When you buy an apartment on the Costa del Sol, the plaza de garaje (parking space) and trastero (storage room) are often sold as separate items — sometimes bundled into the price, sometimes as optional extras costing thousands more. The single most important thing to establish before you sign anything is whether each one is a separate registered property (finca registral independiente) with its own deed and tax, or an annexe (anejo) legally tied to your flat. That one distinction decides your taxes, your ability to sell or rent the space, and whether it can ever be repossessed independently.
In short: on the Costa del Sol (and across Costa Blanca, Costa Cálida and Costa Almería), a garage bought as its own finca is taxed and deeded separately, whereas an annexe is simply part of your apartment and shares its deed. This guide sets out the 2026 rates, realistic prices, the deed checks that matter, and the rules on renting a space out for extra income — all grounded in Spain's four southern costas where Mediter operates.
There are two ways a garage or trastero appears in the Land Registry:
Why does it matter so much? Because an independent finca is a separate transaction with its own transfer tax, its own notary and registry line items, and — crucially — the seller could in theory keep the flat and sell you only part, or a previous owner's debt could sit against just the garage. Always ask your lawyer to pull a nota simple for the parking space and the storeroom as well as the apartment, so you can see any charges or mortgages registered against each one.
We cover the mechanics of the signing itself in our notary and completion day guide.
Prices vary enormously by location and whether parking is scarce (coastal town centres) or plentiful (inland urbanisations). The figures below are realistic 2026 ranges for the four costas — always treat them as a guide, not a fixed tariff.
| Region | Plaza de garaje | Trastero | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa del Sol (Marbella, Estepona, Benalmádena) | €18,000–€45,000+ | €6,000–€18,000 | Highest prices; prime beachfront and central plazas can exceed €50,000 |
| Costa Blanca (Alicante, Torrevieja, Dénia) | €10,000–€28,000 | €4,000–€12,000 | Cheaper inland; scarcer near the marinas |
| Costa Cálida (Murcia, Mar Menor) | €8,000–€20,000 | €3,000–€9,000 | Often bundled free with new-build golf apartments |
| Costa Almería (Mojácar, Vera, Roquetas) | €7,000–€18,000 | €3,000–€8,000 | Best value of the four costas |
In many off-plan schemes the parking space is either included or offered as an add-on. Read our comparison of off-plan vs resale to understand how developers structure these extras — and always confirm whether a "free" garage is genuinely free or simply built into a higher headline price.
The tax follows the same rules as the property itself and depends on whether it is a resale or new build, and in which autonomous community it sits. One point catches many buyers out: the tax base is the higher of the price paid or the cadastral valor de referencia. If the reference value of the garage is above what you paid, you are taxed on the reference value.
| Region (autonomous community) | ITP rate 2026 |
|---|---|
| Costa del Sol & Costa Almería (Andalucía) | 7% |
| Costa Cálida (Murcia) | 7.75% |
| Costa Blanca (Comunidad Valenciana) | 9% (reduced from 10% for deeds signed from 1 June 2026; 11% band above €1M) |
Note for Costa Blanca buyers: it is the notary signing date that determines whether the 9% or the old 10% applies, not the date of your arras (deposit) contract. Many competitor sites still quote the outdated Murcia rate of 8% — the correct 2026 figure is 7.75%.
A brand-new garage bought from a developer at the same time as the apartment attracts 10% IVA plus Actos Jurídicos Documentados (stamp duty). If, however, the garage is sold to you as a separate, standalone unit by the developer, it may be treated at the standard 21% IVA — a genuine trap. Always ask your lawyer to confirm the VAT treatment in writing.
| Region | AJD rate |
|---|---|
| Costa del Sol & Costa Almería (Andalucía) | 1.2% |
| Costa Blanca (Comunidad Valenciana) | 1.4% |
| Costa Cálida (Murcia) | 1.5% |
On top of tax you have the usual completion costs — notary (~0.2–0.5%), land registry (~0.1–0.25%), lawyer (~1% + IVA) and a gestoría (~€300). Where the garage is a separate finca, expect small additional notary and registry line items for the extra entry, though these are modest for low-value units.
A garage or trastero registered as a separate finca can carry its own share of community charges and its own IBI (council tax) bill. Where it is an annexe, its costs are usually folded into the apartment's coefficient. Check the split before you buy, and factor it into your budget alongside our guide to community fees on the Spanish costas.
Underground garages in coastal blocks can attract extra derramas (special levies) for ventilation, ramps, lifts or waterproofing, so ask the administrator for the last two years of community accounts.
Yes — and it is one of the simplest, lowest-hassle income streams available to a Costa del Sol owner. A separate parking space is easy to let, especially in high-demand town centres such as Málaga, Fuengirola and central Marbella where residents and businesses will pay a monthly rent for a secure plaza.
Typical monthly rents in 2026:
Renting a garage does not require a tourist rental licence — the VUT/VFT rules apply to holiday accommodation, not parking. A simple written rental contract for a parking space or storeroom is straightforward. However, a few rules apply:
Rental of a garage falls under general contract law rather than the residential LAU tenant-protection rules, which makes it far more flexible for the owner — you are not tied into long minimum terms.
If parking is scarce where you are buying — the historic centres of Málaga, Estepona old town, Dénia or the Mar Menor marinas — owning a plaza materially boosts your apartment's resale value and rentability. In spacious inland urbanisations where street parking is easy, a paid garage may add less. As a rule of thumb, an owned garage on the Costa del Sol tends to hold its value well and is one of the easiest assets to resell independently.
For buyers weighing overall costs and lifestyle, our rent vs buy analysis for the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol puts these smaller decisions in context. And if you are financing the apartment, note that a separately deeded garage may or may not be included in your mortgage valuation — confirm this with your lender and read our non-resident mortgage guide.
No. Sometimes it is an inseparable annexe included in the price, sometimes it is a separate property sold as an optional extra costing thousands more. Always confirm on the deed and in the sale price which items are included.
ITP at 7% in Andalucía (Costa del Sol and Costa Almería), calculated on the higher of the price or the cadastral valor de referencia. Costa Cálida (Murcia) is 7.75% and Costa Blanca (Valencia) is 9% for deeds signed from 1 June 2026.
Yes. If registered as an independent finca registral it has its own registry number, cadastral reference and can be bought, sold, mortgaged or rented separately from the apartment.
No. Tourist rental (VUT/VFT) licences apply to holiday accommodation. Letting a garage or trastero needs only a simple rental contract, though it may involve charging 21% VAT and declaring the income.
Only if it is registered as an independent finca. An annexe (anejo inseparable) can only be sold together with the apartment it is attached to.
For coastal apartments with limited storage, a trastero adds genuine convenience for bikes, beach gear and suitcases, and is relatively cheap (from around €3,000 in Costa Almería). It also adds a small but real resale premium in space-tight blocks.
Whether you want an apartment with a dedicated garage in Estepona, a storeroom in Benalmádena, or a rental-ready plaza in Málaga, the details in the deed are where the value — and the pitfalls — hide. Mediter Real Estate works across the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Costa Cálida and Costa Almería and will check the deed structure, taxes and community rules for every unit before you commit. Explore areas like Benalmádena or Estepona, then get in touch with our team to find the right property — parking included.
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