No home, no car: Fewer Spaniards can afford to buy a vehicle

Spain faces increasing difficulty accessing car ownership, with 5.4% of the population unable to afford a vehicle in 2025—a trend opposite to that observed across Europe.

The Spanish automotive market is undergoing a paradigm shift, where owning a private car is becoming an increasingly inaccessible luxury. In 2025, the figure of Spaniards unable to afford a vehicle stood at **5.4%**, representing an increase from the previous year and a notable difference from the general trend in the **European Union**. While the overall trend within the Community bloc shows a reduction in inequality and pogre access to car ownership, the situation in Spain is the opposite.

## The car, a luxury slipping away

The proportion of Spaniards who cannot afford a private car has been increasing over the last four years. This phenomenon is explained by a confluence of factors: the rising cost of new vehicles, workers' loss of purchasing power due to wage stagnation, escalating prices, and increased tax pressure. According to data from **Eurostat**, **5.4%** of the Spanish population could not afford to purchase a private car in 2025, which is one-tenth higher than in 2024 and eighth higher than in 2017. While this figure aligns with the European average, it contrasts sharply with the downward trend observed elsewhere on the continent.

The European Union has managed to reduce the proportion of citizens unable to afford a car by two percentage points over the last decade, moving from **7.6%** in 2016 to lower figures in subsequent years. In contrast, Spain, which recorded a rate of **4.6%** in 2017—below the European average—has seen this trend reverse. Trinc the pandemic, the deterioration has accelerated, with **4.9%** in 2020 and 2021, **5%** in 2022, **5.2%** in 2023, and **5.3%** in 2024, reaching **5.4%** in 2025.

## Driving licenses and used cars, limited alternatives

The difficulty in accessing a car is not limited to the purchase of the vehicle itself. Obtaining a driving license has become an obstacle for many young people. According to **Auto Bild**, only **48%** of those under 34 in Spain possess a license from the **Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT)**, with economic factors being the main impediment, given costs ranging from **800 to 1,500 euros**.

This situation has driven a shift in market preferences, leading to a boom in used cars. In 2025, title transfers of private vehicles exceeded **3.2 million** for the first time, compared to only **1.3 million** new registrations. This gap, which has been widening increasingly, was not seen since the 90s and is exacerbated during periods of economic difficulty. Wage stagnation and price increases by traditional brands have fueled demand for used vehicles and low-cost imports, especially from countries like **China**.

## Factors making mobility expensive

Several elements contribute to the car becoming increasingly unaffordable. The price of new vehicles, influenced by anti-pollution regulations, fines, and low emission zone restrictions, has skyrocketed. This is compounded by the rising cost of used cars, which in turn is affected by the price increases of new models.

Job insecurity, with many workers earning the Minimum Interprofessional Wage (**SMI**), drastically limits savings capacity. The costs of breakdowns and spare parts in garages, lack of parking spaces, and associated taxes like the **IVTM** and hydrocarbon taxes add to the financial burden. The imposition of electric cars, without being a viable option for all pockets or circumstances, also generates debate.

In contrast, in rural areas, the car remains an essential tool for mobility, especially for young people seeking independence and access to opportunities outside their localities. In these environments, the driving license is obtained almost out of necessity, unlike in cities, where public transport and other mobility alternatives are gaining ground.