Re: UK car in Spain
 

If you are moving over here and plan to keep the car here for longer than 6 months out of every 12 then it needs to be on Spanish plates, do a search for the info on this part of the forum, you will find pages of info.

Re: UK car in Spain
 

Just to add to the above ;

You can't just take it over the border and bring it back, the vehicle needs to go back to UK and then back to Spain as if stopped they will ask for a copy of your Ferry/Tunnel ticket as evidence of how long the vehicle has been in the country.

Also, Registering a RHD UK car in Spain is more hassle than registering a LHD UK one.

Re: UK car in Spain
 

Please excuse me butting in, but the name rings a bell for some reason :o

I seem to remember you had an out of EU import Toyota Vigo/Hilux?

If this is the case I would definitely suggest you get it registered by a professional as it's far more complicated importing a non EU type approval vehicle.

Mitzyboy has the details of someone who could help.

Re: UK car in Spain
 

I think she sold that one, it was a no go rhd L 200 pickup.

Re: UK car in Spain
 

Hi
I had that and sold it and bought a jeep (wont go in to that heap of shi*)

I have a saab convertiable now and dont want to get rid of it.

xx

Re: UK car in Spain
 

Thought you was going to say thousands then :rofl::rofl:
Get hubby to change lights so should be cheaper.
Thanks for that :wub:

Re: UK car in Spain
 

I do have details ....... honestly, registering a RHD "grey" import was no hassle at all

Re: UK car in Spain
 

Thank you all so much for your responses. I'm navigating my way around this site & have only just found them!
Recognise that I have been naiive. But because the car had a new IVA here & the insurance company said there wasn't a problem insuring a UK reg. car
here.......I didn't think any further.
I do wonder how the previous owners got the IVA though? Don't they just
test the car regardless of where it's from?
I have all the original purchase & registration paperwork etc.
No, I don't live here permanently but would like to spend more time here.
I hired cars for the 1st year & have now stopped using my new one until I sort things out.
As I have most docs. already I'll check out the costs of registering it here
& if it's too expensive I'll ship it back to the UK, sell it there & by a Spanish registered car. A lot simpler!

Re: UK car in Spain
 

The ITV centre will issue a certificate on any car, even a UK plated one. Doesn't really mean anything legally though, it just means its roadworthy

Re: UK car in Spain
 

Just been discussing this with hubby and he reminded me that we got the ITV after we had the lights changed, then we went to traffico in Alicante to do the re-registration, this is where they give you your new number and your new registration documents. They give you a form with your new number on so that you can get the number plates made up. All documents have to be kept with the car so you should have these, if not then the car isn't legal. We also had to go to the Sumo to register the car for road tax, then to the bank to pay the tax. Hope this helps.

Re: UK car in Spain
 

They will ITV anything as to them it's money and they probably assumed it was for the registration process.

Secondly

"the insurance company said there wasn't a problem insuring a UK reg. car here"

Your car is NOT UK regged, it's classed as unregistered (no registration in any country) so it would be illegal for the company involved to insure it, as they would insure it on the now expired UK registration plate.

The only way you can legally insure a unregistered car is by insuring it on its VIN number (Chassis number)

Hope this helps.

Re: UK car in Spain
 

http://www.emodifiedcarinsurance.co.uk/helpdesk.php

Their FAQ states the following:

Q: Am I covered to drive abroad?

A: We allow unlimited foreign use in EU countries and a few others.


You have the same cover in all the countries listed in the Territorial limits that you do at home.
For example, if you have comprehensive cover in the UK you will have comprehensive cover in the EU.

Anyone got any thoughts on this??

PB

Re: UK car in Spain
 

If your car is legal in the UK (i.e. has up to date mot/tax) and you have it in writing, and keep to their t&c I can't see a problem.

If that's what you're asking?

But remember, you can not keep your UK reg car in Spain for longer than six months at a time.

My main concern is the quality of the company or product as it doesn't promote confidence when they quote "and a few others" what few others? all sounds very ametuerish to me.

Re: UK car in Spain
 

Thanks for your reply.
I have a boat on the Spanish Portuguese border. I have just driven there and Back spending 2 months dodging the rain here. (wish I'd stayed)
I am planning to change insurers so that I can stay as long as I like.
I don't mind returning to the UK by road once a year for an MOT because I need to bring out heavy stuff for the boat now and then.
If I need a British MOT to keep the Spanish and Portuguese happy, do i need to have UK road tax as well? I reckon that cost in tolls was about 110 euros driving down there (albeit mainly the French) so I would be happy if I could dodge the UK road tax as that isnt an insurance issue.

The plan would be to move the car from one side of the river to the other if I get any interest from the authorities. People over there that have had problems seem to be the ones that have no MOT from UK and therefore need an address for spain or portugal. incidentaly, there was a guy advertising UK mot's for sale in the English newspaper on the Algarve, I don't know if he's DOT approved or not, but with a name like mine, who cares!

yours
PB:thumbup:

Re: UK car in Spain
 

Your car needs to be COMPLETELY legal in the country it is registered in (the UK)

So it will need valid Mot, Road Tax and Insurance.

It's also not as simple as going over the border and back in to roll over the six month period, if stopped the local police will want documented evidence of when the car last left the UK (ie a Ferry or Tunnel ticket)