This is the problem we had back in July. We went to a reputable company to re-register our UK car to Spanish plates. We live in Murica region but the nearest itv station is just across the county border in Alicante region, so that is where all the paperwork was done. All we needed was the escritura, the itv and part of the V5.

Then we heard nothing for a month- due we thought to the national holidays in August, we expected the delay. Come september and we phoned the company after hearing nothing.

It turned out that traffico would not entertain our paperwork, escritura etc until we produced a padron. No padron, no registration! So we had to attend our town hall and ask for padron, which hey happily gave us even though we are non resident.

That is why I also mentioned you need the padron. It seems with one of these you can buy Spain!

Thank you all for your postings, I will buy from a dealer pay extra and allow them to register the car, I have to stay away from the padron as I want to stay a UK tax resident.

Being on the Padron is nothing to do with your tax status, it would not debar you from being or remaining UK tax resident.

Good luck.

I bought a car last year. I too am a non resident (yet) and all I needed was my NIE and a utility bill. There was a bit of a wobble as the NIE said "Antequerra" (where my abogado is) but I live in Estepa Seville province. Anyway a quick call to traffic ( by the car people not me) and job done! He was happy to take my money and I was happy to talk the car. I did have a uk car over here for a few months and I had intended to reregister it, but it seemed a lot of hassle and of course it is always a "target" whenever we went down to the costas as I found out when somebody had a go at the lock with a screwdriver. I might add that it was all road legal. It still winds me up when I see UK cars being driven around with no tax disc and presumably no insurance either.
Hopes this helps: Pete

UK cars no longer need a tax disc and they are no longer supplied. My UK car has an out of date tax disc because I haven't got round to removing it but this doesn't mean that I haven't renewed it. Now that it is all computerised that bit of paper on the windscreen is obsolete.

Kath

No, not directly, but when you sign on the Padron you are declaring that your habitual residence is in that location.

If you are habitually resident in Spain then you would normally be deemed tax resident.

As you have previously pointed out, one does not choose where they are tax resident. This is determined by how many days etc.

Being on the Padron or not is irrelevant.

Yes Fred that would be my concern re the Pardon. I seem to remember some time ago a thread on here where someone had been visited by the Guardia to inform them that they either become resident or come off the pardon as they were claiming to be non resident. We hear many scare stories of people saying non residents should be aware of big brother checking utility bills to see if you are staying longer than you should. Surely by signing on the Pardon you are declaring Spain as your habitual home and should therefore be resident with all that entails. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the EU had got involved which brought about the dropping of the pardon rule to buy a car as it discriminated against non residents? Mind one reads many things that turn out wrong so I may well be wrong in this instance.

Surely it is relevant as the local authority claim money from central government for each person on the pardon, therefore if non residents are on the pardon central government is being defrauded. It is surely also relevant that non residents should not need to tell lies in order to buy a car.

I said: Signing the Padron is irrelevant to whether one is deemed TAX resident in Spain / UK.

Missile I understand where you are coming from and as I said earlier in the thread in some areas signing the padron may be the only way forward re purchasing a car. I also agree to a point re the tax residency bit, however as I mentioned in my previous post people talk about electricity water etc being monitored (I must admit I have to see proof of this) which worries some non residents. Surely by signing the padron you are informing the authorities officially that you are resident and MAY be liable for tax residency. As is often quoted they will decide and it is for you to prove not tax resident, surely made difficult if you have signed to say Spain is you habitual home! I suppose one could sign on then once they have the car sign off the padron?

In my experience the authorities do not speak to each other. I would suggest, those of us who pay tax they are due have no need to worry.

I don't disagree with you. I was merely trying to give OP the benefit of my own experience in response to his question. Others may have a different experience ........ as is often the case when dealing with Spanish authorities.

What about insurance? My Spanish policy was granted on the basis that my car is registered at my "habitual address". If I were not on the padrón I imagine that the insurance company would not consider it to be my habitual address. Of course it would accept my premiums but I would only find out that my insurance is invalid if I made a claim.

I imagine Spanish insurance companies do not knowingly insure non residents, but if someone knows otherwise I would be interested to hear.

I find it hard to believe that car purchase is such a hassle in Spain. We 'were' thinking of buying a car privately, when we visit next week. But when I read things like this, it's kind of putting me off.

What is the process of actually buying the car privately? Do you just agree a price, pay the money and drive away with the paperwork and car? Then go through the legal process afterwards. Or does the legal side need to be completed first?

I must admit, I would rather buy from a dealer, but with our limited funds, I feel I could get a better deal privately. I am experienced in looking at a car mechanically, so no problem there, but unsure of the legal process.

Also, is there a limit to the time after purchase that the legal side needs to be completed? If we didn't manage to get it registered on one trip (if we bought it in the last few days) would it be ok to register on our next trip (the car would be parked in a private underground parking space)

Thanks everyone for their contributions, it really helps those of us who need to make decisions based on your replies.

It is no more problematic and in some respects easier than buying in the UK. You need to register the car in your name at trafico and pay any outstanding fines and taxes to the appropriate office which is usually in or near the town house.

If you must buy private, you run similar risk as you do in the UK and I would advise newbies not familiar with the Spanish systems to buy from a reputable dealer.