Driving to Spain from UK - Page 2

Thanks Pauline.

I had no idea you could not drive a UK plated car if a resident.

I am rapidly going off the idea of driving over with all the additional constraints etc. We do have a car there but it quite old and the thought was to take out UK car as it is much newer.

Many thanks for your info.

It has certainly given me food for thought.

It Tyne by the way....Gosforth.

I 

I,m in Blyth btw, you can take car over upto 6mnths on Uk plates and bring back, going through borders will monitor closer after March. I dont think you could keep taking it back though, as a resident its illegal to drive in Spain a UK vehicle unless you have the UK owner with you each journey. If it went over as personal belongings and put in for matriculation to Spanish plates within 30days you,d save on import tax(still costs of around 700€ + headlamps and fog light change). Our car is low emissions so exempt from import tax, but costing I,ve had to matriculate is 700-900 from various companies. As resident you,d need to change driving licence too or may need to take a Spanish test to drive in Spain if you leave it too late. There were too many obstacles regarding driving that caused us to defer residency and still have a house to sell.We,re going over in March via Santander for 3mnths as thats all we can go for with the 90/180days, takes longer than Dover to Calais but no French driving. Look up our gov,t website for "living in Spain" lots of good info and regular updates and the European Commision site, all invaluable reading.

Pauline.

Thanks again Pauline.

I'm pretty sure that I will be looking for a newer 'run around' in Spain. It seems a lot less hassle. There is the added complications that Brexit might throw up as well!

Regards

John

I do this journey from th UK to Daya Vieja at least 4 times a year as I live here in Spain but still practice as a midwife on the bank in the UK. Plus we have family in the UK so I visit them too.

I drive Santander to Madrid avoiding tolls, then  Madrid to say Daya Vieja again avoiding tolls. The roads are really good and the second leg of  the journey usually takes me about 4 hours.

I drive the route often and on my own, I go Santander to Madrid, Madrid down to Daya Vieja near Guardamar; avoiding tolls. I have no problems and the journey takes about 8-9 hours depending how often you stop. the roads are brilliant and dual carriage nearly all the way. Hope this helps. 

Just a little by the by.

One should be aware that if you get caught speeding on a roadside camera in France, you will get a fine.   Under Agreements, the DVLA will pass your details on to the French Authorities.  If you don't pay, then next time you drive through France an ANPR camera could flag you up with serious financial costs to be paid.

Like me, you don't intentionally speed, but I did get caught out very early one morning on a suburban road in the North of France, only realising a week or so later when the fine came through the post here at home in Torrevieja after my details from my Spanish Reg car were passed onto the French.

Foreign drivers caught on UK cameras are of course quite safe.  As I understand it for some technicality of Law they do not pursue offenders!

Here's a link Pay Up

By the way.  I was gutted when I got the fine.  My first ever offence and that was from 50 years on the road from my first motorbike, cars and Artic HGV Professional long distance driver ☹️

Insurance and tax was cheaper when I bought my car over. The transfer of number plates and changing headlights comes to around €1200.

Gilly 

Hi

We are Cramlington area and want to go Santander in April 21 looks as though there are 3 suggested routes on via michilin from santander to Torrevieja area,do you have any suggestions as to which is best 

Cheers

Graham