Keeping a UK registered car in Spain
#31
Re: Keeping a UK registered car in Spain
Exactly, that's why i have a UK car in Spain, because its the only way as a UK resident i can drive my car in the UK when i take it back for the summer
#32
Re: Keeping a UK registered car in Spain
You have it wrong. According to dvla you can drive a foreign registered car as a UK resident in the UK. As long as that vehicle is only visiting the country and is not being kept there in which case it must be re registered. Keeping it there and driving it is breaking the law, temporary visit as per holiday is not.
Think about it. You could rent a car from Hertz or Europcar or any number of others. It is registered in Spain. France elsewhere. You have rented it to drive home back to the UK. In your scenario once you set wheels in the UK you are breaking the law! It's a give and take situation with leeway as far as the dvla is concerned. The police might have a different outlook and issue a ticket if you don't have all your supporting paperwork, ie a return ferry ticket or a date to return the vehicle to an office of the rental company.
Think about it. You could rent a car from Hertz or Europcar or any number of others. It is registered in Spain. France elsewhere. You have rented it to drive home back to the UK. In your scenario once you set wheels in the UK you are breaking the law! It's a give and take situation with leeway as far as the dvla is concerned. The police might have a different outlook and issue a ticket if you don't have all your supporting paperwork, ie a return ferry ticket or a date to return the vehicle to an office of the rental company.
Well suppose you do not have a return ticket? Suppose you do not know your return date. This can happen. It is up to the police to prove you guilty in a court if need be.
Question for Longlegpete: How long do you "live" in Spain and how long in the UK?Being a resident is not all amount registering here in Spain.
#34
Re: Keeping a UK registered car in Spain
Rosemary
#35
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 377
Re: Keeping a UK registered car in Spain
You have it wrong. According to dvla you can drive a foreign registered car as a UK resident in the UK. As long as that vehicle is only visiting the country and is not being kept there in which case it must be re registered. Keeping it there and driving it is breaking the law, temporary visit as per holiday is not.
You can usually use a vehicle with non-UK number plates without needing to tax or register it in the UK if all of the following apply:
- you’re visiting and don’t plan to live here
- you only use the vehicle up to 6 months in a 12-month period (one single visit, or several shorter visits adding up to a 6-month period)
-the vehicle is registered and taxed in its home country
If you are a UK resident then you automatically fall at the first hurdle. This is the same as the situation in Spain, and is all based on an EU directive from 1983. I believe that as a resident you can drive a non registered vehicle, providing the non resident registered owner is in the vehicle at the same time. That's because it's not a driving offence, but a customs issue.
#36
Re: Keeping a UK registered car in Spain
My wife chose to keep her UK car unlike me who sold and bought new when we arrived here.
#37
Re: Keeping a UK registered car in Spain
You have it wrong. According to dvla you can drive a foreign registered car as a UK resident in the UK. As long as that vehicle is only visiting the country and is not being kept there in which case it must be re registered. Keeping it there and driving it is breaking the law, temporary visit as per holiday is not.
Think about it. You could rent a car from Hertz or Europcar or any number of others. It is registered in Spain. France elsewhere. You have rented it to drive home back to the UK. In your scenario once you set wheels in the UK you are breaking the law! It's a give and take situation with leeway as far as the dvla is concerned. The police might have a different outlook and issue a ticket if you don't have all your supporting paperwork, ie a return ferry ticket or a date to return the vehicle to an office of the rental company.
Think about it. You could rent a car from Hertz or Europcar or any number of others. It is registered in Spain. France elsewhere. You have rented it to drive home back to the UK. In your scenario once you set wheels in the UK you are breaking the law! It's a give and take situation with leeway as far as the dvla is concerned. The police might have a different outlook and issue a ticket if you don't have all your supporting paperwork, ie a return ferry ticket or a date to return the vehicle to an office of the rental company.
#38
Re: Keeping a UK registered car in Spain
These days around four and a half months on and off a year, wife the same but not always at the same time, I'm here now for 2 weeks she not, she also stays here on her own sometimes, not sure what you mean buy , "being a resident is not all amount registering here in Spain " ?
#40
Re: Keeping a UK registered car in Spain
These days around four and a half months on and off a year, wife the same but not always at the same time, I'm here now for 2 weeks she not, she also stays here on her own sometimes, not sure what you mean buy , "being a resident is not all amount registering here in Spain " ?
What this means in reality is that if your main residence is here, your family are here etc. etc. then you are really already resident here.
#41
Re: Keeping a UK registered car in Spain
The law states that if they consider that your 'centre of economic interest' is in Spain, then you are deemed to be resident here irrespective of the 183 day rule.
What this means in reality is that if your main residence is here, your family are here etc. etc. then you are really already resident here.
What this means in reality is that if your main residence is here, your family are here etc. etc. then you are really already resident here.
I do sometimes wonder why people can't understand its quite possible to do this!!!
#42
Re: Keeping a UK registered car in Spain
I am fully aware of the law sir and as my centre of economic interest is firmly in the UK, I spend less than 183 days a year here and no more than 21 days at a time then I am firmly within it, I pay my taxes for UK interests in the UK and tax in Spain for La Renta and on our Summer rentals.
I do sometimes wonder why people can't understand its quite possible to do this!!!
I do sometimes wonder why people can't understand its quite possible to do this!!!
... not sure what you mean buy , "being a resident is not all amount registering here in Spain " ?
#43
Re: Keeping a UK registered car in Spain
I'm not sure that was the original question asked of me by Casa Santo Estevo ?, anyway if it was it has indeed been answered, going back to the original subject something that also came out of my conversations with the DVLA is they class any vehicle that has been out of the UK reguarless of Age for more that 12 Months as permanently exported, i guess they have no way of knowing this but it is what they said
#44
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Disneylandia
Posts: 1,824
Re: Keeping a UK registered car in Spain
I'm not sure that was the original question asked of me by Casa Santo Estevo ?, anyway if it was it has indeed been answered, going back to the original subject something that also came out of my conversations with the DVLA is they class any vehicle that has been out of the UK reguarless of Age for more that 12 Months as permanently exported, i guess they have no way of knowing this but it is what they said
'o nonno
#45
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2
Re: Keeping a UK registered car in Spain
Hi!!! new member here, just want to ask if anyone can tell me if this issue of keeping a vehicle in spain for 6 months means- 6 months in any one calender year or 6 months in any 12 month period. Bit confusing but then I am 74yrs old so maybe can be forgiven!!!!!