Owning a car in the UK
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 8
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
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
#2
Re: Owning a car in the UK
Changing your licence is unnecessary, particularly if you will be driving a car in the UK.
#3
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?
Even if it does, so what?
#4
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Joined: Dec 2013
Location: Consolacion,Cebu
Posts: 1,931
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.
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 287
Re: 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
.........
Expecting this to be complicated in the UK for insurance and then in Spain possibly for making the change.
Many thanks
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
.........
Expecting this to be complicated in the UK for insurance and then in Spain possibly for making the change.
Many thanks
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2013
Location: Consolacion,Cebu
Posts: 1,931
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.
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 287
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?
#8
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.
#9
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Joined: Aug 2012
Location: Granada Province
Posts: 549
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.
#10
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Joined: Dec 2013
Location: Consolacion,Cebu
Posts: 1,931
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?
#11
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Joined: Aug 2012
Location: Granada Province
Posts: 549
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?
#12
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 8
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.
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.
#13
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Joined: Dec 2013
Location: Consolacion,Cebu
Posts: 1,931
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.
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.
#14
Re: Owning a car in the UK
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!
#15
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Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Beckenham, London borough Bromley
Posts: 1,617
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!
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!
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