Do I need to change my headlights to re-register my car in Spain?
Aug 27th 2013, 1:08 pm
#16
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Location: Ontinyent - Valencia region (campo)
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Re: Do I need to change my headlights to re-register my car in Spain?
let me run this past you again
car valued in the UK abt £2,500
cost to matriculate £1,750
and the car is then valued, even as a right hand drive, at least double the UK valuation.
therefore effectively neutral, and considering the car I drive is not common on the roads, I am happy with the stares it gets.
and just remember that second hand cars in Spain are way way over priced.
car valued in the UK abt £2,500
cost to matriculate £1,750
and the car is then valued, even as a right hand drive, at least double the UK valuation.
therefore effectively neutral, and considering the car I drive is not common on the roads, I am happy with the stares it gets.
and just remember that second hand cars in Spain are way way over priced.
Surely, by virtue of the good weather, they are a better bet at being rust free etc.?
Aug 27th 2013, 3:13 pm
#17
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Re: Do I need to change my headlights to re-register my car in Spain?
Sep 3rd 2013, 12:03 pm
#18
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Re: Do I need to change my headlights to re-register my car in Spain?
Usually the reason for changing headlamps (and other parts) has nothing to do with performance, but simply whether they have the EU certification stamp on them. We imported a car from outside the EU a long time ago, and had to replace all the lamps and many other parts with identical ones embellishing the EU certification stamp.
Car import workovers are big business - facilitated by EU regs. Normally, the ITV or TÜV measures performance, and doesn't bother to look at whether the EU cert stamp is on the parts, but legally, the lamps (and many other parts) are supposed to have them.
Car import workovers are big business - facilitated by EU regs. Normally, the ITV or TÜV measures performance, and doesn't bother to look at whether the EU cert stamp is on the parts, but legally, the lamps (and many other parts) are supposed to have them.
I also heard the other day that all four tyres now have to match by make and tread pattern as opposed to only requiring the same type on each axel...more expense.
Sep 3rd 2013, 12:10 pm
#19
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: In the middle of 10million Olive Trees
Posts: 12,053
Re: Do I need to change my headlights to re-register my car in Spain?
UK headlamps need to be changed as they dip the wrong way for europe , if your car has xenon headlights you may be able to switch them over for euro use.
I also heard the other day that all four tyres now have to match by make and tread pattern as opposed to only requiring the same type on each axel...more expense.
I also heard the other day that all four tyres now have to match by make and tread pattern as opposed to only requiring the same type on each axel...more expense.
matriculating is presenting the car for acceptance as to the standard it would be if it was a new car arriving in Spain. Obviously all new cars have new tyres. Although everyone knows it isn't New, and has been used, so why wouldn't the tyres perhaps be mismatched.
But then that wouldn't matter at an annual ITV inspection. When at my local ITV I saw a coach breeze thru with almost smooth tyres.
Sep 3rd 2013, 12:31 pm
#20
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Re: Do I need to change my headlights to re-register my car in Spain?
thinking about it logically - that could be a reasonable interpretation.
matriculating is presenting the car for acceptance as to the standard it would be if it was a new car arriving in Spain. Obviously all new cars have new tyres. Although everyone knows it isn't New, and has been used, so why wouldn't the tyres perhaps be mismatched.
But then that wouldn't matter at an annual ITV inspection. When at my local ITV I saw a coach breeze thru with almost smooth tyres.
matriculating is presenting the car for acceptance as to the standard it would be if it was a new car arriving in Spain. Obviously all new cars have new tyres. Although everyone knows it isn't New, and has been used, so why wouldn't the tyres perhaps be mismatched.
But then that wouldn't matter at an annual ITV inspection. When at my local ITV I saw a coach breeze thru with almost smooth tyres.
Sep 3rd 2013, 1:22 pm
#21
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Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Ontinyent - Valencia region (campo)
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Re: Do I need to change my headlights to re-register my car in Spain?
thinking about it logically - that could be a reasonable interpretation.
matriculating is presenting the car for acceptance as to the standard it would be if it was a new car arriving in Spain. Obviously all new cars have new tyres. Although everyone knows it isn't New, and has been used, so why wouldn't the tyres perhaps be mismatched.
