Buying a car
Jun 5th 2012, 7:25 am
#16
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Location: Mallorca
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Re: Buying a car
Buy from a reputable dealer. Dealerships usually have a good supply of second hand cars. These cars were traded in for a new car and because it`s a dealer like Ford or Audi , checks on outstanding payments and similar things would have been carried out. These cars would come with there 3 or 6 month warranties.
Stay away from car ads in the local paper or those cars parked at the roadside with "ocasion", written on them. These people are all private sellers which offer no warranty and tend to be a shady bunch. It`s a case of "Buyer Beware". You could be left with a useless car and out of pocket !
Prices for these cars tend to be cheaper though. One point I would stress is always go with someone with mechanical knowledge. When you find your car the paper work can be daunting, so go to a " Gestor". This is someone who does all the leg work for you. It`s not free but they give you a certain peace of mind.
Having said this I would take the first choice and head for any local dealer with many second hand cars in stock.
Good Luck !
Stay away from car ads in the local paper or those cars parked at the roadside with "ocasion", written on them. These people are all private sellers which offer no warranty and tend to be a shady bunch. It`s a case of "Buyer Beware". You could be left with a useless car and out of pocket !
Prices for these cars tend to be cheaper though. One point I would stress is always go with someone with mechanical knowledge. When you find your car the paper work can be daunting, so go to a " Gestor". This is someone who does all the leg work for you. It`s not free but they give you a certain peace of mind.
Having said this I would take the first choice and head for any local dealer with many second hand cars in stock.
Good Luck !
"Reputable" dealers are among of the worst criminals of the lot. Not all of them, but many of them. Go to a Opel dealer and buy a used car from them - you'll see. The car will likely be completely misrepresented and a piece of junk - for which they will charge you fortune after fortune to repair.
But it's a choice of lesser of 2 evils: Private sellers rarely tell you the truth about a car.. there's often a good reason they're selling it. And watch out for unpaid road taxes - you'll end up paying it at transfer time.
Unfortunately, used cars are in big demand so they are expensive - even when they're junk - and like many things in Spain, the law really doesn't protect you from fraud.
Watch your back!
Jun 5th 2012, 8:57 am
#17
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Joined: Feb 2010
Location: St.Leonards, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 370
Re: Buying a car
That's fantastic news, different from the information that I received, i.e. That the residency rule applied right across the E.U. So sorry everyone 
I have also had some good news today, I've found a company (Stuart Collins & Co.), who will insure me to leave one of my cars in the U.K. So I won't be selling it YIPEE!
I have also had some good news today, I've found a company (Stuart Collins & Co.), who will insure me to leave one of my cars in the U.K. So I won't be selling it YIPEE!
Jun 5th 2012, 8:21 pm
#18
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Location: Was Alicante, Spain, now IOW.
Posts: 740
Re: Buying a car
Right having got this matter cleared up.
Can anyone think of a reason, why a company like Linea Directa (Direct Line) should not allow expats to leave a car in the U.K., when they allow U.K. residents to leave a car in Spain?
Can anyone think of a reason, why a company like Linea Directa (Direct Line) should not allow expats to leave a car in the U.K., when they allow U.K. residents to leave a car in Spain?
Jun 5th 2012, 8:34 pm
#19
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Granada Costa
Posts: 10,954
Re: Buying a car
Possibly because they are now two independent companies and their offerings are different in the two countries. Direct Line sold the company to Bankinter some time ago.
Jun 5th 2012, 9:10 pm
#20
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Re: Buying a car
Yes but WHY won't they (any of the normal companies) do it!!!
Last edited by Saxy; Jun 5th 2012 at 9:12 pm.
Jun 5th 2012, 9:22 pm
#21
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Granada Costa
Posts: 10,954
Re: Buying a car
I have no idea - why don't you ask them.
Anyway, can we please get back on topic. This thread is NOT about UK car insurance.
Anyway, can we please get back on topic. This thread is NOT about UK car insurance.
Jun 5th 2012, 9:53 pm
#22
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Location: Was Alicante, Spain, now IOW.
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Re: Buying a car
Anyone wanting to buy a secondhand car from a reliable company and prepared to come to EL Campello, Alicante, to do so, should contact EDI car hire. This is a very reliable English family run business. I was advised by the local expat community that this was the best/safest way to go, they are BRILLIANT!
The car I selected was put through the ITV, and while that happened they let me have the use of one of their hire cars for three days, and took care of all the paperwork.
By the way Fred, Direct Line moved into Spain and went into partnership with Bank Inter in 1995, they didn't sell to them! That was when Linea Directa was formed, Ref. "Spain Made Simple". So basically, same logo, same company.
Last edited by Saxy; Jun 5th 2012 at 10:22 pm.
Jun 5th 2012, 10:26 pm
#23
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Granada Costa
Posts: 10,954
Re: Buying a car
Now, please get back on topic.
