Re registering UK car to Spanish Plates

No easy answers I am afraid.

The costs breakdown as ...

- Costs to change headlights (and possibly to modify tail lights). Costs range from a few hundred to thousands. The European ebay sites provide a good source of LHD headlights.

- Inspection/matriculation/ITV costs

- Import/registration taxes depend on the age, value and CO2 rating of the car.

My wife and I brought 2 cars here. Both were >12 years old but had high CO2 engines. 

Our Honda cost around 1000 Euros in total (brand new pattern-part headlights delivered from China). 

Our Nissan cost a bit more, but mostly because the headlights were difficult to get hold of (I obtained second hand Nissan parts from ebay USA).

Others on this forum have suggested http://www.spanish-number-plates.com/  to get your car properly assessed,  although I used a local garage in my area.

Liberty Seguros insure UK registered cars, and then switching the insurance over to the new number plate is easy.

Thanks Kelvin

Will look into this possibility

Darrel

PS maybe more economical to buy an existing Spanish car

Having a RHD car will put you at a disadvantage on the roads with vision, toll booths and car parks so unless you are particularly attached to the cars it may be better to buy Spanish.
Buying a second hand car here is a minefield with paperwork and best left to the professionals. They hold their value more in Spain so will be more expensive than you are used to and members often suggest it is better to buy new.
Buying a Spanish registered LHD in the UK is also problematic as you cannot drive it in the UK on a UK licence.

Thanks Cheryl

Sorry Pete, I always get muddled on that one!

Thanks Pete

Overall, Cheryl and Pete are correct .... LHD cars are a better bet.

Our situation was unusual. Our Honda is LHD (ex-USA). Our Nissan is an old friend (ex-Japan) and I didn't want to leave it behind.

As neither car was sold originally in the EU, neither had an EU Certificate of Conformity. The internet gurus told me that this would make importing them problematic - but as it turned out, there was no problem.

Thanks Kelvin