How long it takes to bring a car from Germany

The Premium Cars team15 September 20263 min read

Leg by leg

1. The ferry

It tends to be what worries people most and it is almost never the problem. From Barcelona to Mallorca there are daily sailings, and there are more routes from Barcelona, Valencia and Dénia to the different islands. We deliberately give no specific durations or frequencies here: they change with the season and the ferry company's website cannot be cited in a stable way, so a number written months ago misleads more than it helps. You check them with the ferry company in the same month as the crossing.

You reach Formentera via Ibiza: there are frequent sailings throughout the day, especially in summer, but it is worth confirming that the particular vessel takes vehicles, because not all of them do. And its port, La Savina, is the island's only entry point for goods and passengers.

2. The import ITV

Here there is variability, because each island organises it differently (we set it out in this article). None of the four island councils publishes waiting times for imports.

3. The traffic authority

The fact almost nobody knows: the DGT sets three months as the maximum period for deciding a registration, and warns that if there is no answer within that period silence counts as a refusal. In practice it does not take that long, but it is the legal ceiling, and it explains why nobody serious promises you a fixed date.

So, how long?

With the car located, the papers in order and the payment made, our estimate is around 10 days to delivery. It is an estimate, not a commitment to a date: it depends on the car, on the ferry and on the ITV appointment.

What really delays it

An invoice without the seller's European VAT number: it has to be asked for again. It is the silliest failure and the most common.
Incomplete documentation from the country of origin: without it there is neither an ITV nor a file.
ITV appointments. In Menorca there was a collapse in appointments that forced the website to close for months, and in Ibiza, since the end of August 2026, you have to pay when you book. These are press reports, not rules, but they affect planning.
High season in Ibiza and Formentera: both islands limit vehicle entry in the summer months, each with its own law and with the period its island council approves. We set it out in the article on costs.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the DGT take to register a car?

Its maximum period for deciding is three months, and it warns that silence counts as a refusal. In practice it is usually much less.

How long is the crossing to Mallorca?

From Barcelona there are daily sailings. We do not give the crossing time here because it changes with the season and the vessel, and the ferry company website cannot be cited reliably: check it with the operator when you plan.

Can the car be taken to Formentera?

Yes, via Ibiza, but only some vessels on that route take vehicles. It is worth checking when planning the delivery.

What delays an import most?

The papers: an invoice without the seller's European VAT number, or incomplete documentation from the country of origin, stops the file before it starts.