Questions re driving car into Spain (don't want to import)
Aug 22nd 2019, 4:45 am
#16
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Re: Questions re driving car into Spain (don't want to import)
Sorry its three months whatever you do in Spain.
Aug 22nd 2019, 7:57 pm
#18
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Re: Questions re driving car into Spain (don't want to import)
"Sorry its three months whatever you do in Spain."
The only information I can find for now still refers to six months, even on the europa.eu site -
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizen...n/index_en.htm
Can you help me with where this new regulation is mentioned?
Thanks.
The only information I can find for now still refers to six months, even on the europa.eu site -
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizen...n/index_en.htm
Can you help me with where this new regulation is mentioned?
Thanks.
Aug 23rd 2019, 4:52 am
#19
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Re: Questions re driving car into Spain (don't want to import)
The new law came into force this year, March I think.
Aug 23rd 2019, 6:59 am
#20
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Location: Ontinyent - Valencia region (campo)
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Re: Questions re driving car into Spain (don't want to import)
To my knowledge the law hasn't changed
As a tourist, you can drive a foreign plated vehicle for 6 months. However, the issue is that if you spend 90 days or more in Spain, then you are no longer considered a tourist.
As a tourist, you can drive a foreign plated vehicle for 6 months. However, the issue is that if you spend 90 days or more in Spain, then you are no longer considered a tourist.
Aug 23rd 2019, 8:17 am
#21
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Re: Questions re driving car into Spain (don't want to import)
Sorry to disagree but the law changed this year. It was in all our local newspapers. It was 6 months and is now 3.
Aug 23rd 2019, 8:59 am
#22
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Re: Questions re driving car into Spain (don't want to import)
Aug 23rd 2019, 9:25 am
#23
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Re: Questions re driving car into Spain (don't want to import)
Sorry but not per this link? EU rules
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizen...d/index_en.htm
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizen...d/index_en.htm
Aug 23rd 2019, 10:14 am
#24
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Aug 23rd 2019, 10:19 am
#25
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Granada Costa
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Re: Questions re driving car into Spain (don't want to import)
I can see nothing in the EU rules that says anything other than 6 months. As far as local (presumably English) newspapers are concerned, I would never assume anything they print is correct - invariably it is not!
Until someone proves otherwise I will continue believing it is 6 months.
Until someone proves otherwise I will continue believing it is 6 months.
Aug 23rd 2019, 10:52 am
#26
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Re: Questions re driving car into Spain (don't want to import)
You are right Fred I can see nothing now about it but usually the Sur in English is a reliable source of information. It is definitely only 30 days if you intend to be a resident.
Aug 23rd 2019, 1:27 pm
#28
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Re: Questions re driving car into Spain (don't want to import)
I mentioned it as the article was written in April and the new law came into effect after that date, or so I was informed.
Aug 23rd 2019, 5:34 pm
#29
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Re: Questions re driving car into Spain (don't want to import)
6 months in any 12 is the EU directive mandated period during which a foreign registered car is permitted to remain in another state.
Beyond that individual states are free to make their own rules regarding use of such a car by a resident, in UK for instance residents are not permitted to drive a foreign registered car at all while Spain (and France to my certain knowledge) require residents to reregister an imported car within the first month.
Whether or how rigidly rules are enforced is a completely different story of course
It's worth mentioning too that if you import a car to Spain which you have owned abroad for 6 months or more, and locally register it in that first month, you escape paying import duty which is based on the value of the car and which can amount to a substantial sum, maybe enough to cancel or at least offset the higher cost of buying locally in the first place!
For newer cars and larger cars there can be an eco tax too
Beyond that individual states are free to make their own rules regarding use of such a car by a resident, in UK for instance residents are not permitted to drive a foreign registered car at all while Spain (and France to my certain knowledge) require residents to reregister an imported car within the first month.
Whether or how rigidly rules are enforced is a completely different story of course
It's worth mentioning too that if you import a car to Spain which you have owned abroad for 6 months or more, and locally register it in that first month, you escape paying import duty which is based on the value of the car and which can amount to a substantial sum, maybe enough to cancel or at least offset the higher cost of buying locally in the first place!
For newer cars and larger cars there can be an eco tax too
Aug 23rd 2019, 6:49 pm
#30
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Granada Costa
Posts: 10,899
Re: Questions re driving car into Spain (don't want to import)
First, there is no import tax when you bring a used car into Spain. It is a registration tax that applies to ALL car registrations. All new cars have this tax added to the purchase price.
As for the relevant dates for personal imports, this is a minefield of misinformation. This is my understanding of the current situation and I am happy to be corrected if anyone can produce incontrovertible evidence to the contrary.
The 6 month rule you quote is correct, but only applies to the car, not your ability to drive it. If you are non resident you can keep the car in Spain as long as you like so long as it is street legal, but you cannot drive it for more than 6 months as you would then be assumed to be resident and residents cannot drive a foreign car under any circumstances.
You must reregister the car as soon as you become resident (or before) not necessarily within 30 days as has been mentioned, so, in effect, you have 90 days to register the car, not 30. The question of ‘intent” to become resident is crazy, how can the police accuse you of intent!
If you wish to take advantage of the rule that allows “goods and chattels” to be imported free of all taxes when you move your residence from one country to another, the time limit is 60 days from the date the car enters Spain. I think that used to be 30 days but was changed.
Of course, these rules are flouted all the time. There are thousands of residents, legally or otherwise, that drive UK plated cars, usually not street legal. However the police seem to turn a blind eye to this all the time. That is probably because it is a fiscal offence rather than a road traffic offence and fiscal rules are not in their remit. If they did clamp down on it a huge amount of money would be raised from the tax and fines. How many examples are you aware of where there has been any action taken?
As for the relevant dates for personal imports, this is a minefield of misinformation. This is my understanding of the current situation and I am happy to be corrected if anyone can produce incontrovertible evidence to the contrary.
The 6 month rule you quote is correct, but only applies to the car, not your ability to drive it. If you are non resident you can keep the car in Spain as long as you like so long as it is street legal, but you cannot drive it for more than 6 months as you would then be assumed to be resident and residents cannot drive a foreign car under any circumstances.
You must reregister the car as soon as you become resident (or before) not necessarily within 30 days as has been mentioned, so, in effect, you have 90 days to register the car, not 30. The question of ‘intent” to become resident is crazy, how can the police accuse you of intent!
If you wish to take advantage of the rule that allows “goods and chattels” to be imported free of all taxes when you move your residence from one country to another, the time limit is 60 days from the date the car enters Spain. I think that used to be 30 days but was changed.
Of course, these rules are flouted all the time. There are thousands of residents, legally or otherwise, that drive UK plated cars, usually not street legal. However the police seem to turn a blind eye to this all the time. That is probably because it is a fiscal offence rather than a road traffic offence and fiscal rules are not in their remit. If they did clamp down on it a huge amount of money would be raised from the tax and fines. How many examples are you aware of where there has been any action taken?