Another couple joining exodus UK
 

Hello all

Been an avid follower of this forum for a while, but since we are not yet expats have refrained from posting. BUT.......

We plan to make the move to Southern Spain around april/may next year. We are in the fortunate position of already owning a home in Sayalonga and having sufficient cash not to have to worry about the financial side of living in Spain

We are starting to put plans in place to make the escape as smooth as possible. One of the considerations is of course a car. Buying one in the UK and driving over is an attractive option as it allows us to bring pretty much all we would need with us.

I have seen threads on various forums related to re-registering a UK car to Spanish plates and is an option. However looking around a couple of Left Hand Drive specialists I have come across a couple of cars which although on sale here are already on Spanish plates.

If I bought one of these would there be a pile of Spanish paperwork to complete to transfer ownership.

Or would it be a simpler option to have the garage re-register on British plates which I convert back to Spanish when we make the move?

Re: Another couple joining exodus UK
 

If the car is for Spain your best bet is to buy it and register it here. You are allowed to use it for up to 6 months per year in the UK and car tax is a lot cheaper. No MOT until the 4th year and after that once every 2 years until the car is ten years old. If you own a property here you should already have an NIE which is pretty much all you need. If you buy from a dealer their accountant sorts out all the paperwork for you.

As for moving stuff a car boot is pretty small anyway. There are lots of man-with-van services going from UK to Spain that take small part loads at reasonable cost.

Lastly a UK registered right hand drive car is almost valueless here.

Re: Another couple joining exodus UK
 

Thanks for the info. To clarify a little it is a used LHD Landrover Discovery which is for sale in a UK LHD specialist garage but has Spanish plates. According to the advert it was owned by a couple of Brits living in Mallorca who have returned to the UK.

Since our home is already fully furnished all we really need to bring over is personal items and a couple of PCs. Should easily fit into the back of a Landy.

We are over for a brief visit next week and will take a look at a couple of cars sales to weigh up the options. I was under the impression that second hand cars were dearer in Spain then the equivalent here.

Re: Another couple joining exodus UK
 

You need to check out if there are any debts on the landrover, like parking fines, speeding fines, road tax, etc, otherwise they will transfer to you along with the car.

Re: Another couple joining exodus UK
 

I would say that the easiest option would be to buy a spanish car either here or in UK

When you buy/sell a 2nd hand car here you (should) make a contract with the gestor with the seller stating that they are selling it free of debt, taxes etc and the buyer agreeing that from X date they accept responsibility for taxes, fines etc - I dont know if this kind of contract is viable with a UK dealer selling a Spanish car, maybe you could talk to your gestor here in Spain and get advice on that

oh and Im selling my xsara picasso which will be in Kent as from Dec this year ;)

Re: Another couple joining exodus UK
 

Much as `spain` has suggested, I would get in touch with a gestor in spain and send them copies of the registration document before you buy the car. They can then check it's pedigree.
If the dealer won't let you take copies of the docs then walk away.
You should also check the chassis and engine numbers match up to the doc too.

Check the service book and see where it has been serviced, if it's a main dealer then that's a good sign. If your Spanish is up to it you could give them a ring and see if it has had any recurring faults or new engine etc.

Good luck!

Ste.

Re: Another couple joining exodus UK
 

Thanks for the advice. Chatting to the guy yesterday seems that it would be better to register in on UK plates as getting insurance for the remaining 5 months would be tricky.

On a different tack roughly how much would I expect to pay monthly to lease a smallish car?

Re: Another couple joining exodus UK
 

I would be very carefull buying a Spanish reg car in the U.K , there could be outstanding debt on it and you could have loads of trouble transfering it if the previous owners are not around.

Also if you have any problems (remember its a LR:rofl:)with the car you can hardly take it back to the U.K dealer when living in Spain.
Check out www.autoscout24.es to see what they are making in Spain.

Rgds

Rotor

Re: Another couple joining exodus UK
 

Hi
I looked into all the possible options for buying a car a couple of years ago when we were going to move to the Almeria region. The best option seemed to be to trawl the internet looking at cars for sale from reputible dealers in the area you are moving to and line up a few potentials. Maybe ask on the forum for recommended dealers, that people have prior buying experience with. Then fly down there using budget airline view all cars and buy the best one, do all the document transfer stuff etc using a gestor, then drive back to the Uk. Then when ready to move down load up all your household stuff, family etc and drive to your new life in the sun.
I was also going to tow a box trailer behind the car so i could take more with me then sell the trailer in Spain.
I did look at a few LHD Spanish registered cars in the UK but decided that buying in Spain was the safest way to go.

Re: Another couple joining exodus UK
 

"No MOT until the 4th year and after that once every 2 years until the car is ten years old. "

The 4 year rule is true for cars but you need to check that what you have is a "car". A friend recently had someone drive into the back of her 3 year old Citroen Belingo. The Guadia arrived, checked her details and she was then fined over 100 euros for not having an ITV (Spanish MOT) on her car as it is classified as "Mixto" and needs to be MOT'd from 2 years old onwards - the same as commercial vehicles. Apparently some 4x4 vehicles fall into that category too but believe they are the pick-up type. We have a Suzuki Gran Vitara which is "Tourismo" and follows the 4 year rule.

Re: Another couple joining exodus UK
 

It depends on the way the vehicle is initially registered not on the make or type.

I have two 4x4s. One is a 'fergoneta mixta' which is over ten years old and has to pass the ITV every six months and the other is a 'turismo' which is treated like an ordinary car for ITV purposes.

Re: Another couple joining exodus UK
 

Thanks for all your suggestions. I have to admit I hadn't thought of buying one here then driving back home prior to the final move. That would work as we are over for a month in February and could drive back.

Still plan to look at leasing options though.

Re: Another couple joining exodus UK
 

We lease a Renault Clio through Arrow cars(Malaga region)on long term lease,we pay 320 Euros a month which includes everthing including full breakdown cover.
SJ

Re: Another couple joining exodus UK
 

What's the reason for this? Is it something to do with a dodge on the purchase tax?

Re: Another couple joining exodus UK
 

I think it is something to do with using it for commercial purposes. I bought the 'fergoneta mixta' from someone who had an agricultural business. The other one was purchased from new and I was asked by the supplier how I wanted it registered.

If you buy it for business use and it is registered as such you can claim back the IVA.