Hi, I am new and I am considering moving to Spain next year. I am thinking of buying a new Honda this year, can I bring this with no problems?
Are there any special recommendations I have to consider?
Thank you for your help.
Emma

Hi

Are we talking RHD UK plated Honda? How long before you move are you thinking of buying it?

Hi Mitzyboy
Thank you for your reply. I would bring the car from Canada and buy it within a month. The rule here as example is, a car would be considered under household goods, if the car is at last one year old. Anything similar in Spain?

Emma

Better check into the spec as I think Spain has a law that the vehicle has to be EU specifications, can be quite difficult and be aware there is a tax to pay on bringing into Spain. Why not buy a new car here? might work out a lot cheaper

If you bring it from any North American country you will find things like all of your lights will be the wrong type, have the wrong markings etc etc. Whilst most things will pass the local roadworthy tests in the likes of the U.K., Spain is what shall we say….different.
Let me give you an example. We have a Honda Shadow motorbike. It was built for the US market and originally imported into The Netherlands, where we lived. Upon moving to Spain we bought it with us. However it failed on the test because of the front Amber running lights. They were illegal and so was the fact that they also worked as the indicators. It was s mall thing to change of the bike, but a car will have other issues.
I wonder if someone can say if the following two items are different here in Europe:
Emission controls and seatbelts.

I too would suggest you forget about it. And get a car in Spain.

I think the tyres have to be changed too.

Yep forgot about that one...E numbers on Tyres are a must in Spain.

To be classified as household goods it must have been owned by you for six months prior to import. If not it will attract the matriculation tax which can be as high as 14.75%.

It may also be liable to import duty and IVA as it is not coming from within the EU.

You would find it better to buy one in Spain and save a lot of grief and hassle.

Plus the cost of shipping it over here

Hi

A possible way around some (but not all) of the problems can be to import it into England first, then import it to Spain on UK plates. I won't say you can get away with murder, but they won't normally look as suspiciously at it. A pure American import will be treated with a lot of suspicion unless it is an exotic type of car unavailable here.

In truth the cheaper option is normally to buy a car here; sometimes servicing costs go up as stupid things like oil filters & belts are slightly different

Davexf

Definatley will be cheaper to buy one in Spain ,you would be setting your self up for a lot of grief with an "outside the EU" car ,easy to register in the UK but not in Spain, just forget the idea.

Hi Everybody

Thank you very much for your input. I believe I have to go by the advise not to bring a car from North America. The reason I did ask was because I have some business advantages here, but it looks like this will not work out.

Emma