dorishaslop

Do the authorities take a dim view of this sort of thing.... or is the paperwork just too much to bother with..

Someone who owns a villa here and lives here full time, pays no taxes... also drives a UK reg car with an MOT bought from the internet... Yet the police just seem to ignore it..

Has been stopped by the police for another offence but nothing was done, just a warning...

What's your thoughts? Just wondering.

la mancha

Recipe for disaster. One day.

Neptuno

It is annoying when they get away with it. They never seem to get caught,but other ex pats are often to blame , because of apathy.
Why not report this person to the Spanish tax office. They need not know your name.
There is a number to report those on benefits who are cheating the system
You could make a denuncia about the UK car, problem is, the offender will be told who has complained, and that could make your life difficult.
We have several of these scum where I live, life and soul of the party, everyone's friend.
We can only hope that one day they will be flushed out.
There seems to be an attitude of when in Spain....! Or live and let live,
You and I are subsidising these people!

cardi

This is a wind up.

Spanish police have no interest in whether a UK car has an MOT or not as long as it is roadworthy.

How can you buy an MOT online? It cannot be registered on the UK database so what use is it?

If you don't like somebody don't expect the police to help you unless you can prove real criminality.

As I said. A windup.

jimenato

The false MOT is pointless.

shazzabob

we have 2 bikes and a car we bring them back once a year to tax and mot them and insure in spain, as we come back to see familly we always drive as to hire a car and flights its not much cheaper, we both enjoy it always keep your tickets to prove you been back

Rosemary

If you are living in Spain then you are not tourists so surely your car is then classed as illegal.

Driving in spain the laws, the laws on driving in spain, speed limits spain

Rosemary

missile

I can't understand those who duck and dive.
Would you do it back "home"?
How do you sleep at night?

You know the rules, stick by them and have a clear conscience

calman014

"We bring them back once a year to tax and mot them and insure in Spain"

That doesn't sound legal either...you will need UK insurance with a valid Green Card at least..and insurance companies will normally never insure a car on foreign plates or with foreign registration.

I can't imagine you are saving anything this way unless it's only a temporary stay in Spain.

snikpoh

Once resident in Spain (here for more than 90 days) then you have just 3 months to matriculate your vehicle (from date of getting your 'residencia'). Under new, proposed', legislation you will only have 1 month to do it.

Otherwise, you are driving ILLEGALLY, can be stopped, fined, and have the vehicle taken off you.

calman014

"If you have to fly under the radar, sooner or later you will hit something".. Chuck Yeager, test Pilot.

jimenato

There are any number of companies who will insure a UK car in Spain even without tax and MOT.

amideislas

My understanding is that it is completely legal to keep a foreign-plated car in Spain, as long as:

• You are demonstrably NOT a tax resident.
• You can demonstrate current MOT, road tax, and insurance

There is no shortage of German-plated cars around here - I have seen the same ones driving around for years. With the daily dose of police controls around here, I doubt they could get away with it for that long unless there is a legal loophole.

And yes, plenty of companies will ensure a foreign-plated car in another country, without regard to MOT or road tax. Separate issues entirely.

snikpoh

It's absolutely NOTHING to do with being 'tax resident'! If you are here for more than 90 days then you are considered resident - you now have 90 days to register the vehicle!


Of course there are many people breaking the law and, hopefully, they will get caught.

Fred James

I am afraid that is incorrect. You are allowed to keep a car in Spain for 6 months in one calendar year without having to matriculate it. That means it is possible for someone to stay in Spain from July to June the following year and not be required to matriculate the car and also they would not be tax resident.

The 90 day rule has nothing to do with the requirement to register your car. If you wish to avoid paying the tax then it does need to be done within a short period after signing on the Padron.

The green "residency" form has nothing to do with it. It does not make you resident - tax residency is the only official form of residency. The green form merely gives you the RIGHT of residence for more than 90 days.

The law will not change as the 6 month rule is EU law and they are not proposing to change that.

What "may" happen under the new traffic laws is the requirement to "register" your car with Trafico so that they then can contact the owner in the case of traffic offences.