But then that wouldn't matter at an annual ITV inspection. When at my local ITV I saw a coach breeze thru with almost smooth tyres.
matriculating is presenting the car for acceptance as to the standard it would be if it was a new car arriving in Spain. Obviously all new cars have new tyres. Although everyone knows it isn't New, and has been used, so why wouldn't the tyres perhaps be mismatched.
But then that wouldn't matter at an annual ITV inspection. When at my local ITV I saw a coach breeze thru with almost smooth tyres.
Sep 3rd 2013, 4:06 pm
#22
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Joined: Mar 2012
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Re: Do I need to change my headlights to re-register my car in Spain?
"When at my local ITV I saw a coach breeze thru with almost smooth tyres"- perhaps the tester was a relative?
Sep 4th 2013, 6:24 am
#23
Joined: May 2006
Location: Galicia
Posts: 3,140
Re: Do I need to change my headlights to re-register my car in Spain?
if your car has xenon headlights you may be able to switch them over for euro use
I think this is right; If the headlights can be moved for continental touring then the beam shape could well be wrong to pass an ITV as the beam still needs to shine higher on the kerbside and not be flat, as some of these systems work. Also if xenon headlights are an after market kit then you will not be able to change them for continental touring like OEM equipment.
Sep 4th 2013, 9:50 am
#25
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Re: Do I need to change my headlights to re-register my car in Spain?
That is a bit of an open statement, which may need clarifying.
I think this is right; If the headlights can be moved for continental touring then the beam shape could well be wrong to pass an ITV as the beam still needs to shine higher on the kerbside and not be flat, as some of these systems work. Also if xenon headlights are an after market kit then you will not be able to change them for continental touring like OEM equipment.
I think this is right; If the headlights can be moved for continental touring then the beam shape could well be wrong to pass an ITV as the beam still needs to shine higher on the kerbside and not be flat, as some of these systems work. Also if xenon headlights are an after market kit then you will not be able to change them for continental touring like OEM equipment.
From experience Ive done this with an L322 Range Rover and it passed the ITV.
Sep 4th 2013, 1:40 pm
#26
Joined: May 2006
Location: Galicia
Posts: 3,140
Re: Do I need to change my headlights to re-register my car in Spain?
I did read what you said, but it needed full clarification.
Sep 4th 2013, 5:00 pm
#27
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 253
Re: Do I need to change my headlights to re-register my car in Spain?
thinking about it logically - that could be a reasonable interpretation.
matriculating is presenting the car for acceptance as to the standard it would be if it was a new car arriving in Spain. Obviously all new cars have new tyres. Although everyone knows it isn't New, and has been used, so why wouldn't the tyres perhaps be mismatched.
But then that wouldn't matter at an annual ITV inspection. When at my local ITV I saw a coach breeze thru with almost smooth tyres.
matriculating is presenting the car for acceptance as to the standard it would be if it was a new car arriving in Spain. Obviously all new cars have new tyres. Although everyone knows it isn't New, and has been used, so why wouldn't the tyres perhaps be mismatched.
But then that wouldn't matter at an annual ITV inspection. When at my local ITV I saw a coach breeze thru with almost smooth tyres.
Sep 5th 2013, 7:58 pm
#28
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: In the middle of 10million Olive Trees
Posts: 12,053
Re: Do I need to change my headlights to re-register my car in Spain?
It used to be the joke that the itv station in Jumilla was of the opinion that if a car managed the journey to the testing station, it must be roadworthy and therefore a cert was issued. Unless it is first reg or change from uk to spanish plates, then it was very thorough
as I had originally used the same small local company that the BH had used for her car, who spoke English, I had perhaps fallen into a trap. But at the end of the day they ceased trading so I had to pick up the pieces and take it all onboard myself.
and I came out with the pass doc, which I took to Hacienda and insisted they help me, which the grudgingly did, although they weren't totally honest about the payment procedure until La Caixa picked me and them up.
then took all the docs to Trafico to have the car registered as matriculated.
After all that walking across the road from Trafico to the Tabac to get the plates made up was a doddle.
you really have to do all these things for yourself to appreciate the rigmarole that is involved.
the worst part is that every step of the way each govt organisation uses a different computer system, each involves re-entering the same information in a different order and asking similar questions. That is what takes the time.
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