Online procedures for your car during the state of emergency

We tell you about the 8 vehicle procedures you can carry out online while the lockdown imposed under the state of emergency lasts.

The insurance comparison site Acierto.com has put together the paperwork that can be handled from home during this period of isolation due to COVID-19. The coronavirus is bringing the world to a standstill. It has caused the shutdown of factories producing cars, driving tests with the DGT have been suspended, and the situations in which you can go out onto the street and take your car have been restricted.

The restrictions on the free movement of citizens have meant that many of the procedures we would have had to carry out for our car during these weeks have been made impossible. That is why it is useful to know that many of these tasks can be completed from home.

1. Obtaining information

If we are interested in buying or selling a car, the DGT’s Electronic Headquarters has a section with the necessary information and the essential documents for completing the buy-sell process. In addition, the website also provides the documentation for changing ownership, notifying a sale and changing the habitual driver.

2. Changes of ownership

Changing the ownership of a car can also be done online. The application must be submitted by the buyer of the vehicle and is available through the electronic register of the General Access Point of the Administration. Once completed, the transfer of ownership form and proof of payment will be required.

3. Registration

It may seem surprising, but registration can also be done electronically. Having our vehicle registered is the first thing we must do, since it is essential for driving it. On the DGT website we will find the official form. The owner will need to provide the current MOT (ITV), the registration tax paid and the proof of payment of the corresponding fee.

4. Insurance

Another mandatory requirement when acquiring a vehicle is having third-party liability insurance. Although you may think this can only be done in person, it is a procedure that is very quick to handle online. The process starts with insurance comparison sites, where the customer can assess which option suits them best. Once decided, everything is done through phone calls with the operators of the chosen insurer.

5. Assessment

During the state of emergency, loss adjusters are not carrying out their work in person for obvious reasons. However, some insurance companies are offering this assessment service online. The loss adjuster assesses the damage to the car and calculates the compensation using photos and videos provided by the policyholder. For the time being, this procedure is usually applied to minor claims.

6. Fines

Any fines that are pending or that arrive during the lockdown can be paid through the DGT website. In addition to paying the penalty, it is possible to submit allegations or appeals to identify the driver who was driving the car at the time. Other procedures available may include requesting a refund of a payment or checking whether any fines are outstanding, should you, for whatever reason, not have been able to contact us.

7. Driving permits

In this section, the owner of a car can obtain a special mobility authorisation. The mobility procedures section includes exceptional documents that we can print to obtain a certificate allowing us to travel on the roads during the state of emergency.

8. Other procedures

The DGT website also allows you to check other matters related to your car, such as driving licence points, the status of a driving licence application, exam results (if you took the test before the quarantine) and how to obtain a duplicate driving licence.