azbz

Hi,
does anyone know whether it is possible to buy a car if one has applied for the NIE number, but the first document, which is valid for 6 months, has expired?

mikelincs

Welcome to BE.

Your NIE doesn't expire, and as you have one you should have no problems, it is possible to buy a car without an NIE number in any case. It's only certain places that need an up-to-date certificate, I doubt that the car dealership will worry.

bobd22

I must admit to wondering that as having the old type NIE it does not show any expiry date whatsoever. I was aware the number never expires but some more recent sheets have the expiry date on them.

mikelincs

I suspect that the expiry date is mainly for officialdom, having a recent sheet does meqn that you are still living in Spain, the old sheets coiuld be used even after the person has left the country.

bobd22

Cheers Mike no doubt just another chance for them to use one of the much loved stamps crashing it down with venom lol

bobd22

Sorry couldn't resist

snikpoh

I seem to recall that the newly issued NIE certificates only last for 3 months (not 6) - just like the padron certificate.

You SHOULD need it to buy a car and it SHOULD be in date.

OP - why not get a new one?

azbz

Thanks for prompt replies.

Don't have the paper at hand this moment, but recall it being 6months.
As to why not get a new one - I was told by a colleague that you cannot simply do that, as in 'get a new one'.

Rosemary

Hi and a warm welcome to the Spanish forum on BE. Myself and Fred James are the moderators for the Spanish forums whilst BEVS moderates Europe. Moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. This is so that members gain the information that they are looking for and find their experiences on the forums to be friendly and worthwhile.

Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge about the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Rosemary

I have only just bought a new car and went to several dealers and they were all more interested in me having a current Padron Certificate than anything else. However, the salesman that I bought from photocopied my 11 year old NIE cert, my 8 year old Residents cert and my 2 week old Padron cert.

Rosemary

azbz

I only now understood my mistake in the question - by 'buying a car' I also meant registering it with the Spanish DMV.

Fred James

I very much doubt that - you would never be able to register it.

Have you any proof that this is the case?

According to Trafico this is what you need.

Identification of the applicant:
Natural persons: official document
accrediting his/her identity and address (ID
card, Spanish driving licence, residence
card, Passport plus the Foreigner
Identification Number).

mikelincs

I'm talking about a few years ago, when a relative of mine moved to Spain, he didn't have residency, might have had a NIE, but just went to a dealer and got it.

bobd22

I thought you didn't need residency or padron (although padron does seem to depend where) I believe though that NIE number will definitely be required. I am going to possibly look to buy a runabout car to leave over in Spain when over next month. I also thought that if non resident proof of a Spanish address I.e. escrutira or rental agreement would suffice in place of residency and padron. No doubt I will find out should I see something suitable, my plan is getting one from a dealer including the transfer!

Dick Dasterdly

I bought my first car in Spain before I even had an NIE number using only documents relating to my property.
That was over twenty years ago so I don't know if it would apply now.
More recently I've found that most dealers insist on a current padrona.