Driving British car in spain.
Helpful member
How long can use a British registered car in Spain before you have to buy Spanish or convert replate?
Would my English insurance cover this ?
Helpful member
How long can use a British registered car in Spain before you have to buy Spanish or convert replate?
Would my English insurance cover this ?
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2020 3:22pm
Super helpful member
90 day rule applies, however you can leave an re-enter for another 90 days. After that, however you will need to register as a resident and cannot longer legally use a foreign reg vehicle. Also you'll ned a Spanish drivers license. Read the smallprinto of your insurance policy to find out cover details.
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2020 4:21pm
Helpful member
Killjoy where did you find that information ?
I may be wrong and probably am however my understanding was 183 days (6 months) I thought the 90 day rule was your trigger to inform the Spanish authorities of your presence and intention after 183 days (residency) and tax liability after. Not specifically the time you can be in Spain with your car.
I am not sure when your Spanish driving licence is required from but if you stay permanently you will need to apply for one.
There are incentives if you transfer your UK registered car to Spanish plates in conjunction with your residency application (reduction in taxation for transfer) A quick search will give you all the information.
https://lifestylegroup.es/how-long-can-i-legally-keep-and-drive-a-uk-registered-car-in-spain/
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2020 7:37pm
Legendary helpful member
Bencr85 wrote on Tue Oct 27, 2020 3:09pm:
How long can use a British registered car in Spain before you have to buy Spanish or convert replate?
Would my English insurance cover this ?
If you hold Residencia I believe you have 6 months grace within which to import your car onto a Spanish plate. The cost to do so varies according to the vehicle spec. But budget 800-1100€.
My UK insurance company would not insure my car in Spain as I had given up my UK address. I insured through a broker based on the Costa Blanca called Jennifer Cunningham. The insurance is with Liberty Seguros.
As a non resident you are entitled to bring your car to Spain and drive it during the time you are permitted in Spain (90 days out of rolling 180) but you would require UK insurance cover because Spanish insurance companies wont insure non residents.
Hope this helps a bit, Steve
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2020 10:52pm
Legendary helpful member
This post that was quoted has been deleted.
Fair enough, I wasnt aware of that. 👍
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2020 3:59pm
Helpful member
I take mine in the winter for 3 months at a time but I believe I can keep it there for 182 days as stated earlier. My insurers in Ireland cover 45 days abroad and if I pay a little extra before that enda I get 45 more days. I was offered insurance from Abbeygate Insurance in Spain a couple of years ago with the car remaining on Irish plates. They did say the car would have to leave the country after 6 months. They were based somewhere down around Malaga but it was all online anyway. The cost they quoted me for a Hyundai Sante Fé was around €430 for the year.
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