Buying a VTC licence in 2026: the definitive guide

Updated: July 2026. All figures are sourced and dated; the index is recalculated every month.

You will be purchasing an administrative licence that costs between €23,000 and €198,000, depending on the province. If done properly, the process takes 7–15 days from the deposit. And almost all the headaches associated with this market can be avoided by checking the information on this page. That’s all you need to know before you start; now, let’s look at the details.

What exactly are you buying?

A VTC licence is an administrative authorisation for the hire of a vehicle with a driver: the permit required to work with Uber, Cabify or Bolt, or with direct customers (what this is, in detail). Three features make it a valuable asset:

It is in short supply. The window for new authorisations has effectively been closed for years. The ratio used to justify refusals can no longer be applied automatically — the Supreme Court overturned it in 2024 — but as of July 2026, no province is issuing licences as a matter of course (what the CJEU and the Supreme Court said).
It is transferable. It can be bought and sold with the approval of the regional transport authority.
It is tied to its territory. The 80/20 rule requires the majority of services to be provided in the region where the licence is registered. You buy in Madrid, or you buy in Seville: you do not buy for the whole of Spain (the rule, explained).

How much does it cost, province by province

The ‘VTC360’ index for July 2026, based on verified transactions and offers, with the sample size (n) shown for each figure:

Balearic Islands — €198,014 (n=25). The most expensive market: tourist demand and a rigid supply.
Madrid — €145,502 (n=20). The country’s deepest and most liquid market.
Barcelona — €92,064 (n=26). 37 per cent below Madrid: this is the regulatory discount for the most litigated region.
Málaga — €67,952 (n=21). In third place, driven by the airport and the Costa del Sol.
Valencia — €60,928 (n=12) and Seville — €55,692 (n=7).
Zaragoza — €36,716 (n=16) and A Coruña — €23,016 (n=7), at the bottom of the table.

Seven of the eight series have risen by around +5.2 per cent year-on-year; Valencia, by +3.8 per cent. The complete series, month by month, can be found at the price index; the analysis by location, at how much will a VTC licence cost in 2026, province by province.

A trend is demonstrated by closing figures: the public register of transactions publishes each closing price along with its price range and days on the market. The latest figures: Madrid at €120,000–125,000 (63 days), Barcelona at €85,000–90,000 (43 days), Valencia at €55,000–60,000 (60 days). To go from the index to a specific licence, the valuation tool gives you the price range in a minute, without asking for your email address. And the short answer from the guide is in how much does a VTC licence cost.

The real costs (what the advert doesn’t tell you)

The price of the licence is the biggest expense, but not the only one. Budget for the following:

Transfer tax. Rule of thumb: if you’re buying from a business owner or practising professional, the transaction is subject to 21% VAT — which, if you’re buying for a business, you’ll normally pay upfront and claim back, so you don’t lose out. If you’re buying from a private individual, you’ll pay ITP (your region’s transfer tax): this isn’t deductible; it’s a pure cost. Classifying the transaction incorrectly could cost you thousands of euros years down the line; details on VAT or ITP and the buyer’s full tax guide are in the guide.
Fees and administration for the change of ownership. A smaller amount, which varies by region. If you’re doing it yourself, factor in the cost of an agency: someone has to prepare a file that gets approved first time round (how much does the transfer itself cost).
The vehicle, if not included. Lease or buy, with the environmental label your city actually requires (what vehicle do you need).
Passenger insurance, which is significantly more expensive than private insurance (how much does it cost).
Rule of thumb: set aside a buffer of 5–10 per cent of the price for taxes and closing costs, and confirm the exact figure before paying the deposit, not afterwards.

What about VTC360’s fees? For the buyer, €0: the fees are paid by the seller and are published (how it works).

How to check that the registration is clear

This is where the good buys are separated from the legal battles over number plates. Four checks, in order:

1. Ownership. The seller must be the registered owner, or have power of attorney from the owner. You can check this yourself, free of charge, in the Ministry’s official register (step-by-step guide, with search function). 2. Encumbrances and seizures. A licence may carry seizures or debts that are passed on to the buyer (you can buy a licence with debts, but here’s what you need to know). 3. Validation. This is the periodic review of the licence — generally every two years. A licence with an expired validation is a red flag until the matter is clarified: it may end up lapsing, and with it the entire asset (what it means to be validated and what happens if the deadline has passed). 4. Penalties and income. Open penalty proceedings, and the golden rule regarding price: undocumented income is income that does not exist. A verified 12–18-month period, cross-checked against platform and bank statements — the income certificate — is accepted; a verbal promise is disregarded.

The warning signs almost always give a heads-up: a price well below the market rate without paperwork, artificial haste, unclear ownership, screenshots instead of settlement statements. The full list, so you don’t have to learn the hard way.

