Tele Addict

Do you even understand what I am saying?

Let's try to make it simpler.

1. I live in Spain
2. I have a second home in the UK
3. I have a British registered car at my second home in the UK
4. The British registered car spends more than 183 days in the UK
5. My being resident in Spain doesn't mean that the British registered car needs a Spanish tag if it visits Spain for 2 months

Lastly, when people get in trouble with the GC it is because their documents are wrong, not because of some conspiracy BS.

Fred James

Not quite correct - it is YOU who have to prove that it was NOT here for 183 days. In this case you are guilty until proved innocent

Fred James

I think the point JDR is making is that although the car is legal and does not need replating under those circumstances, as a resident, you are not allowed to drive it.

Tele Addict

Innocent until proven guilty mate. The burden of proof is on the GC. It's part of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights along with its Spanish and European equivalents. Just because JDR says it does not mean it is so. The problem is keeping a foreign tagged car resident, not a resident driving one. You really need to see how ridiculous the argument being put forward is. You are saying a Spanish resident is not permitted to drive a foreign tagged car. That is utter nonsense. There are many situations that are contrary to what you are saying where it is perfectly legal.

Fred James

I'm sure you will find them very sympathetic to that view.

Tele Addict

I'm sure you must be living in Uganda.

Mitzyboy

I dont understand why you are being so antagonistic to people about this just because some people have different views to yours

Whatever you think, I'm afraid Fred is right. Also, it's not JDR that is only saying so. In general if you have a UK plated car and you are a resident in Spain then you have to get it matriculated. It's not nonsense. The argument isn't ridiculous. Now I'm fully aware that there are many Brits driving around for years in that situation and don't give a toss about it, but thats their choice I guess. But it doesnt detract from reality. Many haven't registered on the foreigners list either. Their choice.

The resident / UK plated car question has been confirmed by a gestor and a Spanish solicitor. Innocent until proven guilty doesnt always cut it in Spain does it

Tele Addict

Because what is being said is nonsense. The argument is a Spanish resident cannot under any circumstance drive a UK tagged car. That is not true. Here are a couple of examples:

• My son lives in the UK and I am resident in Spain. I drive his car.
• I take my UK tagged car to the garage. The mechanic who is a Spanish resident test drives it.

By the why who takes legal advice from a gestoria? Of course he's going to tell you that. That's how he makes his living. If he told everyone they didn't need to get their cars tagged here he would have less work and less income.

whitelinen

I remember reading about this 10 years ago so unless the law has changed it most definitely is true and I just do not understand why you cannot accept that a Spanish law that makes no sense to you is indeed a real law. Would an Englishman drive around the UK in a Romanian registered car?

As for the presumption of innocence, it would be very foolish for anyone living in Spain (or indeed anywhere) to believe that to be the case nowaydays.

Mitzyboy

I take legal advice from my solicitor .. someone who has legal knowledge of the matter, but you seemed to ignore that. Yes, I take advice from my gestor who is part of a large bank and who really has no interest in doing car work for me as he knows I use a specialist for that

Did I say under any circumstances? No, I dont think I did.
I said in general a spanish resident is not able to drive a british registered car

I have no idea how a mechanic drives a brit car over here ... maybe he has a licence and necessary insurance to carry out that part of his business like they do in the UK. Its a little different to a full time expat spanish resident driving it all the time.

I cant comment on you driving your sons car ... your decision basically

But in any case its not nonsense

Maybe we can get back on track now please

Tele Addict

Can you specify the law that dictates this? If such a law were to exist it would put a conclusive end to this discussion.

Mitzyboy

I thought you were going to get back on track

Not without asking my solicitor, and frankly lets face it, you still wouldnt believe a different point of view then would you. But clearly you're right, and us lot are wrong .. so as I said, just do what you think is right, eh?

jackytoo

I agree with the law, same in the UK too. I do think it is an urban myth that the Police in Spain are bothered about the foreign cars. They don't have the resources. I know some who have been driving UK cars for years and Germans too. Jesus at least one in three cars on the CDS are foreign plated.

Wouldn't want to drive a uk car though, you would be at the mercy of every guiri hating spaniard on the A-7 methinks.

dgjamison

to just get back on track, I think what I wanted to know is: If I come to Spain for a year, but am not a resident just on an extended Holiday, not working or have children going to school there, am I classified as a resident after 6 months automatically, and would my UK reg car be expected to be re registered even though I would not be staying after the year? PHEW

avocados

YES.

You are not on holiday. The rules don't allow one year "holidays".

edit: what you need to do is put the car on red/green tourist plates.
Personally, I wouldn't bother. Go with the flow, learn the art of lying, but face the consequences if caught. Remember that your insurance may not pay out.
Alternatively, leave the country every 3 or 6 months, get your passport stamped (not a hope!), and return to Spain without problems.