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Advice on driving English car in Spain

Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 2:59pm
7 replies97 views4 members subscribed
Mary17

Posts: 11

Location: Albánchez

Joined: 11 Jul 2017

Hello, please can you help!

My husband Jeff and I have just bought a villa in Albanchez, which we plan to use for 6 months of the year (summers in England and winters in Spain) and are planning to drive over from Bristol in October.

Please can anyone advise as to whether the car can be registered in both countries? Or do we have to register and change plates over each time we come over too Spain. ?

 Any advice would be so much appreciated.

Kind regards

Mary

Tony and Sue

Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 5:24pm

Tony and Sue

Helpful member

Posts: 74

61 helpful points

Location: Albox

Joined: 6 May 2017

Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 5:24pm

Provided your stay in Spain is not more than 6 months then you should be OK with a UK licenced car but be aware of the various requirements for driving in Spain. Suggest you look at https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/country/spain/ as this outlines what you must have with you and also covers some of the main driving rules. Suggest you also check on France as well as some of the requirements differ. 

If you plan to use the autoroutes in both countries remember that some are tolled and that the paypoints are all on the passenger side. From our experience most are unmanned and only take cards now so best to get a UK credit card that doesn't have foreign currency loading or else get a Spanish euro card if you have a local bank account.

Roads in Spain are generally in very good condition.

Tony & Sue Peachey

Mary17

Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 5:41pm

Mary17

Original Poster

Posts: 11

Location: Albánchez

Joined: 11 Jul 2017

Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 5:41pm

Thank you for the advice and link. Very helpful

Best wishes

Mary and Jeff

BobL

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 12:54pm

BobL

Super helpful member

Posts: 2170

1225 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 18 Aug 2016

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 12:54pm

Think you may need to check with DVLA and of course your Insurance Company. Ensure your MOT is current as Spanish Police vehicles now carry on board computers. You will need to carry all documentation with you in case you are stopped. In Spain we need to carry everything including.log book and receipt from Bank proving Insurance has been paid.

Enjoy the trip.

Bob and Sandra

Mojacar Playa and Puerto Lumbreras

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chevyrecycler34

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 7:34pm

chevyrecycler34

Helpful member

Posts: 759

410 helpful points

Location: Huércal-Overa

Joined: 10 Feb 2017

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 7:34pm

Hi, we just had partners right hand drive Honda Insight hybrid metriculated onto Spanish plates.

The first thing that "The Garage" near Albox did before they got the car thru the Spanish ITV test was tell us we needed almost £1000 worth of new EU standard headlamps that throw the headlamp beam to the right as the stickers you can buy wont get you past being stopped by the Guardia Civil or even the Policia Local. But having said that, it's how you prove you only stay here 6 months of the year.  How's your Spanish ?? Lol.

Then you might fall foul of your rear lights, fog lamps etc.

You may have seen some scaremongering videos about "Foreign registered" cars being stopped, in some cases impounded, fines levied etc. We had no problems for almost 5 months.

Doing dual registration is a bit of a grey area. 6 months here, 6 months there etc.

We were told that EU spec headlamps have a switch which will get around the headlamp beam left/right beam requirement for both countries which would help.

We are here permanently so some things for us have been/are different.

As has been said, check with the DVLA and Spanish driving agencies.

We didnt get stopped whilst we were driving on UK plates but dont take that for granted.

If you need a bank account I think you'll need an NIE number, likewise you cant get a full on medical card without "Residencia", you can get a 3 month temporary medical card by going to your local medical centre, you'll need to go on the town "Padron" as well. "Residencia will provide you with a form of NIE and you'll need to get the help of a good lawyer who does "Residencias and NIE numbers". A lot to take in if you want to stay legal.

Doubtless others may slim down some of the above as like I said we will be permanent residents. We know also there's people who fly under the radar a bit lol.

It's all worth it in the end. Where in the UK can you go skinny dipping in your own pvt pool and/or enjoy this current heatwave in the UK lol..

chevyrecycler34

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 7:36pm

chevyrecycler34

Helpful member

Posts: 759

410 helpful points

Location: Huércal-Overa

Joined: 10 Feb 2017

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 7:36pm

Not sure on France but Spain you need a hi vis on before you step out of your vehicle. Two triangles, etc etc.

Mary17

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 10:01pm

Mary17

Original Poster

Posts: 11

Location: Albánchez

Joined: 11 Jul 2017

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 10:01pm

chevyrecycler34 wrote on Mon Jul 31, 2017 7:34pm:

Hi, we just had partners right hand drive Honda Insight hybrid metriculated onto Spanish plates.

The first thing that "The Garage" near Albox did before they got the car thru the Spanish ITV test was tell us we needed almost £1000 worth of new EU standard headlamps that throw the headlamp beam to the right as the stickers you can buy wont get you past being stopped by the Guardia Civil or e...

...ven the Policia Local. But having said that, it's how you prove you only stay here 6 months of the year.  How's your Spanish ?? Lol.

Then you might fall foul of your rear lights, fog lamps etc.

You may have seen some scaremongering videos about "Foreign registered" cars being stopped, in some cases impounded, fines levied etc. We had no problems for almost 5 months.

Doing dual registration is a bit of a grey area. 6 months here, 6 months there etc.

We were told that EU spec headlamps have a switch which will get around the headlamp beam left/right beam requirement for both countries which would help.

We are here permanently so some things for us have been/are different.

As has been said, check with the DVLA and Spanish driving agencies.

We didnt get stopped whilst we were driving on UK plates but dont take that for granted.

If you need a bank account I think you'll need an NIE number, likewise you cant get a full on medical card without "Residencia", you can get a 3 month temporary medical card by going to your local medical centre, you'll need to go on the town "Padron" as well. "Residencia will provide you with a form of NIE and you'll need to get the help of a good lawyer who does "Residencias and NIE numbers". A lot to take in if you want to stay legal.

Doubtless others may slim down some of the above as like I said we will be permanent residents. We know also there's people who fly under the radar a bit lol.

It's all worth it in the end. Where in the UK can you go skinny dipping in your own pvt pool and/or enjoy this current heatwave in the UK lol..

Skinny dipping is what were looking forward to the most !! Ha ha !! 

Thank you so much for your invaluable advice. We have just been issued a NIE number and sale should be complete by Sept so once car is sorted, hopefully everything else will fall into place. Trying to learn Spanish at a very slow pace, lol !!

Many thanks again and kindest regards

Mary and Jeff

Mary17

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 10:04pm

Mary17

Original Poster

Posts: 11

Location: Albánchez

Joined: 11 Jul 2017

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 10:04pm

BobL wrote on Mon Jul 31, 2017 12:54pm:

Think you may need to check with DVLA and of course your Insurance Company. Ensure your MOT is current as Spanish Police vehicles now carry on board computers. You will need to carry all documentation with you in case you are stopped. In Spain we need to carry everything including.log book and re...

...ceipt from Bank proving Insurance has been paid.

Enjoy the trip.

Bob and Sandra

Mojacar Playa and Puerto Lumbreras

Thank you Bob and Sandra, that's very helpful. Its like a mine field!!

Think we will contact Dvla and insurance in first instance! 

Many thanks again and kind regards

Mary and Jeff

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