Jun 6th 2012, 3:08 am
#24
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Re: Buying a car
For personal reasons, I've been researching the second-hand car market in the UK and Spain for the past four months. It appears that Spain's second hand prices are double that of the UK.
It could make sense to keep an English car in Spain for regular holiday visits.
It could make sense to buy an English car and import it in Spain, I've done it at least twice. But I've now got so used to driving a Spanish car in Spain with the steering wheel on the logical side that I wouldn't want to go back to it being on the awkward side.
But I'm paying double for the pleasure.
It could make sense to keep an English car in Spain for regular holiday visits.
It could make sense to buy an English car and import it in Spain, I've done it at least twice. But I've now got so used to driving a Spanish car in Spain with the steering wheel on the logical side that I wouldn't want to go back to it being on the awkward side.
But I'm paying double for the pleasure.
Jun 6th 2012, 3:15 am
#25
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Location: St.Leonards, Victoria, Australia
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Re: Buying a car
For personal reasons, I've been researching the second-hand car market in the UK and Spain for the past four months. It appears that Spain's second hand prices are double that of the UK.
It could make sense to keep an English car in Spain for regular holiday visits.
It could make sense to buy an English car and import it in Spain, I've done it at least twice. But I've now got so used to driving a Spanish car in Spain with the steering wheel on the logical side that I wouldn't want to go back to it being on the awkward side.
But I'm paying double for the pleasure.
It could make sense to keep an English car in Spain for regular holiday visits.
It could make sense to buy an English car and import it in Spain, I've done it at least twice. But I've now got so used to driving a Spanish car in Spain with the steering wheel on the logical side that I wouldn't want to go back to it being on the awkward side.
But I'm paying double for the pleasure.
Jun 6th 2012, 3:25 am
#26
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Location: Alicante province
Posts: 5,753
Re: Buying a car
I have been driving UK spec cars here for the last 8 years and am totally comfortable with driving RH steering (not wanting to race around overtaking everything) but the last one cost €1200 to import on to Spanish plates so that's a cost that has got to be taken into account when comparing prices of second hand cars surely.
I was also comfortable driving British cars in Spain for years, but I've had a left hooker for the past eight years and much prefer it. (And so does my former overtaking scout, my wife, she's a lot calmer now).
Jun 6th 2012, 8:45 am
#27
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 270
Re: Buying a car
I have imported and English car to Spain, which I bought years ago, and used at home. I am hoping that with the lack of salt on the road surface in Spain and the lack of rain, the vehicle will last me for years. I'm a bit scared of a Gota Fria though!
If you want to import a car from the U.K there are plenty of dealers who specialise in LHD cars, though they are mainly based in London and the South of England. Google them to find them I am not a car trader!
If you want to import a car from the U.K there are plenty of dealers who specialise in LHD cars, though they are mainly based in London and the South of England. Google them to find them I am not a car trader!
Jun 6th 2012, 9:06 am
#28
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Posts: 7,749
Re: Buying a car
I have imported and English car to Spain, which I bought years ago, and used at home. I am hoping that with the lack of salt on the road surface in Spain and the lack of rain, the vehicle will last me for years. I'm a bit scared of a Gota Fria though!
If you want to import a car from the U.K there are plenty of dealers who specialise in LHD cars, though they are mainly based in London and the South of England. Google them to find them I am not a car trader!
If you want to import a car from the U.K there are plenty of dealers who specialise in LHD cars, though they are mainly based in London and the South of England. Google them to find them I am not a car trader!
If you have a heavy metallic car from say 15 years ago then that will last better in the sun
Jun 6th 2012, 9:33 am
#29
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Joined: Jun 2012
Location: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Posts: 2
Re: Buying a car
I live in Tenerife and Avis car rental are selling a number of their cars here in Santa Cruz. Firstly, before I get shot down in flames, I suspect that the OP's friends do not live here, but I was wondering if they do something similar in the area that they are considering buying a car. Secondly, I know that rental cars can have a few knocks and dents, and maybe even have been thrashed by the people renting them, but at least you know that the cars will have had their services...well, I assume that they would because a company like Avis probably wouldn't want their cars breaking down on customers. Finally, if you buy a second hand car, make sure that all of the paperwork gets done properly, make sure, just as you would in the UK, that there is no outstanding finance on the vehicle etc...this would be another reason to buy from someone like Avis, because I am sure that they would arrange all of the paperwork too. Good luck anyway.
Jun 6th 2012, 11:04 am
#30
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Posts: 370
Re: Buying a car
I have imported and English car to Spain, which I bought years ago, and used at home. I am hoping that with the lack of salt on the road surface in Spain and the lack of rain, the vehicle will last me for years. I'm a bit scared of a Gota Fria though!
If you want to import a car from the U.K there are plenty of dealers who specialise in LHD cars, though they are mainly based in London and the South of England. Google them to find them I am not a car trader!
If you want to import a car from the U.K there are plenty of dealers who specialise in LHD cars, though they are mainly based in London and the South of England. Google them to find them I am not a car trader!
