ROMA Register: which agricultural machinery must be registered and how to prepare the application
A guide to identifying which machinery must be registered with ROMA, preparing the documents and reviewing a transfer or deregistration of agricultural equipment.
Key points
ROMA brings together data on agricultural machinery, its registered holder and the associated agricultural activity. State registration covers the machines included in Annex II of Royal Decree 448/2020, with additional requirements that each autonomous community may establish.
What ROMA is and why it matters to the farm operator
The Official Register of Agricultural Machinery, known as ROMA, is a register administered at autonomous-community level. Its purposes include identifying the agricultural machinery fleet, checking that registered machines comply with current regulations and verifying certain conditions relating to machinery that has received aid or subsidies.
Registration brings together the identification of the registered holder and proof of their agricultural activity, the type and characteristics of the machine, and the location where the main part of the holding is based. The file therefore links registered machinery to its registered holder and the declared agricultural activity.
The main state-level regulation is Royal Decree 448/2020, on the classification and registration of agricultural machinery. The decree itself allows autonomous communities to establish additional documents or requirements, so it is advisable to check the relevant regional ROMA office before submitting an application.
Section references: Real Decreto 448/2020, sobre caracterización y registro de la maquinaria agrícola ↗
- ROMA identifies the machine, its registered holder and their agricultural activity.
- The register is administered at autonomous-community level.
- The autonomous community may require additional documents or requirements.
Which machinery must be registered: categories and cases to confirm
The state registration requirement applies to machinery used in agricultural activity — farming, livestock or forestry — that belongs to the groups in Annex II of Royal Decree 448/2020 and complies with the regulations applicable to it. The machine's actual use is relevant: its appearance or commercial name alone is not enough to determine whether it must be registered.
The categories expressly included are agricultural and forestry tractors, walk-behind cultivators (motocultores), tractor carts (tractocarros), self-propelled machines and carriers, trailed machines and agricultural trailers. They also include tanks for transporting and distributing liquids, trailed or mounted plant protection equipment, and manually pulled trolley-type sprayers with tanks of more than 100 litres.
Annex II also includes trailed or mounted fertiliser distribution equipment, slurry spreaders and accessories for localised slurry application. A machine not included in these groups may still be subject to registration if official credit or a subsidy was received for its purchase. Autonomous communities may also determine that other machines must be registered and notify the ministry.
Section references: Real Decreto 448/2020, sobre caracterización y registro de la maquinaria agrícola ↗
- Confirm the equipment's technical category in Annex II of Royal Decree 448/2020.
- Check whether its purchase was linked to official credit or a subsidy.
- If in doubt about a particular machine, consult the regional ROMA office before applying.
ROMA and ITV: different obligations
Registration with ROMA and the ITV serve different purposes. ROMA records information about agricultural machinery, its registered holder and the related agricultural activity, while the periodic ITV inspection checks whether a vehicle is fit to travel on public roads.
The ITV inspection card is generally part of the documentation required to register machinery with ROMA, although certain equipment may submit a technical characteristics certificate issued by the manufacturer or its legal representative. Therefore, having technical documentation does not replace registration when the machine falls within the scope of ROMA.
The frequency of ITV inspections for agricultural categories depends on the type and age of the vehicle, under Royal Decree 920/2017. It is advisable to check the machine's registration status separately from the requirements applicable to its use on public roads.
Section references: Real Decreto 448/2020, sobre caracterización y registro de la maquinaria agrícola ↗ · Real Decreto 920/2017, por el que se regula la inspección técnica de vehículos ↗
- ROMA: registration of agricultural machinery, its registered holder and the related agricultural activity.
- ITV: verification of fitness for use on public roads.
- The ITV card or technical certificate alone does not replace ROMA registration.
Registrations, transfers, deregistrations and changes: the procedure for each operation
The specific process may vary by autonomous community. For example, Andalusia's ROMA page lists separate channels for registering a new machine, transfer and temporary deregistration, modifying a machine, and deregistering a machine. That example does not mean that the same forms or procedures automatically apply in other autonomous communities.
For transfers, Royal Decree 448/2020 provides for authorisation allowing the Administration to check the prior deregistration from ROMA itself. If that check is not possible, the document proving deregistration must be provided.
Deregistration from ROMA is mandatory when the machine moves from the agricultural sector to another activity, is dismantled or scrapped, changes registered holder without a change in use or purpose, becomes a historic or collector vehicle, is temporarily deregistered, or is permanently sent to another country. If other details change, consult the corresponding procedure at the regional ROMA office; Andalusia specifically publishes a modification channel.
Section references: Real Decreto 448/2020, sobre caracterización y registro de la maquinaria agrícola ↗ · Registro oficial de maquinaria agrícola (ROMA) de Andalucía ↗
- For a transfer, check whether the prior deregistration can be verified by the Administration.
