Expat79

Hi everyone,

I live in Malaga, Spain and at Christmas I am driving back to England with my dog for a few weeks to be with my family. I will be going up through France and taking the channel tunnel across. I'm English but I have a Spanish car.

I wondered if anyone has done this themselves and knows if there is anything I have to do to prepare? For instance, do I need headlight converters or any other adaptions/additions for my car? are there any legality issues I should be aware off?

Any advice or stories of your experiences would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to get to it just for the police or border controls to say you haven't done this or you haven't got that so you can't go any further.

Thanks

snikpoh

You will certainly need the headlight (stick on) deflectors but may also need an ES sticker (I think).

Make sure you inform your insurance company and have the required cover (including breakdown).

VFR

ES sticker is included in the number plate (well has been for many years)
None of the foreign plated cars that I have ever seen on the ferries have ever had headlight deflectors (well maybe one or two)

VFR

Is Calais worth the risk ?
So many other options coming from Spain/western France. (IMO)

Loafing Along

Worthwhile checking the list in the link . Remember you will driving through France and also therefore have to meet the legal requirements there. Compulsory breathlayser requirement neither implemented ......
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice..._equipment.pdf

Loafing Along

Juast crossed my mind .. where are you resident as it is not actually legal for you to drive a foreign registered car in the UK if you are a UK resident. Same applies to UK car in Spain by a Spanish resident.

snikpoh

... as you say, it MAY be there.

You can be stopped and fined in UK if you don't have the deflectors. Some newer cars can now angle the headlights internally so these are not an issue.

Longlegpete

Indeed, that is the first thing that crossed my mind!

missile

I did nothing when I took my Spanish registered A3 across the channel.

Fredbargate

I recently toured Ireland and UK in my car which was legal in Gibraltar with no alterations.

I returned through the tunnel and saw no problems.

Dxf

Hola

Have done the journey many times over the last five years; both in my car and driving someone else's car. Indeed I returned through the tunnel with a dog just a fortnight ago.

I am British and have a Spanish driving licence; I have never had any problems. Always make sure if going TO the UK that you have visited a vet in the requisite period. Coming back "no-one cares"!!!

I don't have headlight adjusters but don't tend to drive of a night. We make "comfort breaks" every couple of hours to let the dogs do their business as they wish and to give the only driver a break. Spanish & French hotels are good and cheap, UK hotels are expensive and crap by comparison. We use toll roads and 100€ covers the return journey.

We tend to have snacks on board as finding suitable food is not always easy.

Davexf

mikelincs

If you are a Spanish resident, then no problems, but if you haven't yet got Spanish residency then you COULD have problems as it is illegal for a British Resident to drive a foreign registered car in the UK.

Expat79

I had wanted to do the ferry trip however, unfortunately, the kennels and pet friendly cabins that are required for taking a dog on the ferries are all booked up for the Christmas period so the channel tunnel is my only option

Expat79

This is very helpful! thank you

Expat79

I'm a full Spanish resident. I had to change my UK license to a Spanish one last year.