Since this point seems to be in dispute, perhaps you would be kind enough to quote the relevant Spanish law which says this, as it is quite contrary to EU legal advice I have been given that allows you up to 6 months to reregister a car when you become resident.

I am sure that will be really helpful for anybody that is using the same leasing company! But please take on board that a car on UK plates for more than three months will be illegal, and you run the real risk of it being impounded and crushed unless you can show that you have started the matriculation process or you can show a ferry receipt or ticket from within the preceding 3 months. Also note that to avoid the first registration tax, you have to be able to show that you have owned the car for at least 6 months, which you can't do because it belongs to the lease company.

It seems a very good idea to pay heed to sound advice.
We are moving down in September, and will get rid of the UK vehicles beforehand. We have booked a "one way" hire van, so we can bring down all we want to without having the problem of trying to sell a UK registered car in Spain.
It seems much easier to buy the car in Spain without all the
hassle of re-plating, re-registering etc. (despite the higher cost)
Simples !!

My Gestoria informs me that under Spanish law, a resident cannot drive a foreign plated vehicle, therefore as you automatically are seen as a resident after 3 months, it follows that what I said is the case. However, I bow to your superior knowledge, bearing in mind that different member states within the EU are allowed their own rules when it comes to motoring.
Perhaps someone could compile a list of all the motoring issues with links to the definitive Spanish laws, so that we don't have to keep covering the same ground.
I would also add, that if there is any doubt, it is better to be safe than sorry, than trying to convince a nice member of the Guardia that he should not take away your car and crush it!

Maybe the best advice that we can give the original poster is to seek legal advice from a qualified Gestor or Abagado before they decide what to do.
And there is a comprehensive guideto registering a vehicle here

OK I see where she is coming from.

As you become resident after 3 months you then have to START the process and you have 6 months to complete it. If you do it in the first 30 days or thereabouts you can avoid the registration tax.

The info on the EU site is clear.

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


"IF YOU ARE MOVING

If you are moving to a different Community Member State, you must register your vehicle in that country as soon as possible after arrival and, at any rate, within six months of moving. You should have no difficulty in getting your vehicle registered provided you follow the set procedures."

Note that you haven't "moved" until you apply for registration on the foreigners register. On the form it asks you for the date that your residency in Spain started but there is no reason why you cannot enter the date of application which maximises any periods of grace.

Every time its different!
My gestor also says the same as Tims, and indeed my solicitor did as well

I'm afraid I have lost count of the times that gestors, accountants and lawyers have given out bum information on matters regarding foreigners.

Like the Guardia, they seem to invent (or being generous, misinterpret) the rules.

A friend was fined for not registering his UK car and it was made quite clear to him by his lawyer, the police and Hacienda, that the time limit was 6 months.

So here's a challenge - can anyone find anything in writing (from a government source) that contradicts what the EU guidance says?

I wonder who would be brave enough to risk having to challenge a decision by the Spanish authorities to scrap a car for not registering in 3 months, bearing in mind the Spanish record with things like Valencia Land Grab

What risk? Nobody has yet given an example of anyone having to scrap a car because it was not registered within 3 months or even anyone getting a fine or even a warning.

The case I mentioned was 6 months and there was never any question of scrapping the car - just a fine to be paid and temporary impounding (at the person's house).

In my opinion this is just another example of inaccurate information spreading like wildfire round the Internet, based on a misinterpretation of the rules, with no factual data to back it up.

As I said, I have quoted the EU position, someone please PROVE that it is incorrect.

Jeez, lighten up Fred
I was merely pointing out that what actually happens in Spain doesnt necessarily reflect what EU law is, as you should well know

I believe JDR reported that cars were being seized, and certainly Ive seen reports on another forum by one of the moderators as well

Anyways, we are talking of a lease car here and I doubt the lease company will be too happy about having a car matriculated onto Spanish plates

I wasn't having a go at you Mitzy. As you well know, I have a bee in my bonnet about incorrect, unsubstationed information being given out on this forum (or any other) and I don't intend to change!.

I have read reports but still no one can confirm that these cases were less than 6 months. Most of them had probably been here for years.

I know well enough that the laws are often interpreted differently here and that EU laws are sometimes ignored, but that is no reason to say that that makes them the law!

Anyone with any sense will register their car with a month or so to avoid the tax anyway!

Have you got it on a PCP? If so and it is a vehicle that has maintained its value find out what you can get for it and think about handing it back and paying off the lease and buying here in Spain. I did this when I came out with my Mini five years ago. It hadn´t lost any value so I was able to just walk away.

I understood that the tax on worldwide income has been scrapped.

I posted a pic on one of the other threads with 3 UK commercial vehicles on a grua truck that had just been confiscated by the Guardia.
I have been told that if the Guardia think that you have moved permanently over, regardless of arrival in Spain and not started the swop to Spanish plates they are not too happy.
This morning they had the owners of 3 cars in the garage forecourt and were checking details on their computer, so they are looking for easy income now they are losing so much on building licences.