Changing car plates as a tourist - do we have to???????
May 27th 2008, 1:16 am
#1
Happy in my bubble
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Rochdale LANCASHIRE
Posts: 4,538
Changing car plates as a tourist - do we have to???????
Hiya all
Just a quickie - if we come over for 2 years as touristy type persons just mooching about weighing everything up do we still have to re-register our car over to spanish plates or coz we are tourists are we ok on UK plates???????.
Sorry if this has been asked before but im a lazy moo n if it aint under my nose i cant find it
.
Ta very much in advance
Love Sam xxxxx
Just a quickie - if we come over for 2 years as touristy type persons just mooching about weighing everything up do we still have to re-register our car over to spanish plates or coz we are tourists are we ok on UK plates???????.
Sorry if this has been asked before but im a lazy moo n if it aint under my nose i cant find it
.Ta very much in advance
Love Sam xxxxx
May 27th 2008, 1:18 am
#2
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,281
Re: Changing car plates as a tourist - do we have to???????
Hiya all
Just a quickie - if we come over for 2 years as touristy type persons just mooching about weighing everything up do we still have to re-register our car over to spanish plates or coz we are tourists are we ok on UK plates???????.
Sorry if this has been asked before but im a lazy moo n if it aint under my nose i cant find it .
Ta very much in advance
Love Sam xxxxx
Just a quickie - if we come over for 2 years as touristy type persons just mooching about weighing everything up do we still have to re-register our car over to spanish plates or coz we are tourists are we ok on UK plates???????.
Sorry if this has been asked before but im a lazy moo n if it aint under my nose i cant find it
.Ta very much in advance
Love Sam xxxxx
May 27th 2008, 1:23 am
#3
Happy in my bubble
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Rochdale LANCASHIRE
Posts: 4,538
May 27th 2008, 1:30 am
#4
Account Closed
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,002
Re: Changing car plates as a tourist - do we have to???????
Sam, try browsing a few threads as in :
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=492609
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=537532
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=535985
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=527699
For starters.
Remember one thing is being legal, another is thinking you are legal, another is knowingly being on the edge of legal and hoping you only fall the good side and another is trying it on until you get caught.
Also remember Spain has a new penal code effective this month 1 May and they are getting stricterer and stricterer what we used to be able to get away with is not the same as what we expect to get away with in future.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=492609
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=537532
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=535985
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=527699
For starters.
Remember one thing is being legal, another is thinking you are legal, another is knowingly being on the edge of legal and hoping you only fall the good side and another is trying it on until you get caught.
Also remember Spain has a new penal code effective this month 1 May and they are getting stricterer and stricterer
what we used to be able to get away with is not the same as what we expect to get away with in future.
May 27th 2008, 1:34 am
#6
Happy in my bubble
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Rochdale LANCASHIRE
Posts: 4,538
Re: Changing car plates as a tourist - do we have to???????
Sam, try browsing a few threads as in :
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=492609
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=537532
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=535985
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=527699
For starters.
Remember one thing is being legal, another is thinking you are legal, another is knowingly being on the edge of legal and hoping you only fall the good side and another is trying it on until you get caught.
Also remember Spain has a new penal code effective this month 1 May and they are getting stricterer and stricterer what we used to be able to get away with is not the same as what we expect to get away with in future.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=492609
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=537532
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=535985
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=527699
For starters.
Remember one thing is being legal, another is thinking you are legal, another is knowingly being on the edge of legal and hoping you only fall the good side and another is trying it on until you get caught.
Also remember Spain has a new penal code effective this month 1 May and they are getting stricterer and stricterer
what we used to be able to get away with is not the same as what we expect to get away with in future.Thanks hun - i will plough (spelling lol) through them xxxxx
May 27th 2008, 1:44 am
#7
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Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Benalmadena Pueblo,Spain
Posts: 20,156
Re: Changing car plates as a tourist - do we have to???????
You can`t be a tourist in Spain for two years, only 3 months.
