Driving query
 

Am I allowed to drive a Portuguese registered car in Spain on a UK driving licence ? I often visit Portugal where my partner lives. She has a Portuguese car but no longer drives. I have often wondered if we could tour Spain in this car on my driving licence. Any thoughts on this would be most welcome.

Re: Driving query
 

I don't see why not. I assume the car is insured for you to drive? but you could ask AA / RAC.

Re: Driving query
 

Hola

Make sure you have written permission to drive the car - If the man in the green uniform with the gun at his hip had a bad breakfast ………

Davexf

Re: Driving query
 

Many thanks. The reason I query it is that as a UK citizen and resident with a UK driving licence, I cannot, under EU law drive a car with foreign plates on British roads, unless it is a rental hire car. So, by extension, I assumed, rightly or wrongly, that I could not drive a such a car in Spain either.

Re: Driving query
 

No, you cannot drive a foreign car in the UK if you are resident in the UK. The same applies in Spain, but you are not a resident.

Dxf is correct. You really need proof that you have permission to drive it. More info on this site and a form you can download.

https://n332.es/2018/01/27/permissio...-your-vehicle/

Re: Driving query
 

There's been some discussion recently about whether Spanish residents can drive UK plated vehicles in Spain.

I maintain they can't but can't find any source for this fact.

Can you help?

Re: Driving query
 

This seems to be the rule from CAB Spain, who are usually correct.

Once you have registered as resident on the Registro de Extranjeros, you cannot drive a foreign plated vehicle anymore, unless it is owned by a non-resident and the owner is with you in the car.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.es/fa...-car-in-spain/

Re: Driving query
 

So, either I take the car owner with me, or one of those forms duly completed and signed by her. Got it. Many thanks for your help Fred.

Re: Driving query
 

No, on the basis of the CAB post, you must have the owner with you. You "might" get away with it if you only have the form.

Your choice.

Re: Driving query
 

Unfortunately, the links in that article are nothing to do with Spanish residents not being able to drive a foreign plated vehicle.

This is why I've come unstuck and can't provide evidence to back up my assertion.

Re: Driving query
 

Neither can I. I would go with the CAB advice or just not bother. Whatever rules you find to support the CAB view, you can be sure the Guardia will invent the rule at the same time as they fine you and impound the car!

Re: Driving query
 

It's contained in Article 3 of the EU directive https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-cont...130701&from=EN

Until or unless registered in Spain any and all UK regged private cars are, by definition, 'temporary imports'.

Don't forget that post Brexit and absent any agreement to the contrary visiting UK licence holders wishing to drive in Spain will need an IDP (1949 convention), if they drive all the way through France then they will need another one for there (1968 convention). If they want to make a grand tour out of it though I'd advise avoiding Liechtenstein because for there they'll need yet a 3rd one (1926 convention) !

Re: Driving query
 

Re: Driving query
 

I heard that many are rushing to obtain an IDP prior to Brexit and this has already cost UK residents circa £5,000,000. In the event of no deal there is a concern that the system will not be able to cope with the numbers requesting IDPs.

Re: Driving query
 

I had assumed you were a UK resident. If you are resident in Spain you are not permitted to drive a foreign registered car in Spain. However, many do. You are unlikely to be caught, unless you have an accident :-(

Re: Driving query
 

Again, no one seems to be able to provide a source to verify that statement - can you?

Re: Driving query
 

On the contrary, it's precisely on point and is about tax but not just in the narrow local terms of IVTM.

The title itself states "on tax exemptions within the Community for certain means of transport temporarily imported into one Member State from another" and in the annex tabulates the relevant laws in the various member states.

For Spain that is Ley 41/1979,de 19 de noviembre.

Re: Driving query
 

But if you read the Appendix which gives the specific taxes excepted (or not), the entry for Spain only mentions IVTM - nothing else.

Anyway, as I have said before they will make it up as they go along, so what the law says becomes is pretty irrelevant when you are pulled into a layby.
I dont think there is much point in labouring about whether its an EU directive or some obscure Spanish law. Unless someone comes up with some more information about the real situation, preferably from personal experience, this is about as far as this thread is going to go.

The most useful advice given so far is just don't risk it.