Vehicles Again
Aug 25th 2007, 11:09 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 46
Vehicles Again
I've read on various site about the amount of time allowed before a vehicle has to registered in Spain, some sites say one month other sites say three months, but what about someone like me who wants to escape the "English" winter months by driving down to Southern Spain pulling a caravan and staying on a caravan park for a period of four or possibly five months.
Can I do that or will I be stopped by the Police, and possibly have the vehicle impounded.
I will still have a UK address, UK MOT, UK insurance and the vehicle will be registered at that the UK address on UK plates.
mick
Can I do that or will I be stopped by the Police, and possibly have the vehicle impounded.
I will still have a UK address, UK MOT, UK insurance and the vehicle will be registered at that the UK address on UK plates.
mick
Aug 25th 2007, 11:13 am
#2
Senior Moment
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: On the edge
Posts: 20,460
Re: Vehicles Again
I've read on various site about the amount of time allowed before a vehicle has to registered in Spain, some sites say one month other sites say three months, but what about someone like me who wants to escape the "English" winter months by driving down to Southern Spain pulling a caravan and staying on a caravan park for a period of four or possibly five months.
Can I do that or will I be stopped by the Police, and possibly have the vehicle impounded.
I will still have a UK address, UK MOT, UK insurance and the vehicle will be registered at that the UK address on UK plates.
mick
Can I do that or will I be stopped by the Police, and possibly have the vehicle impounded.
I will still have a UK address, UK MOT, UK insurance and the vehicle will be registered at that the UK address on UK plates.
mick
You will not be a Spanish resident, you will be a tourist and as such has 6 months to keep it here. Keep the ferry dockets to prove how long you have been here. Ensure your MOT and road tax are in order for the whole time you are here and that your insurance covers you.
Aug 25th 2007, 12:06 pm
#3
RETIRED ;-))
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Benalmadena Pueblo,Spain
Posts: 20,156
Re: Vehicles Again
See the Residency link in free beer..... you can stay for 3 months only, after that you are deemed resident.
Then you have the fun with your car.
Then you have the fun with your car.
Last edited by jdr; Aug 25th 2007 at 12:10 pm.
Aug 25th 2007, 12:10 pm
#4
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 46
Re: Vehicles Again
You will not be a Spanish resident, you will be a tourist and as such has 6 months to keep it here. Keep the ferry dockets to prove how long you have been here. Ensure your MOT and road tax are in order for the whole time you are here and that your insurance covers you.
I thought that might be the case, I was just making sure.
mick
Aug 25th 2007, 12:11 pm
#6
RETIRED ;-))
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Benalmadena Pueblo,Spain
Posts: 20,156
Aug 25th 2007, 2:47 pm
#8
Straw Man.
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: That, there, that's not my post count... nothing to see here, move along.
Posts: 46,302
Re: Vehicles Again
I may end up slitting my wrists if this thread goes into another page!!
Aug 25th 2007, 4:03 pm
#11
Mucho Macho
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Huescar
Posts: 1,213
Re: Vehicles Again
In the hope that Matt will follow through on his promise.....here goes!
It's an infringement of our human rights you know....and it's all for the money.
If you have a UK reg car or bike which is completely legal, why the hell should you be forced to replate it?
In fact, I've just bought another bike in the UK....for half the price I'd have had to pay here. Plus, it's had no Spanish owners, which is a godsend....because the concept of basic maintenance like oil changes, chain adjustment and lubrication etc is totally lost on them.
I'll be bringing it out here, and it'll be totally legal in all respects as I have 365 days European insurance cover. If I get pulled it's show the passport, not the residencia....though in actual fact Police are not interested in foreign motorcycles, as Spain has long been a mecca for touring.
In a years time, back to the UK for a new MOT or change it for something else.
The fact of the matter is that any legal British vehicle with a current MOT is going to be a damn sight safer and more roadworthy than any POS Spanish car which has limped it's way through the ITV. And in many cases some Spanish cars haven't actually been tested for years and they're just driving around regardless.
So before Spain tells me what plate I should have on my bike.....it needs to clear up it's own mess of illegal vehicles, illegal drivers, and non-existent standards of driving ability. AFAIC if my vehicle is legal anywhere in Europe then it's legal here!
Spanish licence? Spanish plate? They're having a laugh! Just tell em......Franco's dead.....get over it!
It's an infringement of our human rights you know....and it's all for the money.
If you have a UK reg car or bike which is completely legal, why the hell should you be forced to replate it?
In fact, I've just bought another bike in the UK....for half the price I'd have had to pay here. Plus, it's had no Spanish owners, which is a godsend....because the concept of basic maintenance like oil changes, chain adjustment and lubrication etc is totally lost on them.