May 27th 2008, 1:53 am
#8
Account Closed
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,002
Re: Changing car plates as a tourist - do we have to???????
Hey, welcome back jdr 
Whats wrong with an e x t e n d e d v a c a t i o n in Spain ?
I know you are quoting the law but then any guardia check on papers will only get suspicious if you have and show something which indicates your longer term presence in Spain (a Spanish driving licence for example
). The main reason I got away with 7 odd years on UK plated bikes was that if or when they checked, all my papers were UK and all in order as if I was a tourist. Of course the downside to claiming you are a tourist is you are subject to instant on-the-spot fines so better to behave oneself in that respect. You do have to be careful the insurance company has no reason to suspect you are out of the UK for 2 years and unfortunately we brits are at a disadvantage to the Portuguese, French, Italian, German etc as they dont need a ferry or a train to get "into Europe" so it is far more difficult to prove if and when they drove home again.
Whats wrong with an e x t e n d e d v a c a t i o n in Spain ?
I know you are quoting the law but then any guardia check on papers will only get suspicious if you have and show something which indicates your longer term presence in Spain (a Spanish driving licence for example
). The main reason I got away with 7 odd years on UK plated bikes was that if or when they checked, all my papers were UK and all in order as if I was a tourist. Of course the downside to claiming you are a tourist is you are subject to instant on-the-spot fines so better to behave oneself in that respect. You do have to be careful the insurance company has no reason to suspect you are out of the UK for 2 years and unfortunately we brits are at a disadvantage to the Portuguese, French, Italian, German etc as they dont need a ferry or a train to get "into Europe" so it is far more difficult to prove if and when they drove home again.
May 27th 2008, 2:01 am
#9
RETIRED ;-))
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Benalmadena Pueblo,Spain
Posts: 20,156
Re: Changing car plates as a tourist - do we have to???????
Hey, welcome back jdr
Whats wrong with an e x t e n d e d v a c a t i o n in Spain ?
I know you are quoting the law but then any guardia check on papers will only get suspicious if you have and show something which indicates your longer term presence in Spain (a Spanish driving licence for example ). The main reason I got away with 7 odd years on UK plated bikes was that if or when they checked, all my papers were UK and all in order as if I was a tourist. Of course the downside to claiming you are a tourist is you are subject to instant on-the-spot fines so better to behave oneself in that respect. You do have to be careful the insurance company has no reason to suspect you are out of the UK for 2 years and unfortunately we brits are at a disadvantage to the Portuguese, French, Italian, German etc as they dont need a ferry or a train to get "into Europe" so it is far more difficult to prove if and when they drove home again.
Whats wrong with an e x t e n d e d v a c a t i o n in Spain ?
I know you are quoting the law but then any guardia check on papers will only get suspicious if you have and show something which indicates your longer term presence in Spain (a Spanish driving licence for example
). The main reason I got away with 7 odd years on UK plated bikes was that if or when they checked, all my papers were UK and all in order as if I was a tourist. Of course the downside to claiming you are a tourist is you are subject to instant on-the-spot fines so better to behave oneself in that respect. You do have to be careful the insurance company has no reason to suspect you are out of the UK for 2 years and unfortunately we brits are at a disadvantage to the Portuguese, French, Italian, German etc as they dont need a ferry or a train to get "into Europe" so it is far more difficult to prove if and when they drove home again.As in if they ask for proof of when the vehicle entered Spain, like a ferry or tunnel ticket.
Insurance will be void if the vehicle is in Spain illegally, why do you think reputable UK insurance companies will only give you 3 months cover for driving outside the UK.
May 27th 2008, 2:07 am
#10
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,002
Re: Changing car plates as a tourist - do we have to???????
But that is the point jdr, unless the ferry ticket is into Santander or Bilbao it doesnt prove one way or another when the car entered or left Spain. It only shows when the car entered or left the UK. And in the case of a bike, it is even more complex as mine used to travel back for its MoT in the back of a transit van so was never actually logged in and out of the UK.
