Owning a uk car in Spain - Page 2

As a Spanish resident, you cannot drive a foreign-plated car in Spain if YOU own it.  So, yes, you would need to re-register it to Spanish plates.

In the first 5 years of Spanish residency, you must be in Spain a minimum of 183 days (6 months + 1 day) each year; otherwise, you void your residency.

Kind regards,

Kim

If you are Spanish resident then you cannot drive a UK regged car IN SPAIN!

A possible exception being if it's not your car and the owner is with you.

Nobody is talking about driving in UK!

There's an important distinction here which is not being made.  A Spanish resident cannot legally drive a foreign-plated car in Spain if they OWN it.  However, if a friend is visiting them with their own UK registered vehicle, for example, the Spanish resident would be allowed to drive it in Spain, because they do not own the vehicle.

In both instances, the Spanish resident must hold a Spanish driving licence - for UK and other Third Country Nationals, the switch to a Spanish driving licence must be made within 6 months of obtaining residency.  Spanish residents originating from another EU member state have up to 2 years to make the licence exchange.

Kind regards, 

Kim

I think the easiest way to think of it is that your own car has to be registered where you live. If you are a Spanish resident then it has to be registered in Spain. If you are a UK resident then it has to be registered in the UK.

The owner doesn't have to be with you when driving a UK registered car in Spain but it would be a good idea to have a letter from the owner giving permission. These forms are available from the N332 website and should include a photo copy of the owners TIE/passport.

It would make more sense for the O/P to gift the UK car to a relative and ensure that he is a named driver for his visits to the UK.

I think “resident” maybe a confusing term here. Best to think more of where the driving license was issued. I have a U.K. license so drive a Spanish car in Spain. But I would not legally be allowed to take my Spanish registered car back home to the U.K. ! However, anyone with a Spanish license would be allowed to drive my Spanish car back in the U.K.? Minefield! Simple solution would be take the test and have two driving licenses. I know folk with as many as four from around the world. It seems that taking a Spanish test is not too easy for a non Spanish speaker though...

Hi Severntma,

Once you become resident in Spain, you can't hold both UK and Spanish driving licences - when you exchange your UK licence for Spanish, you have to surrender your UK licence.  This has always been the case, even before Brexit - the only difference is that, when the UK was in the EU, we had up to 2 years to exchange licences, whereas now, UK citizens who become resident in Spain have to exchange their licence within 6 months.

Kind regards,

Kim

Hi Kim, I understand you must surrender one to change it for the other. But what I’m talking about is taking the test to obtain another! Why would you not be able to have as many licenses as you want as long as you obtained them legally by sitting a test? Must be a Spanish rule? I know several U.K. residents with many licenses! I think I see where the issue is here. Non-residents are not allowed to take a Spanish driving test! Is that right? 

As I understand it you cannot hold more than one EU driving licence.

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/driving-licence/driving-licence-exchange-recognition/index_en.htm

However, now that UK is no longer in the EU, I suppose that if you don't exchange your UK licence and take the Spanish test instead, then you'll end up with both. 

I sincerely hope that they sort out a licence exchange for new Spanish residents. Otherwise there are going to be a number of people still using their UK licenses in Spain.

Hi Severntma,

You have to be resident in Spain to exchange your driving licence from another country:

-   If you are an EU citizen and resident in Spain, you have up to 2 years to exchange your driving licence for a Spanish licence.

-   If you are a Third Country National (which includes UK citizens since Brexit) and are resident in Spain, you have up to 6 months to exchange your driving licence for a Spanish licence. 

-   If you are an EU citizen or a Third Country National and non-resident in Spain, you can drive here on the licence issued by your home country (subject to certain restrictions, such as, it must be valid in the issuing country, it can't be suspended, etc.)

So this begs the question, why would anyone who is not resident in Spain want (or need) a Spanish driving licence?

Kind regards,

Kim