I'm sure that there'll be some who won't agree with this - but we've driven our English plated car in Spain for six years now with no problems. We drive back to the UK once a year for MOT and tax and insure it there. We've never been stopped by the guardia and we live in a small village where we certainly don't disappear into the crowd!

As battlezone says - as long as we're taxed and insured they seem happy

Tin hat at the ready I hope.

Well - I am new here but I do - kind of - know what to expect

And I'm afraid you'd deserve it as well

Why

.... because you're breaking the law!

I don't really want to start up this old chestnut again but I couldn't be looking over my shoulders all the time just in case I got stopped and then done for driving an illegal car.

Also, if you were to have an accident, would the insurance company pay out if you were truly honest about having been resident in Spain for 6 years?!

I know some would claim to have 'got away with it' but why take the risk - life's too short!

Because if you come to live in Spain you should obey the law like most of us do. If you break it, and then come on the forum bragging about it then you are setting yourself up

Frankly I'm somewhat fed up of people thinking they are above the law

And telling us that the local police are happy with it doesnt actually endorse what you are doing or make it any better in the eyes of law abiding ex pats in this country

You did ask!

Not implemented in Spain until may 2009 and only enforced in the UK this year.

Some ebay lights are not "E " marked and will not pass an ITV ,Spain is generally cheaper for headlights due to logistics.

Well said that man ,the way Spanish Police are tightening up now it is only a matter of time anyway ,around our way they are s**t hot at the moment , I know loads who have been nicked recently for the slightest misdemeanour and I have no sympathy

I took my UK Lexus over with me when we moved in May as frankly for what I'd have got selling it (it was 4 years old but in mint condition and low mileage) I couldn't possibly get an equivalent spec/quality of car here. I used a specialist company here to do all the import etc work for me and it was well worth it as they knew what to do and did all the running around paperwork etc. They also use a guy near Benidorm who specialises in sourcing (and fitting if you want) replacement headlights. All in all I was very pleased with the process and costs. I understand I can't post links here to the relevant websites but if anyone's interested in their services just PM me.

I had an Audi TT and was surprised to find it had the facility to change the direction of dip built into the headlight units.

I don't actually think that I was 'bragging' in my post - just stating some facts.

We're not residents and don't live in Spain full time at the moment. We still have a home in the UK, pay council tax (as well as all due taxes in Spain) and only use the car when we're over in Spain - apart from, as I said, one week per year when OH drives it over for MOT & tax. The rest of the time it's off the road and we've spoken to the Guardia who are perfectly happy with the situation

When we do move to Spain full time and become residents then we will change the situation with the car accordingly!

Your previous post seems to indicate to me that you live in Spain as does your profile depict

How so

Which previous post are you referring to? - and apart from the location of my home in Spain I don't see anything in my profile that indicates my living arrangements

Writing this in my flat in Nottingham, looking out at the grey clouds and wishing I was in my Casa with OH right now