UK car to Spain
 

Hi.

Just a quicky. I believe you are only allowed to use a UK car in Spain for 6 months.

Do you then have to take it out of the country for 6 months before bringing it in again?

Thanks

Re: UK car to Spain
 

Will you be living in Spain full time, the car has to be street legal in it's country of registration, so for a UK car, taxed, MOT's and insured. The best answer is, if you will be in Spain full time, get it matriculated onto Spanish plates. or sell it in the UK and buy a Spanish one.

Re: UK car to Spain
 

Nope wouldn't be there full time so am trying to ascertain after the 6 months period for how long does it have to be taken out of Spain- think its 6/6 but not certain. Thanks

Re: UK car to Spain
 

Legally speaking ...

After 3 months you are considered resident (whether you like it or not) you then have another 3 months to matriculate your vehicle (giving up to 6 months in total).

So, ... if you're here for more than 3 months, the authorities will expect you to have started the process of matriculation.

Re: UK car to Spain
 

Sorry but that's not true Spain cannot change EU law on their own. you have 6 months to keep and use your car in any EU country not 3.

EU law restricts who can drive it though to stop drivers evading the law. It must be kept in your control and only driven by you not by friends, a member of your family is a allegedly allowed but it seems to be a sticky point.

This 90 day thing comes from , if you enter Spain to become resident ( or later decide to) you then have 90 days to get the car 'changed over' , get your Spanish test / plates / registration. It does not and cannot apply to a tourist as EU law gives longer.

Just go as a tourist enjoy your 6 months and if you then decide to become resident that's different :)

Regards

Mas

Re: UK car to Spain
 

Absolutely correct.

The EU directive, which is what Spanish law is based on, allows 6 months.

The 90 day rule is irrelevant as it has nothing to do with residency. The only legal form of residency is fiscal residency which requires you to spend over 183 days in Spain in one calendar year. That is clearly stated in the relevant EU directive.

The 90 day rule insists that anyone who stays in Spain for more than 90 days must register on a list of foreigners. It gives them to right to remain in Spain for more than 90 days - nothing more.

If it was otherwise, the tens of thousands of foreigners who regularly drive to Spain for the winter and then return home after 5 or 6 months would need to register on the list of foreigners and re register their cars in Spain and then de register them to take them home which clearly is ludicrous.