He registration system in Spain It is quite simple and known to everyone. However, there are still some strange or coloured number plates that many people do not know what they mean. We have already talked about the blue ones for taxis and VTCs, as well as the temporary red ones. To this list we will now add the diplomatic plateswhich do not correspond to their color, but there are several types. We talk about all the ones there are and the privileges they grant.
Who can carry diplomatic registration?
- People in Diplomatic Mission and Consular Offices based in Spain.
- International organizations or supranationals that have signed
Headquarters Agreement with the Spanish State. - Diplomatic agentscareer consular officials of
foreign nationality and officials of International Organizations with
diplomatic status. - Technical-administrative staff of Diplomatic Missions and of the
International Organizations as well as consular employees of the
Consular Offices.
Types of diplomatic plates
- Reds – with three groups of white characters: the letters CD, two numbers that identify the Diplomatic Mission (in short, the country they represent) and two or three numbers corresponding to vehicles owned by the Diplomatic Mission or its members. They identify the vehicles of the Diplomatic Corps.
- Green – with three groups of white characters: the letters CC, two numbers indicating the Diplomatic Mission (country) and two or three numbers corresponding to vehicles owned by the Diplomatic Mission or the Consular Office itself. They identify the vehicles of the Consular Corps.
- Yellow – with three groups of black characters: the letters TA, two or three identifying figures of the Diplomatic Mission (country), International Organization or Consular Office and the serial number of the vehicles belonging to its technical-administrative staff, identify the vehicles of the Administrative Technicians.
- Blues – with three groups of white characters: the letters OI, two or three figures identifying the Organization and two or three figures corresponding to vehicles owned by the Organization or its members, identify the vehicles of International Organizations.
Privileges of diplomatic registrations
- Tax exemptions – They have 400 litres of fuel per month tax-free. This is a fundamental advantage, since we have already seen that almost half of what is paid for petrol is taxes. This also applies to the private sector, since they do not pay VAT on supplies such as water, gas or electricity.
- Free parking – In cities such as Madrid with regulated parking, vehicles with diplomatic plates can park for free. Often this is not necessary, as they have reserved spaces at their headquarters. There are also a number of free parking spaces at Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport.
- Importation of vehicles – Cars fitted with diplomatic plates can also be imported with certain advantages. They do not pay VAT, customs duties or registration tax. They do not even have to homologate anything and can import foreign vehicles without having to pass an ITV (Inspection and Testing) test. In some cases, models as exotic as a Ferrari 599 GTO, RAM 1500 or BMW M5 have been seen with these plates.
Finally, a peculiarity of diplomatic plates is that they do not depend on the DGT like the rest. They are in charge of issuing them, but the one who grants them is directly from the Ministry of Foreign AffairsTherefore, those who wish to obtain it because they consider it their right must manage it directly with the Ministry.
