Best used cars

Four used car businesses in Torre del Mar carry a public rating, with more than 430 reviews between them. The gap between first and second in this table is unusually wide, more than thirty points, so it is worth reading rather than skimming.

Three checks before you pay anything

• The vehicle report from the traffic authority. It shows ownership history, charges or liens on the vehicle and outstanding issues. A dealer will produce it and a private seller can obtain it. Never skip it on a private sale.
• The ITV. The Spanish roadworthiness certificate. Check the expiry date, not just that one exists, because the next test may be weeks away and it is a real cost.
• The transfer of ownership. Filed with the traffic authority, with a fee and a transfer tax. Dealers normally handle it; for a private sale a gestoría will. Until it is filed, fines still reach the previous owner.

You need a Spanish tax number first

Registering a vehicle in your name requires an NIE or DNI and an address in Spain. Sort that before falling in love with a car.

Reading the table

With four businesses and a spread this wide, the review count matters as much as the score: it shows how many transactions have actually gone through the door, which in this trade is the closest thing to a track record.