jdr

Returning to GB section HERE

rugbymatt

So if I drove my car over, with the express intention of driving it back.................how long would I be able to keep the car in Spain?


EH?

jdr

Some people say six months but......
Three months and thirty days, because you will become resident at three months and then have thirty days to transfer it to Spanish plates.
But alegedly if the Guardia think you have moved to Spain to live permanently they can take the 30 days from arrival in Spain.

But no doubt you will also be told different as always. LOL

Fred James

Under EU law you have 6 months to reregister it. The 30 days only applies if you wish to avoid the reregistration "tax".

If you visit Spain regularly but never for more than 90 days, the car can stay in Spain for as long as it remains legal - effectively until the MOT runs out.

Non EU cars are subject to "sealing" after 6 months but this no longer applies to EU cars.

EU cars can only be on the road for 6 months in a calendar year so they need to be kept off the road for the other 6 months but you could use it for 12 months from July 1 to June 30 next year!

How anyone could ever check this I cannot imagine which is proably why so many people get away with it until they become resident.

jdr

Dellars book says 30 days after applying for residence.
Spain lawyers says "You may also matriculate your foreign car on Spanish plates, you shall do it within 2 months from the time of entry."

Every place I look is different info. doh

Fred James

Dellers book is full of inaccuracies.

I got the 6 month rule in an email I got from the EU lawyers helpline when I asked that specific question 2 months ago.

They said:- "Since you are moving to Spain from the UK, you must register your vehicle in Spain as soon as possible after arrival and, at any rate, within six months of moving."

Gill Stevens

I know this has been covered many times on this and other forums, but this is slightly different.

My husband has a Class D1 licence in the UK which allows him to drive 49 seater coaches. He has obviously spent a lot of money taking lessons to get this licence originally and if he hands in his UK licence for a spanish one he may lose the Class D1.

What do we do in those circumstances? Does anyone know if there is such a Class in Spain and whether he would have this on any spanish licence issued. He may wish to work in Spain driving at some point.

We dont even know who we should contact in Spain to ask the question??

We know if we came back to the UK that he could get his UK licence re-issued but we are not planning on coming back.

jdr

Try the link to the British Embassy in Madrid, in the free beer thread at the top of threads page, and email them about it.

Fred James

The licencing vehicle categories have been harmonised across the EU so when you exchange your UK licence you will retain your full set of vehicle categories.

Where there is a slight difference is that you have to abide by local rules for renewal of licences and the corresponding medical check.

For Group 2 licences which include D and D1 you have to renew (and have a medical) every 5 years up to age 45, every 3 years up to 60 and every 2 years thereafter.

This does present a problem for some people who have the entitlement to drive some Group 2 vehicles on their normal car licence such as small commercial vehicles or minibuses). If you exchange your licence and want to retain these categories you have to conform to the more stringent rules or lose the entitlemment (until you return to the UK when it will be reinstated).

mrcusa

As I understand it, you have to apply for Residencia if you are here in Spain longer than 90 days. (The new paper thing)

Well lets say you live in Spain 100 days, so you get your Residencia paper thing. You then go back to the UK and live the other 265 days.

On day 86 of your days in Spain, the Guardia Civil stops you and asks for your papers. You show them everything including your new EC paper Residencia.

Then they fine you for not having a Spanish license do they?

Fred James

Since it is no longer obligatory to have a Spanish licence they cannot fine you.

That said it is not unknow for them to do so but the fine will always be cancelled if you dispute it.

scampicat

OK, I did not apply for a photocard licence when I was in the UK as I would have had to declared on the form that I was a British resident and I drew the line at telling downright lies.

So I will have to exchange my green paper licence for a Spanish one.

How does one do this?

Is it necessary to go to Trafico personally? Or can I hope against hope that I can do it by post?

Thanks!

Fred James

You cannot do it by post. You can do it yourself but although it is a simple process most trafico departments have a reputation for not being too user friendly!

You can download the forms from the Trafico website which will save some time. You will need the usual photos and obviously your UK licence.

It may take a month to get the new licence but they will give you a receipt which will be adequte to satisfy the police if you are stopped. You would not be able to use it to hire a car if you went to the UK so take any travel plans into account.

If you want to avoid the hassle a gestor will do it for you for about €30 plus the fee of €17.80. You are not required to take a medical.

scampicat

Thanks. Do you have happen to have a link for the appropriate page on the trafico website?

MnM

Hi scampicat,

I think this is the webpage you are looking for:

http://www.dgt.es/tramites/canjes/unioneuropea.htm

And here in pdf format:

http://www.dgt.es/tramites/conductor..._Y_NORUEGA.pdf