Owning a car in the UK
 

Hi

Expecting to this to be quite complex so I’d be grateful if anyone has been in a similar situation

I have a car in the UK and will make regular trips to the UK and use the car.

But I am just becoming resident in Spain and then expect to be changing my UK driving licence to a Spanish driving licence

So I need to speak to my insurance company in the UK and probably find a more specialist one that will insure a non UK resident with eventually a non UK licence. Are there any good companies or brokers?

But what happens during the licence changing process with Trafico? Presumably Traficio contacts the UK to check the validity of the licence and then me having a car in the UK would flag up. Is that a problem?

And whilst going through the whole process with Trafico I will be handing my licence over to them?

Expecting this to be complicated in the UK for insurance and then in Spain possibly for making the change.

I’d be grateful if anyone has any advice on being non UK resident with a car in the UK

Many thanks

Re: Owning a car in the UK
 

Changing your licence is unnecessary, particularly if you will be driving a car in the UK.

Re: Owning a car in the UK
 

If you do choose to change your licence (although this MAY not be required), I can't see how this would flag up you owning a UK plated vehicle.

Even if it does, so what?

Re: Owning a car in the UK
 

I think you will have problems finding a UK broker who will insure your UK car if you are non resident. Roughly how many days do you expect to be back in the UK each year? It may be more economical to sell the UK car, buy one in Spain and use that in the UK or hire one on your visits.No problem then with insurance. As soon as you become resident in Spain the whole scene changes re keeping a car in the UK. Firstly your UK driving licence becomes invalid if you are not a UK resident and secondly it is now almost impossible for a non resident to be added to someones UK insurance, and thirdly, even if by some "wangle" you keep your UK car insured in the UK , if you are not resident your insurance is invalid with all that implies. others here have been through a similar scenario so hopefully someone will be along later.

Re: Owning a car in the UK
 

Couldn't you just insure your UK registered car with a Spanish insurance company. We're UK residents and insure our UK registered car with Liberty Seguros. There're far cheaper than most UK insurance companies and include breakdown as standard. They also appear on UK's MiD database so the UK police can see that you're insured via their vehicle checking thingy.:thumbup:

Re: Owning a car in the UK
 

that's interesting info! Methinks many expats would do this if it is much cheaper..................... Not sure what the law is re insuring a UK registered car, with a UK resident driver , via an EU company is, unless that company also has a UK base/associate company. Maybe one of our legal gurus could comment?

Re: Owning a car in the UK
 

I've been assured that it's perfectly legal, Direct Line (Linea Directa) offer similar insurance for UK residents who use their cars in Spain & the UK.

Re: Owning a car in the UK
 

Linea Directa no longer has any connection with Direct Line in the UK. It is wholly owned by Bakinter and has been since 2009.

Re: Owning a car in the UK
 

Same situation with IBEX, the Insurance is underwritten at Lloyds of London. They are based in Gibraltar essentially, but Policies cover UK and Spain. MID in the UK is updated, info is shared EU wide. Have a look at their website, I believe you can even transfer UK no claims. Only recommending as we have used them for years.English speaking staff as well.

Re: Owning a car in the UK
 

Well , you learn something new everyday! A silly question, but for example - IBEX - you say their policies cover UK and Spain. Is there a minimum amount of time you have to spend in spain each year , or could you just get their cheaper policy and never take your car to Spain?

Re: Owning a car in the UK
 

Although we still use IBEX, we have been full time residents for the last three years, so I cannot answer your question fully and accurately. Why not ask them? As I said, English speaking staff, get it from the horses mouth. Good luck.

Re: Owning a car in the UK
 

Thanks for all the replies.

My understanding is you have 2 years to change UK licence once resident. But many advise to change earlier to avoid any problems if stopped by the police and also the rules for non EU citizens changing their licence are a bit more problematic (theory and practical test).

I would guess at 12 weeks more of less (not all at once) in the UK.


That's interesting re insuring UK car with a Spanish company like Linea Directa.

Re: Owning a car in the UK
 

So you'll be in Spain approx 75% of the year? That will mean you are resident in Spain( over 183 days?) so if you find a company to insure you with a RHD car, then presumably your visits to the UK will be covered by the equivalent of the "green Card". Same with being resident in UK and travelling to EU - your UK insurance usually covers you (for up to 90 days in a year I think) for at least the minimum required in any particular country. I know when we lived in UK my car insurance covered me for EU travel so long as I informed the insurance company of the dates. I've just looked it up - it was max of 90 days in a year with max 30 days any one visit. If I wanted longer the insurance company would give me a quote for any extra cost. Don't know about the licence part except that if you are classed as resident in an overseas country your UK licence is invalid. If you return to UK it's easy to get it re-issued.

Re: Owning a car in the UK
 

Not necessarily true

https://www.citizensadvice.org.es/fa...cence-spanish/

However, most people recommend that you change it to avoid any potential problems, especially when stopped by Trafico who often choose to interpret the law differently!

Re: Owning a car in the UK
 

Hola

Ever since the Brexit vote, I have been advising friends to swap their UK licence to a Spanish one while they can do it easily. After Brexit, unless there is some sort of agreement, then you could be looking at doing the theory & practical exam in Spanish - worst case scenario.

I have an American friend who managed to do his but doesn't recommend it for most people's level of Spanish

Davexf