“They don’t pay the fines for parking too long in restricted parking zones, or fines for speeding,” said the Chief, “they pay no road tax and their vehicles are often uninsured and not ITV tested. This is wrong and it must be stopped.” According to a press release issued to RTN, foreign residents who drive their cars on the roads of Spain, enjoy immunity to prosecution as a result of their vehicle’s number plate. It said: “Authorities often fail to take action because of the difficulties in verifying their address in order to notify them of such penalties.”
The State Tax Agency (AEAT) has, in conjunction with the police authorities, decided to put an end to this situation and so have begun the campaign to tighten the net on foreigners who live permanently or part-time in Spain but have not registered their vehicles here or paid the relevant taxes on them.
OBLIGATION
The initiative, which started in November in Malaga, is the result of an EU directive which establishes that people are obliged to comply with the tax obligations of the country in which their vehicle is being used. Basically, the vehicle is making use of the country’s infrastructure and as a result it produces environmental contamination, so therefore tax must be paid to that country.
Since November, the Guardia Civil has identified about two hundred drivers in the Malaga province whose cars bear foreign plates and who officers have been able to prove are living there permanently. More than half are British, followed by Germans and French. The two hundred foreigners that have been caught have been ordered by the Guardia Civil to put their vehicles in order within five days.
FINES
At the same time, the Hacienda tax authority has begun proceedings against the offending drivers. If they comply and make their vehicles legal within a given period, the case is filed and no further action is taken, but if they don't, the police can seize the car and hand it over to the tax authorities. And the owners of the vehicles will also then be reported for driving without having obtained the relevant authorisation which can result in a fine of €450.
If the offender fails to register the car with the tax man, pay the registration fee, put it on Spanish plates and through the ITV test as well as pay the fine, they could face further fines of between three and four thousand Euros.