- If the Administration cannot check that deregistration, the supporting document must be provided.
- Deregistration is mandatory in the situations set out in Royal Decree 448/2020.
- The names of procedures and submission channels may vary by region.
Usual documents and checking the application file beforehand
The applicant must provide identification details or authorise their verification. As a general rule, the application file requires the Vehicle Technical Inspection card. For certain equipment, the technical data sheet is replaced by a technical characteristics certificate issued by the manufacturer or its legal representative.
Proof of purchase — an invoice, sales contract, leasing contract or long-term rental (renting) contract — must state the make, commercial designation or model, and chassis number. These details must match those shown on the ITV card or the technical characteristics certificate.
Prepare legible copies and check that the details are consistent before submitting the application. The autonomous community may request additional documents or requirements, so its operational information should be checked before starting the procedure.
Section references: Real Decreto 448/2020, sobre caracterización y registro de la maquinaria agrícola ↗
- The registered holder's identification details or authorisation to verify them.
- ITV card or, where applicable, a technical characteristics certificate.
- Invoice, sales contract, leasing contract or long-term rental (renting) contract.
- Matching make, model and chassis number in the technical documentation.
- Additional documentation established by the autonomous community.
Buying used machinery and submitting the application: recommended document checks
Before buying used agricultural machinery, it is advisable to ask the seller for the available technical documentation, proof of purchase and the information needed to check prior deregistration where applicable. Compare the make, model and chassis number across the transaction documents, as Royal Decree 448/2020 requires these details to match between the proof of purchase and the technical documentation.
The MAPA provides a consultation service for machinery registered with ROMA for interested parties who have registered agricultural machinery, using the registered holder's NIF/tax ID. It is not an open public lookup for any potential buyer and does not replace transfer or deregistration documents.
As an editorial recommendation, before completing a purchase it is advisable to confirm with the regional ROMA office which procedure applies to the transaction. Keep the submission receipt if the procedure is completed electronically and retain copies of the documents sent.
Section references: Real Decreto 448/2020, sobre caracterización y registro de la maquinaria agrícola ↗ · Maquinaria agrícola y consulta de inscripciones ROMA ↗
- Ask the seller for the available technical and registration documents.
- Compare the make, model and chassis number in the proof of purchase and technical documentation.
- Bear in mind that the MAPA consultation service is linked to an interested registered holder with registered machinery.
- Confirm the applicable procedure with the regional ROMA office before submitting the application.
Official sources to consult before submitting the application
The main source to consult is the ROMA office of the autonomous community handling the application, as it may establish additional documents or requirements. Check there for the procedure that applies to your transaction and the documentation required at that time.
To interpret the state-level registration scope, the basic documents and mandatory deregistrations, consult Royal Decree 448/2020 in the Official State Gazette. For vehicle technical inspection, the reference is Royal Decree 920/2017.
The MAPA agricultural machinery page provides information on consulting ROMA registrations for registered holders with registered machinery. As a regional example, Andalusia's ROMA shows separate channels for several operations.
Section references: Real Decreto 448/2020, sobre caracterización y registro de la maquinaria agrícola ↗ · Real Decreto 920/2017, por el que se regula la inspección técnica de vehículos ↗ · Maquinaria agrícola y consulta de inscripciones ROMA ↗ · Registro oficial de maquinaria agrícola (ROMA) de Andalucía ↗
- Royal Decree 448/2020: classification and registration of agricultural machinery.
- Royal Decree 920/2017: vehicle technical inspection.
- MAPA: information on agricultural machinery and the consultation service for registered holders with registered machinery.
- Regional ROMA office: applicable requirements and operating procedure.
Must every agricultural tractor be registered with ROMA?
Agricultural and forestry tractors are among the groups in Annex II of Royal Decree 448/2020. The state-level requirement applies to machines used in farming, livestock or forestry activity that belong to those groups and comply with the applicable regulations. For a specific case, consult the regional ROMA office.
Does the ITV card replace ROMA registration?
No. The ITV card is generally part of the documentation for registration, although certain equipment may submit a technical characteristics certificate. ITV and ROMA serve different purposes.
What should I check when buying used agricultural machinery?
It is advisable to request the available technical and registration documents, and to compare the make, model and chassis number between the proof of purchase and the technical documentation. In a transfer, if the Administration cannot verify the prior deregistration from ROMA itself, the document proving it must be provided.
Can any buyer use the MAPA consultation service to check a machine?
No. MAPA states that the consultation service is available to interested parties who have registered agricultural machinery and is carried out using the registered holder's NIF/tax ID. It is not equivalent to an open public lookup for any potential buyer.
