LARAINE 2020

Hello All
We are driving over in October to live. We have a six month rent while looking for somewhere to buy. How long can we use our UK car for before we have to either re register it or buy a Spanish car?
How easy is it to sell or part exchange a UK car there? All information gratefully received

Notdunroamin

A non resident can keep a car in Spain for a maximum of 6 months in any 12.

If you plan on becoming resident however then once you are the law states that you are not permitted to drive a UK regged car, period.

​​​​

spainrico

I would also check your insurance very carefully and remember you need to exchange driving licenses. Lots more on other threads.

bolton wanderer

TBH there's not much call for UK registered RHD cars in Spain, you will probably get a better price in the UK. If you really love the car and want to put it on Spanish plates it would be cheaper to do this before you sign on the padron. I've just had a quote for €1500 to change my UK reg car prior to signing, I suspect you may pay extra import duty after.

If you're coming out here and applying for residency I would be tempted to get a courier for your possessions, sell your car in the UK, fly over and buy a Spanish registered LHD on arrival.

snikpoh

Why do you say 6 months? The government sites say longer than that provided it is legal in the country in which it is registered. And, of course, the ownere remains TRULY non-resident.

Do you have a link?

spainrico

Worth a look here

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-i...iving-in-spain

I sold mine in the UK and bought here I think it is cheaper and less complicated and of course LH drive.

missile

I took my UK car to Spain and used it until I took delivery of my Spanish car. Sold it to a dealer for same price as I would have expected had I sold it in UK.

Pulaski

Which doesn't help much unless we know where your car fell on the scale between in 1976 Morris Marina and a Pagani Huayra. <- I would expect your experience to be true for both of these. For most of cars in between, it's perhaps less likely.

snikpoh

... but that's all about being RESIDENT in Spain

missile

Why are you so rude?
OP did not give details of her car is either

bobd22

As you say being resident or not being a resident is the key. However from OPs opening comment one has to presume they intend being resident? As they mention coming to Spain to live renting first but with a view to buying a property. Timing of residency will affect their course of actions as once resident they shouldn't legally drive a UK registered vehicle in Spain. If they don't take residency untill they sell the UK registered car they can drive it within limitations of visiting Spain with a vehicle . Of course they then run into problems of getting residency in time to gain protection under the Withdrawal Agreement.

el collado kid

In my opinion if you are coming to spain to buy a property and live full time ,then sell your car in england and rent one in spain when you arrive at the airport or before you come which we did.You can sign on the padron with a rental agreement and buy a car in spain it's less hassle,when you will be house hunting.The very best to you and good casa hunting.P.S spain is great i'm sure you will love it

Pulaski

I guess "rude" is "blunt" that touched a nerve. No offence was intended, I was perhaps too economical with my words.

To the OP's question, most RHD cars are likely to be traded in at a lower value because there isn't going to be much demand for them. The exceptions would be a "fully depreciated" car, say over 10 years old, or with high mileage, where it's value is mostly parts and scrap steel, or collectible older and/or niche cars, which was the point I was trying to make in my previous post. Perhaps your experience is consistent with one of these scenarious, or contrary?

If the OP wants to drive to Spain they could sell their car in the UK and buy an LHD one in the UK to take to drive to Spain - they are quite widely available, either from an LHD specialist or someone who has come (back) to the UK and needs to get rid of it. ..... You can filter a search on autotrader.co.uk to give you LHD cars fors sale - there are several hundred of them available across the UK.

missile

That is only your "opinion" presumably based on your experience in your local.
OP did not state where she was moving too(?)
In my experience and in my local there is a demand for good UK registered cars.

Notdunroamin

Of course.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-cont...L0182-20130701

Article 3
​​​​​​
Which 'government sites' are you referring to?

One additional point: if you leave the UK intending to take up residency elsewhere then you effectively invalidate any UK insurance you have for the vehicle.

​​​​​You don't have to take my word for that, you can phone your insurer and ask them.