Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

The authorities don't give a sh*t. If they got off their lazy arses and caned the Brits who drive UK cars, who are resident in spain and don't pay spanish tax or the Brits who rent their apartments and don't pay tax they'd make a fortune.

But they're lazy t*ssers who'd rather see 50% of their youth unemployed than chase up tax evading Brits.

Disgusting!

Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

From the horses mouth...the Police don't have the resources to chase up UK, German whatever reg cars. There are other priorities. They do not have a budget to tow away impounded cars and also many UK cars are clapped out and of little value.

If they catch someone for another offence then they will throw the book at them but otherwise they are laid back although they are aware of it.

A bit similar to the UK with foreign cars and the ones owned by gyppos. Turn a blind eye.

Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

Well I can only comment on my own area, the police here really are clamping down on lack of ITV and on cars not on Spanish plates.

It's a very welcome change as I don't see why these people should be allowed to get away with it here when the rest of us have to jump through hoops to be legal.

Thank you Dom for bringing it to our attention once more....a good thing in my opinion!

Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

I agree. It wouldn't take much effort for the police in my area to catch a significant number of these offenders in one fell swoop - just pay a visit to one of the so-called farmers' markets (which are nothing of the sort). There are always lots of vehicles in the car parks with UK licence plates and either no tax disc or an out of date one.

Our local police are certainly cracking down on other kinds of offences - one man in my area was fined a couple of weeks ago for putting his rubbish in the public bins 15 minutes earlier than the permitted time! Actually their campaign does seem to be having an effect as people are not dumping rubbish and old furniture at the side of the bins as they used to, and there seems to be less dog s**t in the streets (still some way to go on that though). These may seem petty offences but if not tackled these issues are not only a public hygiene problem but give a terrible impression of the town at a time when the authorities are keen to promote tourism to generate revenue.

It's a win win situation IMO - more income for the council and a better environment. Those who don't offend have nothing to fear.

Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

Not these days.

Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

Perhaps one reason why the Guardia have not bothered too much about it is that it is not a motoring offence as such - it is basically tax evasion and it is Hacienda and Customs who are "responsible" for policing it.

You would not expect the Guardia to turn up and ask to see your latest tax returns!

What I believe is now happening is that the the tax/customs people are getting involved with Trafico to do something about it.

Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

True enough , a lot of the illegal UK cars you see around are worthless / scrap value.
Police time and the cost of a Grua and then storage and court fee`s etc exceed the total of most fines , then of course most of the car owners will do a bunk and not pay the fines! ,more lucrative to fine Spanish citizens for petty nonsense!

Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

If you pass through customs into Spain from Gib you can see lots of imounded cars, vans, bikes, even a couple of caravans that Spanish customs have impounded. Some look as if they have been there for years!

Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

There also used to be masses of cars on the Andorra /Spanish border ,confiscated from smugglers I believe.

Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

Well it is happening in this area

http://www.torrevieja.com/eng/torrev...orrevieja.html

Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

Doesn't sound as if they actually caught any foreign reg. cars.

The Councillor of Public Safety reported that during the first half of February alone, that Local and Regional Police patrols identified a total of 323 vehicles without the correct documentation; 33 of these vehicles were reported for various reasons, mainly having expired Vehicle Technical Inspection (ITV) Certificates, a lack of, or driving with a driver's license that required renewing or without compulsory car insurance.


BTW did anyone see where the Spanish are borrowing money and leaving there cars as security (Málaga). There was a photo of large compound full of cars left.

Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

If these vehicles have no tax or MOT then how can they be insured? certainly not on a UK policy and I doubt not on a Spanish one either? So although some may see it as a victimless offence it isn't if they hit your car or even worse cripple one of your loved ones!

Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

It is estimated that a third of spanish drivers are uninsured. This was a couple of years ago, I would imagine this figure has climbed with the unemployment rate.

Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

Brit ex pat assumption , in Spain you can be insured without license/tax/ITV , technically you are actually insured in the UK as well without license/tax/MOT but only at a third party level.

Re: Clampdown on Foreign Cars in Spain
 

Correct. Insurance policies, once issued cannot be revoked by the insurance company under any circumstances - the third party element will continue. That is EU law.

All you can lose is the comprehensive/fire/theft cover.

In Spain, if you are hit by a totally uninsured driver your claim will be paid by the "Consorcio". This is an organisation which takes a small percentage of the premium from all insurance policies issued in Spain.

For example, damage from flooding/earthquake etc is not covered by insurance policies in Spain but any claims are paid by the Consorcio.