The step-by-step process, with the warning signs explained

At VTC360, every purchase follows the same path — the escrowed transaction — and you follow it step by step:

1. You view the property licence and its verified details. Ownership, encumbrances, planning permission and any penalties are checked before publication; income, where applicable, is certified. 2. You reserve it with a deposit. This is 1 per cent of the price, with a minimum of €2,000, and it does not go into the seller’s account: it is blocked and protected in an escrow account. A bit of maths: with cheaper licences, the minimum applies — on a price of around €23,000, that €2,000 is actually 8.7 per cent. You know this before you sign, not afterwards. 3. Legal due diligence. We check that the licence is transferable and that it is in good standing: free from encumbrances or penalties, with the licence up to date. If anything goes wrong, the deposit is refunded in full. 4. The full purchase price is held in escrow. The seller knows the money is there; you know it won’t be released until the licence is transferred into your name. 5. Signing and filing. The sale contract and application for the change of ownership with the authorities, with the full set of documents submitted correctly the first time — corrections are the number one cause of endless transfers (how to transfer, step by step). 6. The licence is registered in your name and the seller receives payment. The completion is published in the price index and contributes to the index.

With all documentation in order, the target timeframe is 7–15 days from the deposit (why a private transfer takes 4–8 weeks). The part that depends on no one but the authorities — registration — has its own deadlines depending on the local authority.

Common mistakes (and what they cost)

Deposit not held in escrow. ‘Reserve it today with €3,000 via Bizum’ is a donation made in the hope of a future transaction. The deposit must always be signed for in a contract and deposited.
Miscalculating the tax. Paying VAT as property transfer tax — or vice versa — results in a parallel tax assessment with interest years later.
‘I’m taking it to my home county.’ Changing the address on the authorisation is not an automatic process; in tight markets, it may not be possible. The 80/20 rule applies.
Paying the price of a certified deed based on a promise. Without paperwork, you either negotiate a discount or demand a valuation based on comparable properties. Never both at the same time: a high price and blind faith.
Ignoring an imminent licence renewal. The periodic review won’t wait for your signature.
Buying without a financial buffer. The 5–10 per cent in taxes and closing costs isn’t optional; it’s only a surprise if you haven’t budgeted for it.

Before you decide: four frequently asked questions

Self-employed or a company? Both options are valid; the choice is a matter of tax and asset management. And buying the licence is not the same as buying the holding company (the comparison).
Can it be financed? Yes, by combining different options — bank loan, vehicle lease, deferred payment — but not like a mortgage (the four actual options).
What about if you’re a foreigner? It’s possible, subject to residence and business activity requirements (the details).
Are the licence packages cheaper? Sometimes, but they aren’t always the best option (licence packages).

The full list of requirements for buyers — few in number, but essential at the right time — can be found at what do I need to buy.

And after buying: operating, selling or leasing

The licence only becomes worthwhile when it generates income, and there are three ways to achieve this. Drive it yourself, as a self-employed person: all the profit and all the work. Hire a driver: in major cities, a driver earns a net salary of €1,300–1,700 per month, and the business costs — salary plus social security contributions — are the largest item in the accounts (what a driver earns, with calculator by city). Or lease it to a fleet and collect rent without operating it yourself. To gauge expectations: verified operators on the network report turnover of €6,500–7,100 per month per vehicle in major cities (how much a private hire vehicle generates per month), from which platform commission, driver’s pay, vehicle costs and insurance are deducted (the fixed costs, item by item). Run your figures through the profitability simulator before you buy, not afterwards.

What if you’d rather apply for a new licence?

That’s the other route, and it’s an option: apply, receive a rejection and fight it. Following the Supreme Court ruling, the applicant’s position is stronger than before, but it comes at a cost in terms of time and specialist advice. The current status of the application process, province by province and with sources cited, can be found at where to apply for a new licence following the Supreme Court ruling; the feasibility test compares your situation with the costs and timeframes for each route. And if the regulatory situation in your province concerns you — it should, at the very least — the regulatory map publishes it with the current date.

The shortlist

Index for your province with a sample → costs with a 5–10 per cent buffer → ownership, encumbrances, planning permission and penalties verified → income certified or discounted → deposit only with a contract and held in escrow. With that, you buy with the discipline of someone who carries out ten transactions a year.

The live listings, with their verification status clearly displayed, can be found on the marketplace. If your plan is to buy to let and collect rent without managing the property yourself, follow the investor’s guide. And if you’re on the other side of the table, the definitive guide to selling is the page for you.

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Sources: VTC360 index (July 2026, sample published for each figure) · public register of transactions VTC360 · Register of Transport Companies and Activities (Ministry of Transport) · CJEU, Case C-50/21 (June 2023) · Supreme Court case law on the ratio (2024). This guide is revised with each monthly update of the index.