If you carry more money than allowed, they will ask you for explanations, but it will not be the DGT who does it
Two news items published this week have made us ask ourselves a question: how much cash can you legally carry in your car?
The question arose after learning that a couple of days ago a rain of 50-euro bills had paralyzed traffic on the A-7 highway as it passed through the Malaga town of Marbella. They say that the money was transported by two citizens of Arab origin inside the car when they suffered an accident that caused the uncontrolled exit of the money.
Also that, almost at the same time, the Municipal Police of Madrid had stopped a driver, this one of Chinese origin, who had no less than 200,000 euros in bills in the trunk.
How much cash can you carry in the car?
This second driver was arrested because although he claimed to be the owner of a bazaar and that he was going to pay suppliers with the money, he could not provide a receipt or a Treasury permit proving the origin of the money.
For this reason, he was transferred to the National Police station where he was released after giving a statement; but the money has been confiscated pending trial. The driver was only able to recover 1,000 euros in maintenance.
We return to the question: how much cash can you transport in the car without what happened to this driver?
The lawyers of the fine management company Dvuelta explain that “Law 10/2010 on the prevention of money laundering, in article 34, prevents people from traveling with more than 100,000 euros without having previously declared it, that is, when there is no justification really the origin of the money”.
It is important to clarify that this Law does not only apply to the money that you transport by car, motorcycle or van, but is mandatory at any time and/or place. Also, in case you are discovered with a higher amount in the vehicle, it will not be the DGT who initiates the corresponding legal actions since it is beyond its competence.