culchie

I have searched this forum and read the various threads on this subject.

A friend of mine has a UK car here in Spain since Dec. 2006. She isn't sure what route to take.

(a) She registers the car in Spain which should cost about Euro 500 +
Is there a fine for late registering, if so how much?

(b) She drives the car back to the UK but the MOT/tax is now out of date - so what happens there?

What do you think is the best option for her (taking into account costs etc.) - she needs some solid advice

Thank you all

Rosemary

As far as I know the car is totally illegal in both countries so that makes her insurance null and void so she should not drive the car anywhere.

rosemary

Mitzyboy

Ive not heard of anyone getting a fine for late re registration. If she has no IVA in Spain and no MOT in the UK then who's to say the car is roadworthy to drive back.
I'd say the car is certainly illegal from what you've told us .... as to what she does, its her choice at the end of the day depending on the age of the car etc ... doing nothing isn't really an option though as its quite possible she is uninsured at the moemnt and from what we read if she is stopped then she might risk having the car confiscated and receive fines.

Fred James

It happened to a friend of mine about 3 years ago.

He became resident and kept his car on UK plates with the intention of returning it to the UK and selling it - he had already ordered a new one in Spain. He had been wrongly advised about the 6 months rule and was stopped when he had been resident for 7 months.

The car was impounded and he had to pay the registration tax which was 1200€ even though he was not going to import it. The only reason he did not get fined 1000€ on top was because he had the ferry tickets showing that thew car was booked to return in 3 weeks time.

He was not allowed to use the car until it was starting the return journey. He was fully represented by his lawyer at the time.

Mitzyboy

I think the poster meant if she actually registered the car voluntarily now, as opposed to being stopped on the road. I meant I'd not heard of someone going to a gestor and registering the car on new plates long after the legal limit had expired.

culchie

Thanks for all that. Hmmm. Hard to know what she should do!

If she drives back to the UK what happens? Will she be stopped at the ferry ports because the vehicle isn't taxed/mot'ed? Or do you think she can head for her garage and immediately have it mot'ed? ditto with the tax. Does anyone know if there are fines for being late with tax and mot?

I'm meeting her later today so I'll pass on your comments so far.

Fred James

If you book an appointment at an MOT centre you can legally drive an untaxed car directly to that garage.

She just needs to make sure that she has made that appointment before she arrives in the UK.

mikelincs

BUT, couls she legally drive it from Dover to say Manchester, thought it had to be to NEAREST MOT centre. Surely she could just get it matriculated here, would seem to be the simplest thing.

Fred James

Yes, she could. There is no stipulation that it has to be the nearest MOT facility. The only requirement is that the car is insured.

Mitzyboy

Would it be a problem Fred if she was stopped on a road check in France? That she has no road test cert of any kind?

Fred James

I very much doubt it. So long as she can show her insurance papers that should be enough. An MOT/ITV does not prove roadworthiness anyway.

Someone will probably say that the insurance is invalid if the car is not "legal" but as I have said before, no one has yet been able to substantiate that "theory".

Lionda

When we re-registered our car in Spain our MOT and tax disc were not even looked at. All they need to see is your registration document. I would suggest your friend re-registers her car quickly before she is stopped by the Guardia. Besides not having a ITV she will not be insured.

Has she got her padron and NIE? Both of these we had to show also.

culchie

She has decided to register the car here - seems like the better option.

Any idea what she has to do , where does she have to go? She lives in Chiclana.

Thanks for all the help/advice

Mitzyboy

By far the best option I would guess is to go and see an gestoria who will do the whole thing for her. Its not for the feint hearted to do it yourself!

culchie

She's found a chap who will take care of the lot.

Many thanks for your help and advice