Second-hand scooter: change of owner step by step

What should you check before buying a second-hand scooter?

Before paying, check these points with the scooter and its paperwork in front of you:

• Is it certified? Look for the manufacturer's black plate with the certificate number (a letter and four digits, such as B1134). If it isn't certified, it can only be ridden until 22 January 2027.
• Does the serial number match? The one on the scooter must be the same as the one on the registration certificate, the technical data sheet or the invoice.
• Is it registered with the DGT? Ask for the registration certificate PDF and check that the registered owner is the person selling it to you and that the M number is the same as the one on the label.
• Does it have an invoice? It isn't compulsory, but it helps you know where the scooter comes from.
• Has it been tampered with or does it go faster than 25 km/h? Then it is no longer a personal mobility vehicle (VMP, vehículo de movilidad personal): it cannot be registered as a moped and cannot be ridden.

How is the change of owner done, step by step?

If the scooter is already registered, it isn't registered again: a change of owner is done with the DGT. There is a 30-day deadline and a fee of €8.67, the same as for registration (fee 4.1).

The registration number doesn't change, and it's the same one shown on the label. The DGT explains the procedure on its online office (sede electrónica).

What should the sale contract include?

A signed contract puts in writing what is being sold, to whom, for how much and in what condition. It should include:

• Full name and DNI or NIE (Spanish ID card or foreign national's identity number) of the seller and the buyer.
• Make and model of the scooter.
• Serial number.
• Registration number (M 0000 AAA).
• The model's certificate number, if it has one.
• Price.
• Date of sale.
• Condition of the scooter.
• A statement from the seller that the scooter is free of any charges and isn't stolen.
• Both signatures.

If you have any doubts about the contract, ask your gestor (administrative agent).

What if you're the one selling the scooter?

As the seller, your part is simple, but don't leave it half done:

• Sign the sale contract and keep a copy.
• Hand over the registration certificate together with the scooter.
• When the buyer starts the change of owner, authorise it: you have 72 hours.

If the scooter isn't registered, the buyer will register it in their name: give them the scooter's details and, if you have it, the purchase invoice.

What if the second-hand scooter isn't registered?

Then there's no change of owner to do: the new owner registers it directly in their name, with their details and the scooter's.

Do it before you take it out on the street. Registration in the DGT's Vehicle Register has been compulsory since 30 January 2026 (Royal Decree 52/2026), and to be ridden, the scooter must be registered with the DGT, carry the identification label and have third-party liability insurance (Law 5/2025).

We register it in your name for €35 all inclusive, with the certificate in under 24 hours. If you also need the identification plate (placa identificativa: the identification label the DGT requires, which many people call the scooter's number plate or sticker), the registration + plate pack costs €45 + €4.95 shipping. First, check which documents you need.

What if it isn't certified? Watch out for 22 January 2027

A non-certified scooter can be registered with its make, model and serial number, but it can only be ridden until 22 January 2027. After that it can't be ridden, unless it first obtains an extraordinary certification from an authorised laboratory.

Since 22 January 2024, the models on sale must be certified, although non-certified scooters are still sold online. If you're offered one, work out how many months you'll be able to use it before you pay. We explain it in non-certified scooter: what to do before 22/01/2027.

What about insurance?

To be ridden, the scooter needs third-party liability insurance (Law 5/2025), with minimum cover of €6,450,000 for personal injury and €1,300,000 for property damage. This insurance only covers you in Spain. Before you ride your second-hand scooter, check that it's insured: the DGT fines not having a policy in place at €202 to €610 and riding without one at €250 to €800.

We don't sell insurance, but when we register your scooter we send you a link to a partner, with policies from €44. More details in compulsory scooter insurance.

Why does having the scooter registered help if it's stolen?

The registration certificate links the scooter's serial number to its owner's name. If it's stolen, you'll have the serial number and the M number to hand to identify it when you report the theft.

If you're buying, those same papers protect you: be wary if the seller has neither the certificate nor the invoice, if the serial number has been erased or if it doesn't match the documents, and ask for the contract to state that the scooter isn't stolen.

Frequently asked questions about changing a scooter's owner

How much does it cost to change the owner of a scooter?

The DGT fee is €8.67, the same as for registering it (fee 4.1).

Does the scooter's number plate change when you sell it?

No. The registration number (M 0000 AAA) doesn't change when the owner changes.

How long do you have to change the owner?

30 days. The buyer starts it and the seller has 72 hours to authorise it.

How do I register a scooter bought on Wallapop?

Like any second-hand scooter: if it was already registered, the change of owner is done with the DGT; if it wasn't, you register it in your name. Before paying, check the serial number and whether it's certified.

Is it a good idea to buy a non-certified second-hand scooter?

Think it over carefully: if it was sold before 22 January 2024 it can be registered, but it can only be ridden until 22 January 2027, unless it obtains an extraordinary certification from an authorised laboratory.