John Hopwood

Can anyone please recommend a good local (Nth. C. Blanca) firm with English speakers who offers insurance cover for UK reg cars.
Thanks for any suggestions/information

Mitzyboy

Depends on the circumstances, but Knights Insurance can help (google it). Just bear in mind that if you are a Spanish resident you wont be able to drive it legally anyway.

snikpoh

Unless you are non-resident and aren't in Spain for more than a few months, it won't be worth the paper it's printed on!

Let's not start this up again please as the law SHOULD be well known by now as it's been quoted on here many, many times.

Mitzyboy

We dont know the posters circumstances do we?

Mrs P

Many insurers say they will insure you but how can you insure a car for a year when you are supposed to get a residents certificate after 3 months

Once resident, as said before you can't legally drive it so if you try and claim, that will be the get out clause.

Don't waste your money.

Rotor

Regardless of this they still pay out , even if you dont have MOT and tax! remeber your not in the UK .

snikpoh

... not always!

Rotor

They dont always with a Spanish reg car either of course it`s all about circumstances.

billgates

It's mad.
Why should it be illegal to drive a foreign registered vehicle if you are a Spanish resident?
(Yes, I know everyone says it's illegal and I don't want to start up yet another row over uninsured drivers)
But why?
Cars are all built the same and are controlled in the same way, steering wheel, pedals, etc., yes there is an argument about rhd/lhd and the safety aspect at roundabouts and junctions, but why, when we are all supposedly in the EU, should the Spanish authorities (and other nationalities) decide that their residents are not allowed to drive a foreign vehicle?

It's just a control thing.
Another law to control the population.
Another revenue generator.

Like having to import and matriculate cars. Does it really matter where in the EU a car is registered?
As long as it is registered in an EU country then the vehicle must conform to EU specifications so what is the problem?

And I agree with Rotor, insurance companies will still pay out.

jdr

A British car is still under DVLA regulations until it is exported, so still needs tax and MOT to be street legal anywhere.

snikpoh

... and that's the point, the car is under a different countries legislation.

The EU is nowhere near being one country (thank God) so why shouldn't different countries have different rules.

It's like saying why should the rules be different between an EU country and a non-EU country yet share borders etc.?

Take an EU car to America and the rules are VERY different - but you could still ask why?

billgates

But why should a British person that is a Spanish resident be prevented from driving a British registered vehicle just because they are a Spanish resident?

There's no safety reason involved. The vehicle will conform to the same EU standards regardless of country of registration.

I accept that rules are rules.
But I can't accept that it's fair or just.
Just another piece of controling legislation created by jobsworths.

jdr

How long do you think you would be able to drive a Spanish plated car in the UK for if you lived there ?
Probably the same amount of time.

Fred James

No, it's not a safety issue, it's a tax issue.

Spanish registered cars pay a significantly higher matriculation tax than most other EU countries and local town halls receive the road tax.

It's perfectly reasonable that a resident pays Spanish income taxes etc so they should also pay the same vehicle taxes.

At present there is no way these taxes can be paid without changing to Spanish plates.

Mitzyboy

Because you live in Spain. You (generally) chose to live in Spain. Therefore you abide by their laws. It's simple!

If you cause an accident and then drive off, they cant trace your car to your address here. They don't know where you live, and they cant take action against you. (Chances are people don't tell the UK authorities that they now live abroad).

The car it's self should have been permanently exported when you left the UK to live here. If that hasn't been done then thats a UK rule broken as well.

I know it gets discussed here time and time again, and it does annoy me. Bottom line .. if you come to live here you should abide by the rules and laws, not break them. Saying "why should we" just doesn't cut it!