scrubbedexpat113

Hi, we are shortly moving back to Europe from New Zealand. We intend to spend winters in Spain and summers in UK. Where do we need to register a car given we will be about 6 months in each place.
Thanks

Dxf

Hola

It is simpler and cheaper to register the car in the UK

Davexf

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

Tadd1966

Simplest thing would be to have a car in each country

In Spain for example if you have none Spanish registered car in Spain for more than 3 months (used to be 6 months but changed recently) in any 12 month period you need to register it in Spain and pay any relevant import tax

Similar rules apply in UK for none UK registered cars but I think the duration is a bit longer - may be wrong

Dxf

Hola

European law says a car can be 6 months outside its country of registration - or it was last time I looked

Davexf

Tadd1966

You maybe right

I am pretty sure Spain changed this to 3 months - maybe this is just for residents though

One point is that if you stay in Spain for more than 183 days in any 12 month period you are deemed as a resident

Still say having a car in each country would be easier and avoids any complications

Fred James

It's a bit more complicated. So long as the car is still legal in the country of registration (MOT and Tax), it seems that it can stay as long as you like. The restrictions are on who can drive it and when. Cars used to be sealed after 6 months, but that no longer applies to EU registered cars.

From the EU advice:-

Temporary stays
If you keep your normal residence from your Member State but you stay in another EU country for less than 6 months, you do not have to register your car or pay any taxes there - it will remain registered in your country of residence.

If you are staying in another EU country for less than 6 months and have not registered your car there, you may not legally lend or rent your car to a resident of that country, who may only drive your car if you are in the car with him/her.

You may, however, lend your car to visiting friends or family - provided they are not resident in your new country.

If you are staying in another country for more than 6 months, you should normally change your residence to this country and you must register your car there.

The key point is to ensure that is stays legal. I know of a very recent case where a Brit keeps a UK reg car at his holiday home. The police recently stopped him and declared that he was driving an illegal car as it did not have a UK MOT and was not taxed in the UK. They had all this data on their iPad!

They said he could no longer drive it and it would need a Grua to take it back to his house where it would be sealed. He said that he would take it back to the UK for an MOT and tax. That's OK, they said, but it will have to go on a transporter. He checked with the ferry company and was told that as it was legally undriveable, the only way they would ship it back to the UK was in a container!

He is now having to register it in Spain. In our town the Local Police recently held a short course on how to recognise illegal cars and what to do about it. This case is a direct result of that.

You have been warned!

Longlegpete

As you have pointed out its the stay of the individual and not the car that is limited to the 6 months period, also worth noting the DVLA consider a UK registered car as permanently exported after 12 month's, i guess they have no way of knowing it but that is there stance, not sure who was contacted at the ferry company but it is fine to transport a bike/car with no mot, untaxed and indeed uninsured as long as its on a transporter that is taxed, moted and Insured

Tadd1966

Done a bit more checking

Yes it is complicated an sometimes not clear but here goes

If you are moving to Spain and bringing a UK car with you then you have 3 months to register
EU citizens can bring a UK reg car into Spain for up to 6 months in any 12 month period - please note if you plan to stay in Spain for more than 3 months as a visitor you must register yourself with the local police

The car must be legal as per the home countries requirements (MOT, Tax, insurance) and as far as I am aware of the new Spanish police car check computer system is supposed to link up with other EU states systems including the UK



Many people ignore these rules and the risk is theirs

Dxf

Hola

If you re-register it within 60 days of signing on the padron - then you can bring the car in as part of your goods and chattels and therefore "First Registration tax" (commonly called import duty) will be free.

Davexf