Length of stay for UK registered car?

Posted: Sat Jan 5, 2019 9:05pm

2 replies163 views4 members subscribed

NickB

Helpful member

Posts: 135

125 helpful points

Location: Cabo Roig

Joined: 5 Jan 2019

Hi,

We are planning to retire to spain permanently soon, but have a lease car that will have at least a years lease to run when we come out. Therefore, we cannot register onto Spanish plates as we don't own it. It's an expensive car, so would cost a fortune to break the lease agreement and hand back.

I know there is a 6 month rule for how long you can have your car in Spain, but what is the detail behind it? Plus, if we take it back to the UK before 6 months and bring back out again would the authorities be able to know?

Look forward to your help on this.

Nick.

Reply
View 2 replies

Posted: Sun Jan 6, 2019 5:09am

jimtaylor

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 5612

8739 helpful points

Location: Mudamiento

Joined: 2 Feb 2017

Posted: Sun Jan 6, 2019 5:09am

After six months here, the car would have to be returned to the UK for another six months before it could be brought out again.

There doesn't seem to be any active monitoring of length of stay, but there have been a few reported occasions where people have had to produce ferry tickets etc to show when a car was brought here.

If there's a no deal Brexit, then the law states that the length of stay of non-EU citizens will be monitored, but I've not (yet) seen anything related to the monitoring of their vehicles.

Posted: Sun Jan 6, 2019 1:02pm

paulsav

Super helpful member

Posts: 1376

1011 helpful points

Location: Villena

Joined: 4 Dec 2015

Posted: Sun Jan 6, 2019 1:02pm

I have a neighbour who,se been in Spain since 2005, is a spanish resident, who has had the same UK car in Spain since then ,and takes the car back for 1 mnth twice a year for mot and Xmas. He has been stopped by police but says hes a nonresident and gets away with it. He,s registered for spanish healthcare(and his wife has had hospital treatment and is on repeat medication which is free). They are also still registered with their UK doctor at his daughters, and has a yearly health check on visiting and even had healthcare while in the UK. It will be interresting to see if Brexit will change this situation as he has no intention of changing as he has been trying to sell his house for nearly 5years to return to the UK. I feel he is not the only person who does this so will Brexit change anything?. He,s already stated he will swap with his daughter the 2 cars(his and hers) if he has a problem bringing it back if needbe so each car is in Spain for 6mnths per year as he ultimately wants to return to the UK. We are nonresidents, but amazed reading what is legal and what some people do to get round the law. Interresting or not?

Pauline.