Taking a Spanish car to England
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2012
Location: Birmingham, UK
Posts: 13
Taking a Spanish car to England
Hi everyone,
I live in Malaga, Spain and at Christmas I am driving back to England with my dog for a few weeks to be with my family. I will be going up through France and taking the channel tunnel across. I'm English but I have a Spanish car.
I wondered if anyone has done this themselves and knows if there is anything I have to do to prepare? For instance, do I need headlight converters or any other adaptions/additions for my car? are there any legality issues I should be aware off?
Any advice or stories of your experiences would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to get to it just for the police or border controls to say you haven't done this or you haven't got that so you can't go any further.
Thanks
I live in Malaga, Spain and at Christmas I am driving back to England with my dog for a few weeks to be with my family. I will be going up through France and taking the channel tunnel across. I'm English but I have a Spanish car.
I wondered if anyone has done this themselves and knows if there is anything I have to do to prepare? For instance, do I need headlight converters or any other adaptions/additions for my car? are there any legality issues I should be aware off?
Any advice or stories of your experiences would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to get to it just for the police or border controls to say you haven't done this or you haven't got that so you can't go any further.
Thanks
Last edited by Expat79; Oct 12th 2016 at 2:41 pm.
#2
Re: Taking a Spanish car to England
You will certainly need the headlight (stick on) deflectors but may also need an ES sticker (I think).
Make sure you inform your insurance company and have the required cover (including breakdown).
Make sure you inform your insurance company and have the required cover (including breakdown).
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Valencia area
Posts: 1,157
Re: Taking a Spanish car to England
None of the foreign plated cars that I have ever seen on the ferries have ever had headlight deflectors (well maybe one or two)
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Valencia area
Posts: 1,157
Re: Taking a Spanish car to England
Hi everyone,
I live in Malaga, Spain and at Christmas I am driving back to England with my dog for a few weeks to be with my family. I will be going up through France and taking the channel tunnel across. I'm English but I have a Spanish car.
I wondered if anyone has done this themselves and knows if there is anything I have to do to prepare? For instance, do I need headlight converters or any other adaptions/additions for my car? are there any legality issues I should be aware off?
Any advice or stories of your experiences would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to get to it just for the police or border controls to say you haven't done this or you haven't got that so you can't go any further.
Thanks
I live in Malaga, Spain and at Christmas I am driving back to England with my dog for a few weeks to be with my family. I will be going up through France and taking the channel tunnel across. I'm English but I have a Spanish car.
I wondered if anyone has done this themselves and knows if there is anything I have to do to prepare? For instance, do I need headlight converters or any other adaptions/additions for my car? are there any legality issues I should be aware off?
Any advice or stories of your experiences would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to get to it just for the police or border controls to say you haven't done this or you haven't got that so you can't go any further.
Thanks
So many other options coming from Spain/western France. (IMO)
#5
Re: Taking a Spanish car to England
Worthwhile checking the list in the link . Remember you will driving through France and also therefore have to meet the legal requirements there. Compulsory breathlayser requirement neither implemented ......
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice..._equipment.pdf
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice..._equipment.pdf
#6
Re: Taking a Spanish car to England
Juast crossed my mind .. where are you resident as it is not actually legal for you to drive a foreign registered car in the UK if you are a UK resident. Same applies to UK car in Spain by a Spanish resident.
#7
Re: Taking a Spanish car to England
You can be stopped and fined in UK if you don't have the deflectors. Some newer cars can now angle the headlights internally so these are not an issue.
#9
Re: Taking a Spanish car to England
I did nothing when I took my Spanish registered A3 across the channel.
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Beckenham, London borough Bromley
Posts: 1,617
Re: Taking a Spanish car to England
Hola
Have done the journey many times over the last five years; both in my car and driving someone else's car. Indeed I returned through the tunnel with a dog just a fortnight ago.
I am British and have a Spanish driving licence; I have never had any problems. Always make sure if going TO the UK that you have visited a vet in the requisite period. Coming back "no-one cares"!!!
I don't have headlight adjusters but don't tend to drive of a night. We make "comfort breaks" every couple of hours to let the dogs do their business as they wish and to give the only driver a break. Spanish & French hotels are good and cheap, UK hotels are expensive and crap by comparison. We use toll roads and 100€ covers the return journey.
We tend to have snacks on board as finding suitable food is not always easy.
Davexf
Have done the journey many times over the last five years; both in my car and driving someone else's car. Indeed I returned through the tunnel with a dog just a fortnight ago.
I am British and have a Spanish driving licence; I have never had any problems. Always make sure if going TO the UK that you have visited a vet in the requisite period. Coming back "no-one cares"!!!
I don't have headlight adjusters but don't tend to drive of a night. We make "comfort breaks" every couple of hours to let the dogs do their business as they wish and to give the only driver a break. Spanish & French hotels are good and cheap, UK hotels are expensive and crap by comparison. We use toll roads and 100€ covers the return journey.
We tend to have snacks on board as finding suitable food is not always easy.
Davexf
#12
Re: Taking a Spanish car to England
If you are a Spanish resident, then no problems, but if you haven't yet got Spanish residency then you COULD have problems as it is illegal for a British Resident to drive a foreign registered car in the UK.
#13
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2012
Location: Birmingham, UK
Posts: 13
Re: Taking a Spanish car to England
I had wanted to do the ferry trip however, unfortunately, the kennels and pet friendly cabins that are required for taking a dog on the ferries are all booked up for the Christmas period so the channel tunnel is my only option
#14
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2012
Location: Birmingham, UK
Posts: 13
Re: Taking a Spanish car to England
Worthwhile checking the list in the link . Remember you will driving through France and also therefore have to meet the legal requirements there. Compulsory breathlayser requirement neither implemented ......
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice..._equipment.pdf
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice..._equipment.pdf
#15
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2012
Location: Birmingham, UK
Posts: 13
Re: Taking a Spanish car to England
I'm a full Spanish resident. I had to change my UK license to a Spanish one last year.