Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

And so, replies one by one:

It is not correct James, well it is not legal to keep a UK bike in Spain for more than 6 months in any one year. Having said that, I got away with UK plated bikes (fully taxed, insured, MoT'd etc) in Spain for 7 years before I decided to change my current UK plated bike to Spanish plate. Just "going out of the country now and again" is not enough and IF the guardia get awkward, the onus is on you to prove how long the bike has been in Spain. However the Guardia never got awkward with me but then the whole penal code has just jumped up a notch or three this month and things are tightening up.

Not actually true Bri and Kate. Firstly my UK Triumph is exactly the same mechanical spec as the same bike bought in Spain. The only differences are that the UK version has miles and kilometres on the speedo, the Spanish version only has kilometres. Also they switch the headlight unit to make it left handed. As for power, whereas my Triumph is 120 bhp in the UK and would have beeen 120 bhp if bought in Spain, things like Harleys cant afford to lose any.

Just rematriculated a 4 yr old 955 cc bike for under 300 euros, including all fees and taxes. Didnt even have to change anything either so that is "all in" cost.

C'mon jdr, 3 months in Spain and you need a NIE certificate whether resident or not. The new NIE certificate is somehow used as a form of residencia but actually doesnt prove you are "resident" here in the sense of 6 months + per year.

And of course if you ask any office of Hacienda or Trafico you could well get different answers depending on who you speak to and their mood of the moment.

You will find that insuring a big bike in Spain is more expensive and todo riesgos (fully comp) is hard to find and very expensive so just about all big Spanish bikes are only 3rd party insured. Second hand prices for standard models are really quite similar in spain or the UK although excess supply in the UK might bring more special offers.

Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

This EU website states the period you have to register the vehicle is 6 months.

http://ec.europa.eu/youreurope/nav/e.../index_en.html

But it does state you have to transfer the registration. So why someone wants to try and avoid this is a question which no one wants to answer!

Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

I'll answer it for you if you like - quote for a bike from the spanish insurance company was 1900 euro, same bike UK was 450 quid. Don't need to be Einstein then to work that one out................ :huh:

Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

Yep, that'll be for fully comp, almost unavailable on Spanish plate and until you have your first incident, you just do a lot of touring right ?

Luckily I had many years without insurance incident so they never knew. The first claim would have been automatically my last for that scenario.

I have just been quoted 700 euros fully comp for the Triumph but that is 3 times the 3rd party premium.

Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

so do you drive an illegal bike in Spain?

Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

Hi
Just to point out a legalty - a Non Spanish plated vehicle must return to its COUNTRY OF ORIGEN, not "just driven over the border" every six months.
There are millions of british plated cars running around the Malaga area, never seen England for many a long year.
No its not legal, but there are so many doing it, perhaps one day there will be a european plate for cars and bikes.
Many people do illegal things, the choice is yours, BUT advice should always differentiate between legal & non legal.
Dave

Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

Isnt Gib british? why dont they have an mot centre?
why dont we try and conquer Ibiza for Britain, then we could set up an MOT centre and turn it into the new IOM? Hey, we could change Ibiza town to Douglas in Ibiza - think how cool the postcards woud be.....

I'd buy in th UK, form what i've seen the second hand bikes here are a joke price-wise, re-reg and get it insured for spain. i definitely intend to get my next bike from blighty.
you could go for a 600 hornet too- theyre pretty cheap these days......

Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

Whatever........

Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

There are loads of UK, DE, NL, FR vehicles stretching the law but the brits are more easily caught. European plate is far away. Consider people living near where the Belgian, Dutch, French, German borders practically meet. Living in one country, working in another, shopping wherever and socialising also wherever. No border controls and no proof of where the vehicle is from hour to hour. My british reg car and my british reg bikes all frequently returned to the UK, not only for the little things like MoT but I chose to often drive back and forth for many reasons. However, going back to the UK once every 6 months is strictly not enough in law.

But did I exceed the speed limit when driving up or down?

Never more than 135 mph on the bike :o

And no, Gib doesnt help out at all with paperwork.

Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

You're a fearless infidel El Capitan make no mistake! You fly in the face of danger here when you admit to breaking a ........... "Law".

(SNIP) Oh and its actually a little unhealthy to spend sooooooo much time over ya keyboard - ask Gary Glitter hehe!

Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

better to break the law eh?

That's just what the driver of an illegal vehicle says when they hit someone else and can't pay for the damage.......

Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

It doesn`t take a lot of effort to be legal, think of the consequences if you are not and have a serious accident, especially if it is with any of my family.

Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

Funny you should say that........I have just been saying to someone from this forum on messenger that if ever one of these illegal drivers has a car or bike accident with me or my family and I live to tell the tale then they will regret it for the rest of their lives!!!

Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

Seem to remember facing this argument before in the last thread. If I drive, or ride, a perfectly serviceable vehicle in a sensible manner I am not more likely to hit one of your family than any of the clueless morons that inhabit the road.

It seems to me that you are less concerned whether someone actually HAS an accident involving a member of your family than whether SOMEONE is going to gain financial advantage. THAT says quite a lot about YOU don't you think............?

Re: Motorcycles abroad
 

see into the future can we?