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Trains,planes and automobiles

Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 12:29pm
3 replies10 views3 members subscribed
Philgara1967

Posts: 68

30 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 20 Dec 2016

We live in UK but have a holiday home which we use twice a month in LA marina.....in Jan/Feb 2018 I'm thinking of bringing a uk car to use and leave in Spain.....so I'm after the best ferry crossing route for the drive down or is the Chunnel better......I'm told as long as it has 12 months not it can stay on UK plates for ? Long then it has to have an ITV......any other car related info would be most welcome especially anyone wos done the drive....cheers Philip

John56

Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 12:36pm

John56

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 2995

5634 helpful points

Location: La Zenia

Joined: 7 Jul 2016

Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 12:36pm

In May 2017 coming from Ireland we drove from Cherbourg to La Zenia. Would recommend that you plan your route using Sat Nat or print out your route from the website Via Michelin which is easy to use and has all the information you need including where you pay tolls and how much they are. Since I was doing all the driving we took our time and broke up the journey by prebooking budget hotels on the Internet so I was doing a reasonable amount of daily driving. You will need a travel kit particularly for driving through France, they are readily available in Halfords or on Amazon. The cost of the tolls for the journey was around 65 Euros, it may seem a lot but the motorways are great and they are not that busy so the driving is easy.

Chezste

Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 7:43pm

Chezste

Helpful member

Posts: 449

217 helpful points

Location: La Zenia

Joined: 1 Aug 2016

Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 7:43pm

Hi, I believe you can only keep a uk car for six months in spain, then it has to be either registered or removed from the country for a further six months.

I was gong to bring a uk car and change it over but it really is cost prohibitive to do so and so we have just purchased a great little run around here for 1500e and 240e insurance with breakdown cover.

Hope this helps

Andrew65

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 12:37am

Andrew65

Very helpful member

Posts: 728

671 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 29 Dec 2016

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 12:37am

John56 wrote on Thu Jun 22, 2017 12:36pm:

In May 2017 coming from Ireland we drove from Cherbourg to La Zenia. Would recommend that you plan your route using Sat Nat or print out your route from the website Via Michelin which is easy to use and has all the information you need including where you pay tolls and how much they are. Since I ...

...was doing all the driving we took our time and broke up the journey by prebooking budget hotels on the Internet so I was doing a reasonable amount of daily driving. You will need a travel kit particularly for driving through France, they are readily available in Halfords or on Amazon. The cost of the tolls for the journey was around 65 Euros, it may seem a lot but the motorways are great and they are not that busy so the driving is easy.

You can keep a UK registered car in Spain for six months so long it has MOT if required, insurance and is taxed. Most UK insurance companies will only cover you for thirty days apart from SAGA who will cover you for six months in the EU on a standard policy.

The Spanish police quite rightly do spot checks on UK registered cars and it is also a legal requirement to have breakdown cover, if they catch you driving illegally they can confiscate the vehicle.

Personally I would take the longer ferry crossing to Santander or Bilbao, more expensive but less driving, lower tolls, less fuel and you get a nights rest without hotel costs.

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