UK cars in Spain

[dot]

I understand that if I bring my UK car to Spain I can have use of it for 6 months before I have to register it in Spain. If after say 5 months I take my car to say Portugal or France for a couple of days can I then start a new period of 6 months.

Any help please would be appreciated.

Thanks

Malcolm and Dorothy

[carmina burana]

uk car in spain

Dear dot

You have to register the car when you are resident for 6 months. If you are non resident, you do not have to register because that means that you live usually in uk and you only use the car here for holidays.

[dot]

UK Car in Spain

Thanks. does this mean then that when I complete on my property in Spain I can bring my car over and leave it there in my underground car parking, so that it will be available each time I come over to stay in my home in spain.

Thanks

dorothy and malcolm

[Dave]

Re: UK Car in Spain

The old arguement about British vehicles in Spain
For a British registered vehicle to be used on the roads of Spain, it MUST be legal on the roads of UK. THEREFOR it does require a UK tax disk, UK Mot and Insurance.
However the police here are more concerned abut the road worthyness and insurance on a car than they are of whether the car is taxed or not. At this moment in time it is possible to obtain an ITV (equivalent of MOT) on a British registered vehicle but that would appear to be about to change.
Personally I believe the cops should clamp down on all the illegal British vehicles , as they have done on the Costa del Sol, and start empouding them. It amazes me the number of Brit registered vans driving around, obvioulsy being used in the course of business (because the businesss name and tel number is displayed on the van) but displaying British registration plates.

[dot]

UK car in Spain

Obviously we would be legal, having it taxed, and MOT every year in UK as normal it is just instead of hiring a car if we can leave it in Spain and then once a year take it back to UK to have the MOT etc done that is what we want to do.

thanks

[andywebb]

I understand that there is a guy in Torrevieja who carries out propr UK MOT's. I dont know who or where but I am sure someone will

[dot]

UK car in Spain

But that is only if you are a Spanish resident with the british car, if you are a non resident and only coming over 3 or 4 times a year to use it, then isnt it fine, that seems to be what I get from the posting above.

Thanks

Dorothy

[david s]

Dear Dot,

The other posts have missed one essential point. Under UK law, any vehicle removed from the UK for more than one year must be de-registered in the UK. Therefore, any british registerd car here for over a year is illegal irrespective of age, road tax, MOT or condition unless re-registered in Spain.

[dot]

UK cars in Spain

We would be bringing it home every year for MOT etc and it would probably be at home for about 3-6 months again before we took it out. We would be getting it taxed and everything in Britain we are not living in spain permanently.

[JWhite]

Dot

there is more information on taking UK cars into Spain on the following web site link:

www.livespainforlife.co.uk/default.aspx?id=7

[Aylyn]

If you take the car home withiin the 183 day period and have the tax renewed and an MOT test and get it insured then you can do what you like with the thing. What you can not do is bring it out here, leave it in a garage and then use it when you are out here. It must be currently totaly legal in the UK to be used in Europe.

[Milton]

UK car in Spain

I am intending to bring a UK car over to Spain to leave there for holiday use. I would like to put it on Spanish plates. Am I allowed to do that if I am a UK resident ?

[Aylyn]

Yes you can, but it will be expensive to do, it will require the services of a Gestoria and contact with the TUV Office situated beside Torrevieja's ITV.
Costs are dependent on which model, cost of model as asessed by the Spanish Authorities, they have a black book, export certificate from DVLA ' original receipts for vehicle, and much much more. Far better you buy a cheap Spanish car.

[Milton]

UK cars in Spain

Thanks Aylyn. My car is 14 years old and due to be replaced, although it's a good runner with low mileage. I'm going to bring it over and leave it there. A Spanish car will cost a lot as I understand it and I need the money to buy a replacement in the UK. Do I assume from your reply that I can register it on Spanish plates even though I'm non resident.