How to find out if a car has liens or seizures
If a car has a seizure or retention of title, you will not be able to transfer it into your name and could lose it without getting your money back. Check before you pay.
Why you need the report
- A lien blocks the transfer: no matter that you sign the contract, the car will not pass into your name.
- You need to tell a seizure, a retention of title and an impoundment apart, because each has different consequences.
- Checking liens before paying protects your money from debts that are not yours.
What the report shows in this case
- Seizures recorded against the vehicle.
- Retention of title from outstanding finance.
- Administrative or judicial impoundments.
- The vehicle’s general administrative status.
- Temporary or permanent deregistrations.
What you should understand
- What a seizure is: a charge over an owner’s debt that blocks the change of name.
- What a retention of title is: the car is on finance and the owner is not yet its full owner.
- What an impoundment is: an administrative or judicial immobilisation of the vehicle.
- How these liens appear in the relevant section of the report.
- What to do if there is a lien: demand its cancellation before paying, or walk away.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see liens for free?
The DGT does not offer a free, complete, instant listing for private individuals. The report gathers and presents this information clearly and verifiably in a single lookup.
Seizure or retention of title — what’s the difference?
A seizure is a charge over the owner’s debt; a retention of title means the car is on finance and not yet the seller’s full property. Both block the transfer.
Can I still buy a car that has liens?
You can agree to, but you won’t be able to register it in your name until the lien is cancelled. The prudent move is to require cancellation before paying.
Does the DGT report include the Registro de Bienes Muebles?
It is complementary. The Registro de Bienes Muebles certificate is a separate procedure; the DGT report reflects the liens and notes held in the traffic registries.
Check for liens before you pay
Look up by plate or VIN and find out in seconds whether the car carries seizures, retention of title or impoundments.