DGT-Carfax Agreement Extension Until October 2027: What Changes for the Used Car Market

Key data

The used vehicle sales market in Spain continues to have a key tool to combat fraud: Carfax's access to vehicle registry data from the General Traffic Authority (DGT). The Resolution of September 14, 2026 from the General Technical Secretariat publishes the addendum that extends this agreement from October 27, 2026 to October 26, 2027.

What is relevant is not only that the agreement continues, but what happens after: this is the third and final annual extension allowed of the original agreement signed in 2021. After October 2027, without a new agreement negotiated from scratch, the data flow is interrupted.

What does this regulation establish?

The original agreement between the Central Traffic Authority and Carfax Vehicle History, SL was signed in 2021 with a clear objective: to allow Carfax to access DGT vehicle registry data to improve road safety and combat fraud in used car sales.

The addendum now published activates the third annual extension, maintaining exactly the same clauses and conditions of the original agreement. There are no modifications in scope, in the type of data shared, or in the obligations of the parties.

Economic and operational impact

For the used vehicle sales sector, this agreement has a direct impact on the transparency and security of transactions. The vehicle history reports offered by Carfax—used by buyers, dealerships, online sales platforms, and insurers—are partly fed by official data from the DGT registry.

The real operational risk is concentrated in October 2027: if DGT and Carfax do not reach a new agreement before that date, history reports will no longer incorporate data from the Spanish public registry. This would directly affect the reliability of pre-purchase checks and could increase fraud risk in the market.

From a data protection perspective, the agreement regulates access to vehicle registry information under controlled conditions, ensuring that the processing of that data is carried out with sufficient legal basis. The interruption of the agreement without a replacement would mean that Carfax could no longer legitimately access that data source.

Who does it affect?

• Used vehicle buyers: use Carfax reports to verify the car's history before purchasing. The continuity of the agreement ensures that these reports continue to include official DGT data.
• Private and professional sellers: can prove the clean history of their vehicles through reports backed by public registry data.
• Dealerships and used car sales platforms: integrate history reports into their valuation, sales, and warranty processes. They depend on the agreement's validity to maintain the reliability of these reports.
• Carfax Vehicle History, SL: company directly linked to the agreement as a signatory party. Must initiate negotiation of a new agreement before October 2027.
• Central Traffic Authority / DGT: data-providing party, responsible for negotiating the new agreement if collaboration is to be maintained.
• Insurance companies and financial entities: that use vehicle history data for risk assessment and financing of sales transactions.

Practical example

A used vehicle dealership in Madrid uses Carfax reports as part of its standard verification process before putting a car up for sale. Thanks to the current agreement, these reports include data from the official DGT registry: owner history, possible liens, vehicle inspection data, etc.

With the extension active until October 26, 2027, the dealership can continue operating normally throughout that period. However, if in October 2027 there is no new agreement signed between DGT and Carfax, the reports it contracts from that date will no longer be backed by official data from the Spanish registry. The dealership would have to seek alternative verification sources or assume greater risk in its pre-sale checks.

This scenario is especially relevant for digital sales platforms that process hundreds or thousands of transactions per month and have integrated history checks as an automated step in their operational flow.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify if your operations depend on Carfax reports: if your company regularly uses Carfax vehicle history reports in sales, valuation, or financing processes, identify the volume and criticality of that dependency.
2. Mark the October 2027 deadline on your calendar: from October 26, 2027, the agreement expires with no possibility of automatic renewal. Any interruption of the data service will directly affect your processes.
3. Follow the negotiation of the new DGT-Carfax agreement: as this is the final possible extension, both parties will need to negotiate a completely new agreement. Monitor BOE publications and Carfax communications to anticipate whether there will be service continuity or interruption.
4. Evaluate alternative verification options: if there is a risk that the new agreement will not be signed in time, assess what other data sources or vehicle history services you could use as backup.
5. Review contracts with Carfax: if you have commercial agreements with Carfax for the supply of reports, check what happens contractually if access to DGT data is interrupted and whether there are service continuity clauses.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-19594