earlyoap

Hi All
We are toying with the idea of moving to Spain. We have read to may be rent before we buy in case we dont like the area. IE it goes dead in the Winter or OTT in the Summer.
The area on the top of the list would be around Tarifa but we also like it in land North of Zafra. These are just the top 2 on the list and there is loads of Spain we have not seen.
We have also read after so many days we need to report to the town hall and again after so many days we need to do some thing about our vehicle.
So at last here's the Question?
How would we get on and go about using a Motor home for a year?
Is it even possible? We would rather buy the van in the UK as we could have it checked out.

Loafing Along

Tarifa is lovely but the classic example of over-crowded in summer and always windy , hence its attraction to the kite surfers.

If you stay longer than 90 days you will need to apply for residency . This link is helpful :

https://www.expatica.com/es/visas-an...in_422591.html

Fred James

If you are intending to stay in Spain you would have to register your vehicle onto Spanish plates. If you buy a Motorhome you must buy a LHD version as it is impossible to register a RHD Motorhome in Spain.

earlyoap

Thanks
We have been to Tarifa in the winter and love it. Not been in the summer hence the plan to rent that way if its to busy we could move on.
How long would we get before we had to put it on Spanish plates?

Fred James

Officially, under EU law, you have 6 months to register it. However, if you want to avoid the registration tax, you must do it within 60 days of registering with the police (which you must do within 90 days of arrival.

The other condition is that you must have owned it for 6 months before you bring it to Spain.

earlyoap

Sorry to be a pain but if it a RHD how long before we need to bring it back to the UK or out off Spain

Fred James

To some extent you can ignore the rules and see if you can get away with it like many do, but the killer is the need to keep it road legal in the UK while it is in Spain, That means it has to be taxed in the UK and have a valid MOT. You can only get an MOT in the UK.

The police have access to the DVLA database so they can easily check that it is taxed.

According to the rules, once it has been here long enough to require registration, you either register it or remove it

earlyoap

need to think of plan B dont wont to get in Trouble with Police here or Spain

earlyoap

Last one how long is it allowed there Max and keep it on UK plates

Rotor

If you nipped in and out of Gib and Portugal during your stay you could argue your case should you ever need to , highly unlikely to have an issue if you are taxed, MOT`d and insured.

Loco Pedro

I assume "The other condition" you refer to is relevant only to the avoidance of registration tax ?
I ask because we are about to buy a UK car and bring it straight back here.

Fred James

Yes. The reason you don't have to pay the tax is that the car is considered to be part of your "goods and chattels" for import purposes and they are free of all taxes. To be classified as such you must have owned it for 6 months prior to importing it.

If the CO2 emissions are below 120g then the tax is zero anyway.