UK & other non spanish plated cars

by david
(Calahonda)

Hi I have lived and worked here on the costa del sol for 12 years. My car broke down and a my neighbor offered to lend me his car as he was going back to the UK for a few months, his car was insured for any driver over 30 ( which I am ) Taxed and Tested, and fully legal, however it was on French number plates, due to the fact he owns property ion France as well as Spain. I was stopped at a police check point in Calahonda, asked to provide I.D and documents for the car which I did. I was then asked how long the car had been here in Spain, approx 3 months i replied to which the police then informed me that any car over 1 month is not legal!. There has been a new law passed that any car not on Spanish plates can only be here for 1 month. It is your responibilty to prove this to the police. The police then came to my house the next day to remove all documents and place a sticker on the car to say it has an embargo. I must now wait for the Customs Office to writ to me with the fine and the cost of putting the car onto Spanish number plates.

Also as the car was insured by a local Broker here in Spain the police felt this was the proof that the car was not here less than 1 month!
Please be careful if you have a non spanish plated car.

Comments for UK & other non spanish plated cars

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Sep 25, 2018
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I was about time!!!...
by: manjust

I am Scottish,and I am Glad that finally spanish authorities are cracking down on british abusive drivers,accustomed to break all the spanish laws just because they think they can do whatever they want since they come to spain to spend pity money.Big applause for spanish authorities...Viva Guardia Civil!!

Jul 02, 2018
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Question
by: Ozzy

What if I am resident and driving my dad's car which is not resident and not living in Spain?

Feb 28, 2014
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cars
by: Anonymous

I was thinking of buying a car from a friend who owns a property in France and also one in Spain,the car in question is on French plates,he spends six months in Spain and six months in France.Having read the various experiences of others a bicycles would seem to be the only safe option,or is there a pitfalls with those as well

Oct 14, 2012
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Spanish MOT for car with UK plates?
by: Hennie

Is it possible to get a Spanish MOT for a car with UK plates? We will be changing the car to Spanish plates as soon as we get our NIE numbers.

Oct 09, 2012
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Importing a vehicle to Spain
by: AngloINFO

This is nothing new, residents (not tourists) cannot own and drive a foreign plated vehicle. "It is illegal for residents of Spain to drive a car with foreign plates, so once a car is imported to Spain, it must be registered with the Spanish authorities"

http://costadelsol.angloinfo.com/information/transport/vehicle-ownership/importing-a-vehicle

Apr 18, 2012
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UK vehicle insurance
by: David Bloomfield

We insure UK plated cars and also can switch the insurance to Spanish plates once the vehicle has been transferred. This service is offered with no fee. Feel free to contact us on 952 830 252 or email info@bloomfieldsure.es

Apr 01, 2012
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non spanish plates
by: Anonymous

30 days applys to people that are clearly living here in Spain. The police will determine this for example by looking at whether you live in Spain for more than 183 days a year, you have children in school here, you have a business here, you are on the padron etc. If you are just a visitor in Spain you are entitled to drive your car for up to 6 months as long as it is fully road legal in the country that it is registered. For example if you have a UK registered car you must have valid road tax and a MOT certificate. This is something police have previously not paid much attention to but they are now really clamping down on this so seriously it is time to make sure that your car is legal here in Spain.

Mar 31, 2012
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Spanish plates
by: Anonymous

So if you are down there renting for the winter? what happens?
The insurance company from Uk says you can stay 90 days? in any european country and up to six months in a year.
I have a home in mijas costa and was thinking of going for the summer? do i really need to change my number plates?

Mar 31, 2012
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uk plated cars
by: costa coffee club

I was at a meeting organised by the british consulate in Malaga last week and we had a talk by the guardia Civil who informed us that after 30 days you must now start the process of getting spanish plates.

Mar 30, 2012
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Driving Legally in Spain
by: Anonymous

For any up to date and reliable help or advice from a experienced person to ensure you are driving your car legally here in Spain which ever country your car is from, I can highly recommend contacting Chris from Drive Legal - Lifestyle Group.
The link to the website is

http://www.smdlifestyle.com/drivelegal/

Anything motor related is covered including registering foreign plated cars here in Spain.

Either fill in a contact form on the website or you can call Chris on either of the following numbers
678 971 809 or 600691701.

Mar 28, 2012
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spanish plates
by: Anonymous

just returned from spain the province of malaga says all vechicls not on spanish plates must within 1 month of arriving register there vechicls with triffico and put them on tempory plates at a cost a bit of a clamp down on uk vechicle because a lott of cars over there no docs tax and insurance so looks like the 6 months grace u had is gone

Jan 08, 2011
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German plated cars in Marbella
by: Anonymous

it happend to german friend of mine with there german plated car they had been watched by the traffico followed him home y told him he had 1 month to put it on spanish plates but they new it had been here for more than 6 months...so legally you still have 6 months but you need to keep any proof of entry ie ferry ticket o even peaje reciept..

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