simply entering the license plate of the vehicle concerned.
- Likewise, it will be possible pay by bank If you have access to this option in your bank.
- Request a duplicate receipt at City Hall.
- Pay in person at the Town Hall or at a partner bank branch.
As a special recommendation, make sure keep the receipt payment in a safe place to avoid future problems. If you have any questions about payment terms, you can contact your local town hall directly and they will provide you with all the relevant information.
Do ECO and hybrid cars pay road tax?
The million dollar question for anyone who owns a hybrid or electric car: Yes, ECO and hybrid cars pay road taxbut in many cases they can benefit from reductions in the amount of tax due to their environmental characteristics. The exact discounts and bonuses available vary depending on the municipality or autonomous community in which the vehicle is registered. However, these cars have some common advantages.
- Prime in road tax, both for ECO and hybrid vehicles.
- Cost reduction: on the one hand, ECO cars can be completely exempt from paying road tax or benefit from discounts of up to 75% of the amountwhile hybrids benefit from partial discounts in major cities.
What happens if you don’t pay registration tax?
If you do not pay vehicle registration tax, you could face a series of economic and even legal consequences. It’s worth noting that these fees are mandatory, so if you don’t want to get in trouble, you need to pay them on time. Next, we will detail some of the possible consequences.
- Surcharge in tax
- Withholding or immobilization of the vehicle
- You will have problems renew the Technical inspection of vehicles (ITV)
- You will not be able to sell the vehicle
- Unable to change ownership of the car
- Difficulty accessing tax benefits or subsidies
