Ding ding ding, wakey wakey - UK car immobilised until Spanish regged. - Driving, hiring, buying and owning a car in Albatera - Albatera forum - Costa Blanca forum in the Alicante province of Spain
Expat Services
Car Key Solutions
Costa Blanca Building Specialists
ASSSA Insurance
Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL
Airport Service Taxi Mil Palmeras  Torre de la Horadada
Thy Will Be Done
interior building work
Gentlevan Removals
Gran Alacant Insurances
Espana Dream Properties
AA Free English TV
James Spanish School
Blacktower Financial Management

Join the Albatera forum

Join the Albatera forumMy name's Alex and this is my website all about Albatera in Spain. Register now for free to talk about Driving, hiring, buying and owning a car in Albatera and much more!

Ding ding ding, wakey wakey - UK car immobilised until Spanish regged.

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 5:39pm
15 replies755 views6 members subscribed
Movingon

Movingon

Super helpful member

Posts: 1857

1607 helpful points

Location: Albatera

Joined: 7 Feb 2018

Just been reading on another forum where a Spanish resident has had his UK regged car immobilised and told to get it Spanish plates.

Double bummer as he was planning to return to UK with it soon!

Not the first case of it's kind by any means and surely won't be the last.

Kenneth1

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 5:59pm

Kenneth1

Very helpful member

Posts: 827

887 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 3 Feb 2017

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 5:59pm

And how many years has this car been driving around Spain. No road tax, no m.o.t etc. Seen many of these British registered cars, used here for years, someone sometimes on the driveway, sometimes on the road. No sympathy for these people. 

Villas

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 6:56pm

Villas

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 4317

3505 helpful points

Location: Sax

Joined: 29 May 2017

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 6:56pm

I know nothing, but a friend of mine showed to me an app(free) on his mobile. It showed/displayed & informed the mobile UK EU etc, Insurance (yes or no) itv (see/no).

 I´m sure if this person has a phone in 2 minutes, the police have the same & more.

If anyone wants a Xmas pressie, (hands up?)

V

Movingon

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 7:02pm

Movingon

Original Poster

Super helpful member

Posts: 1857

1607 helpful points

Location: Albatera

Joined: 7 Feb 2018

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 7:02pm

I doubt many will be uninsured, most are not that stupid and reckless, or at least I would hope not! 

What you'll often find is that they have insured in UK but failed to notify the insurer that they are not UK resident as that would lead to instant policy cancellation.

That means the insurer will be obliged to pay 3rd party claims but not the insured's loses and after can add sue them for their losses.

Post Brexit that could change though as UK insurers will no longer be bound by EU directives.

Villas

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 7:11pm

Villas

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 4317

3505 helpful points

Location: Sax

Joined: 29 May 2017

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 7:11pm

As You say."I hope they are not" but, It was amazing how  my Spanish friend "flashed" (his movil) so to speak. (in 2 hours.) We must have been talking other things too!

There are many , that ARE stupid, & reckless. I do not think a EU directive will stop those who break this sort of law & others. It might be me, you or other victims.

V

Advertisement - posts continue below

charliew

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 8:12pm

charliew

Helpful member

Posts: 114

108 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 3 Aug 2016

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 8:12pm

Usually, you are covered for a maximum of 3 months on UK insurance after leaving the UK with a UK registered car. If you haven't changed it over to Spanish plates by then, your insurance is invalid. Insurance is also invalid if it doesn't have a current UK MOT certificate or road tax. Probably 80-90% of UK registered cars in Spain are illegal. About time the police did something about this. I know of someone who was driving around for over 12 years in an illegal car. 

Movingon

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 9:35pm

Movingon

Original Poster

Super helpful member

Posts: 1857

1607 helpful points

Location: Albatera

Joined: 7 Feb 2018

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 9:35pm

charliew wrote on Tue Oct 1, 2019 8:12pm:

Usually, you are covered for a maximum of 3 months on UK insurance after leaving the UK with a UK registered car. If you haven't changed it over to Spanish plates by then, your insurance is invalid. Insurance is also invalid if it doesn't have a current UK MOT certificate or road tax. Probably 80...

...-90% of UK registered cars in Spain are illegal. About time the police did something about this. I know of someone who was driving around for over 12 years in an illegal car. 

Oh dear, so much duff info in one post!

According to the EU directive all motor insurance policies written in the EU MUST provide minimum 3rd party cover for their duration which means that things like no MOT or tax etc. cannot and do not invalidate the cover. 

If an insurer wants to cancel a policy they must write to the insured at the last notified address informing them of their intention and giving a precise date and time when cover will cease.

The 30\60\90 days UK insurers 'allow' is for the level of cover you enjoy there after which it drops to minimum 3rd party. 

Anything else they tell you is lies and contrary to law. 

Of course if you are not UK resident then you have no right to hold UK insurance at all but they will still be obliged to meet  3rd party claims. 

Mickymouse

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 10:15pm

Mickymouse

Helpful member

Posts: 97

64 helpful points

Location: San Luis

Joined: 5 Apr 2018

Posted: Tue Oct 1, 2019 10:15pm

As Movingon has wrote ,l  was involved in a accident with a German registered car and it was deemed to be my fault even though the other car had no valid TUV/ITV my insurance co had to repair the other car under 3rd party law and my insurance company and the Trafic police did not seem interested that the other car had no TUV/ITV

killjoy

Posted: Wed Oct 2, 2019 1:55pm

killjoy

Super helpful member

Posts: 3232

1849 helpful points

Location: Orihuela Costa

Joined: 4 Nov 2017

Posted: Wed Oct 2, 2019 1:55pm

Quite often regulations are misinterpreted by police officers, specially "Guardia Civil". In such case it's essential to get legal advice - not a "Gestor".

camionpilot

Posted: Wed Oct 2, 2019 3:34pm

camionpilot

Helpful member

Posts: 432

194 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 19 Feb 2018

Posted: Wed Oct 2, 2019 3:34pm

Villas wrote on Tue Oct 1, 2019 7:11pm:

As You say."I hope they are not" but, It was amazing how  my Spanish friend "flashed" (his movil) so to speak. (in 2 hours.) We must have been talking other things too!

There are many , that ARE stupid, & reckless. I do not think a EU directive will stop those who break this sort of law & others. It might be me, you or other victims....

...

V

The only legal info he can flag up is what is available via the DVLA site , he should not be able to obtain ins details if so that is illegal and that material is protected by EU data protection laws...!!

All local police and trafico officers have access to EU data bases , they carry a small machine the size of a calculator or later cars have an onboard system , which they either enter the data manualy or photo the no plate   all the vehicles known  info is then presented on a screen to the officer ,from which he can see if the vehicle is legal in the EU .

Parking offences are dealt in a similar manner , they just ride down the street ,{ no need to get out of the car }and photo offenders , voila a few days later you have notification of a fine ..!!

.

Sign up for free or login to reply to this topic

Want to reply to this topic? Login or register for free to post your message:

Find more Driving, hiring, buying and owning a car topics from a particular area:


Register for free!

Login to your account

Expat Services
Car Key Solutions
Costa Blanca Building Specialists
ASSSA Insurance
Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL
Airport Service Taxi Mil Palmeras  Torre de la Horadada
Thy Will Be Done
interior building work
Gentlevan Removals
Gran Alacant Insurances
Espana Dream Properties
AA Free English TV
James Spanish School
Blacktower Financial Management
Advertise your business here
Advertise your property
Help with my computer