May 27th 2008, 2:15 am
#11
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Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Benalmadena Pueblo,Spain
Posts: 20,156
Re: Changing car plates as a tourist - do we have to???????
But that is the point jdr, unless the ferry ticket is into Santander or Bilbao it doesnt prove one way or another when the car entered or left Spain. It only shows when the car entered or left the UK. And in the case of a bike, it is even more complex as mine used to travel back for its MoT in the back of a transit van so was never actually logged in and out of the UK.
They are not silly, they know how long it takes to drive from the ferry and if it is not within a few days then they would ask for a French receipt of some kind to prove you had stopped off in France.
Saying that you may get a nice Guardia and he will wish you a happy and safe trip.
May 27th 2008, 2:21 am
#12
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Posts: 1,002
Re: Changing car plates as a tourist - do we have to???????
Unfortunately that is the chance you take by not abiding by the rules. ;-))
They are not silly, they know how long it takes to drive from the ferry and if it is not within a few days then they would ask for a French receipt of some kind to prove you had stopped off in France.
Saying that you may get a nice Guardia and he will wish you a happy and safe trip.
They are not silly, they know how long it takes to drive from the ferry and if it is not within a few days then they would ask for a French receipt of some kind to prove you had stopped off in France.
Saying that you may get a nice Guardia and he will wish you a happy and safe trip.
What rules
I have to say that so far all the Guardia I have come across have been rather "nice" as you put it. I recall one glorious sunny day just out of Santander, two up with luggage and tugging something around 140 kph on the slow bends through the gorge, a couple of Guardia bikes came the other way, equally banked over and equally enjoying their ride. They actually gave a casual wave as they passed. On the big bikes, they are more concerned at lack of helmets than anything else as kids in Spain just dont get on to big bikes.
May 27th 2008, 2:27 am
#13
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Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Benalmadena Pueblo,Spain
Posts: 20,156
Re: Changing car plates as a tourist - do we have to???????
Rules?
What rules
I have to say that so far all the Guardia I have come across have been rather "nice" as you put it. I recall one glorious sunny day just out of Santander, two up with luggage and tugging something around 140 kph on the slow bends through the gorge, a couple of Guardia bikes came the other way, equally banked over and equally enjoying their ride. They actually gave a casual wave as they passed. On the big bikes, they are more concerned at lack of helmets than anything else as kids in Spain just dont get on to big bikes.
What rules
I have to say that so far all the Guardia I have come across have been rather "nice" as you put it. I recall one glorious sunny day just out of Santander, two up with luggage and tugging something around 140 kph on the slow bends through the gorge, a couple of Guardia bikes came the other way, equally banked over and equally enjoying their ride. They actually gave a casual wave as they passed. On the big bikes, they are more concerned at lack of helmets than anything else as kids in Spain just dont get on to big bikes.
May 27th 2008, 2:34 am
#14
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Posts: 1,002
Re: Changing car plates as a tourist - do we have to???????
Was this the casual wave ;-)) http://1000smilies.com/animated/caesar.gif
Actually when I clocked them coming, I realised it was way too late to slow up on the bend and it was literally a slow hand acknowledgement as many bikers to bikers use. Was quite a surprise but a pleasant one at that. Maybe he clocked my wife's legs on the back and was showing his appreciation too.
May 27th 2008, 4:00 am
#15
Straw Man.
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: That, there, that's not my post count... nothing to see here, move along.
Posts: 46,302
Re: Changing car plates as a tourist - do we have to???????
from my viewpont it seems a little odd that people would be so ready to break a rule, and essentially the law just because its Spain.
Do any of the people so ready to drive illegally in Spain do so in the UK?
Would any of them drink drive,or drive without adequate insurance, or without a valid MOT?
Then why do it in bloody Spain?
If you are happy to break the law with this then its a slippery slope I'm afraid.
Do any of the people so ready to drive illegally in Spain do so in the UK?
Would any of them drink drive,or drive without adequate insurance, or without a valid MOT?
Then why do it in bloody Spain?
If you are happy to break the law with this then its a slippery slope I'm afraid.