I'll be bringing it out here, and it'll be totally legal in all respects as I have 365 days European insurance cover. If I get pulled it's show the passport, not the residencia....though in actual fact Police are not interested in foreign motorcycles, as Spain has long been a mecca for touring.
In a years time, back to the UK for a new MOT or change it for something else.
The fact of the matter is that any legal British vehicle with a current MOT is going to be a damn sight safer and more roadworthy than any POS Spanish car which has limped it's way through the ITV. And in many cases some Spanish cars haven't actually been tested for years and they're just driving around regardless.
So before Spain tells me what plate I should have on my bike.....it needs to clear up it's own mess of illegal vehicles, illegal drivers, and non-existent standards of driving ability. AFAIC if my vehicle is legal anywhere in Europe then it's legal here!
Spanish licence? Spanish plate? They're having a laugh! Just tell em......Franco's dead.....get over it!
Aug 25th 2007, 4:09 pm
#12
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,214
Re: Vehicles Again
In the hope that Matt will follow through on his promise.....here goes!
It's an infringement of our human rights you know....and it's all for the money.
If you have a UK reg car or bike which is completely legal, why the hell should you be forced to replate it?
In fact, I've just bought another bike in the UK....for half the price I'd have had to pay here. Plus, it's had no Spanish owners, which is a godsend....because the concept of basic maintenance like oil changes, chain adjustment and lubrication etc is totally lost on them.
I'll be bringing it out here, and it'll be totally legal in all respects as I have 365 days European insurance cover. If I get pulled it's show the passport, not the residencia....though in actual fact Police are not interested in foreign motorcycles, as Spain has long been a mecca for touring.
In a years time, back to the UK for a new MOT or change it for something else.
The fact of the matter is that any legal British vehicle with a current MOT is going to be a damn sight safer and more roadworthy than any POS Spanish car which has limped it's way through the ITV. And in many cases some Spanish cars haven't actually been tested for years and they're just driving around regardless.
So before Spain tells me what plate I should have on my bike.....it needs to clear up it's own mess of illegal vehicles, illegal drivers, and non-existent standards of driving ability. AFAIC if my vehicle is legal anywhere in Europe then it's legal here!
Spanish licence? Spanish plate? They're having a laugh! Just tell em......Franco's dead.....get over it!
It's an infringement of our human rights you know....and it's all for the money.
If you have a UK reg car or bike which is completely legal, why the hell should you be forced to replate it?
In fact, I've just bought another bike in the UK....for half the price I'd have had to pay here. Plus, it's had no Spanish owners, which is a godsend....because the concept of basic maintenance like oil changes, chain adjustment and lubrication etc is totally lost on them.
I'll be bringing it out here, and it'll be totally legal in all respects as I have 365 days European insurance cover. If I get pulled it's show the passport, not the residencia....though in actual fact Police are not interested in foreign motorcycles, as Spain has long been a mecca for touring.
In a years time, back to the UK for a new MOT or change it for something else.
The fact of the matter is that any legal British vehicle with a current MOT is going to be a damn sight safer and more roadworthy than any POS Spanish car which has limped it's way through the ITV. And in many cases some Spanish cars haven't actually been tested for years and they're just driving around regardless.
So before Spain tells me what plate I should have on my bike.....it needs to clear up it's own mess of illegal vehicles, illegal drivers, and non-existent standards of driving ability. AFAIC if my vehicle is legal anywhere in Europe then it's legal here!
Spanish licence? Spanish plate? They're having a laugh! Just tell em......Franco's dead.....get over it!
And, 9 months after you get it here and they stop you and ask for PROOF that it has been here less than 6 months? how are you going to get round that. Only accepted proof is your ferry ticket.
Aug 25th 2007, 4:12 pm
#13
Straw Man.
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: That, there, that's not my post count... nothing to see here, move along.
Posts: 46,302
Aug 25th 2007, 4:21 pm
#14
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Leigh, Lancs. Ex Valencia!
Posts: 1,778
Re: Vehicles Again
What is the state of play with vehicles registered in other countries? logic says that we should all abide by the rules, whether EU rules or Spanish rules, but is there the same issue with German or French registered vehicles?
Just curious!
Tim
Aug 25th 2007, 4:43 pm
#15
this is me
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Jerez
Posts: 832
Re: Vehicles Again
Sorry all, I know you all love these threads! But.....Is that the case? Suppose the vehicle came down in a lorry, or through the tunnel? What happens then?
What is the state of play with vehicles registered in other countries? logic says that we should all abide by the rules, whether EU rules or Spanish rules, but is there the same issue with German or French registered vehicles?
Just curious!
Tim
What is the state of play with vehicles registered in other countries? logic says that we should all abide by the rules, whether EU rules or Spanish rules, but is there the same issue with German or French registered vehicles?
Just curious!
Tim