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Bringing your own car from the Uk.

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 9:20am
6 replies163 views1 member subscribed
Sean28

Posts: 13

1 helpful points

Location: Oliva

Joined: 11 May 2020

Hi , I have a fairly decent car purchased in 2016. I was wondering if it is expensive to register it in Spain ? I've read that the second hand car market is quite expensive. 

I realise If i were to bring a right hand car to Spain, there maybe issues for example over taking .

Any opinions or  personal experiences on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

                 Thank you, Sean

Movingon

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 10:14am

Movingon

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Location: Albatera

Joined: 7 Feb 2018

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 10:14am

The cost will vary depending on a number of factors but at best will be several hundred Euros and potentially run into a couple of thousand or more. 

It's true that used cars are generally more expensive here but against that you have to weigh the fact that come the time you decide to change you will get correspondingly more back to put towards the next one.

Against that although there is a market for RHD cars it only really exists because their values are so low meaning that if or when you did decide to change anything you my have saved could be entirely negated - and maybe more - so in practical terms I'd say that the only time it makes any real sense to import a UK car is if you intend to keep it and run it into the ground. 

As for driving RHD-v-LHD whether it's a problem or not is down to you as an  individual.

I have both and and it makes not a jot of difference either to me or my OH which we drive while on the other hand I think most of us know of someone (mostly ladies but meaning no offence to the fairer sex) who point blank refuse to drive on the right hand side of the road at all be it in a RH or LH drive car. 

Finally, and obviously it depends on exactly where you choose to settle, for most the majority of their driving is likely to consist of short trips to the shops or beach etc. where needs and opportunities for overtaking are seldom a feature of the journey.  

Sean28

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 10:56am

Sean28

Original Poster

Posts: 13

1 helpful points

Location: Oliva

Joined: 11 May 2020

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 10:56am

Thank you , for your response and helpful advice.

                                                Sean.

UKHandyMan4Hire

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 10:59am

UKHandyMan4Hire

Very helpful member

Posts: 800

916 helpful points

Location: Aspe

Joined: 22 May 2018

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 10:59am

Do a forum search on "Jims Guide" and I am pretty sure you will find an excellent guide relating to this topic giving you helpful and factual information.

Hope it helps.

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Sean28

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 1:04pm

Sean28

Original Poster

Posts: 13

1 helpful points

Location: Oliva

Joined: 11 May 2020

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 1:04pm

This post that was quoted has been deleted.

Dear Ray,

thank you for this, very helpful indeed. So many other things I did not think of re: RHD i.e. tolls and car kiosks/barriers. I have a 2016 VW Golf which I really like. Perhaps selling it here in th Uk and if enough purchasing a smaller car for example a VW Polo would be the better solution.

                                                               Regards, Sean.

                          

Herefordjack

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 2:54pm

Herefordjack

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Joined: 18 Dec 2017

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 2:54pm

I don't want to comment on the cost aspects of importing, that's for you to decide, but from a safety point of view, I'd always recommend to someone moving here permanently that they buy a LHD when they get here rather than import their British car.

It takes a while to get used to driving on the right, and in an imported RHD car it's very easy at a T junction for example to get confused and pull out onto the wrong side of the road. 

When I moved here, I bit the bullet and bought new rather than try and find a decent second hand vehicle in a constricted market, I've been well pleased with the Skoda Octavia I bought. Insurance cost is comparable with the UK, but fuel, servicing and road tax is considerably cheaper.

Sean28

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 3:30pm

Sean28

Original Poster

Posts: 13

1 helpful points

Location: Oliva

Joined: 11 May 2020

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 3:30pm

Herefordjack wrote on Thu May 14, 2020 2:54pm:

I don't want to comment on the cost aspects of importing, that's for you to decide, but from a safety point of view, I'd always recommend to someone moving here permanently that they buy a LHD when they get here rather than import their British car.

It takes a while to get used to driving on the right, and in an imported RHD car it's very easy at a T junction for example to get confused and pull out onto the wrong side of the road. ...

...

When I moved here, I bit the bullet and bought new rather than try and find a decent second hand vehicle in a constricted market, I've been well pleased with the Skoda Octavia I bought. Insurance cost is comparable with the UK, but fuel, servicing and road tax is considerably cheaper.

Thank you Jack...I'm beginning to see things differently.

                         Regards, Sean.

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