Buying & Leaving Car

Hi There

We are looking at buying a car here and leaving it for use each time we visit. With the price of car hire going up all the time we reckon it will be more economical in the long term as we are over pretty often.We are wondering if anyone does a service such as picking you up in your own car from airport and dropping you back off again in your own car.Maybe even giving it a start/check over when you are away.Any info much appreciated.

Hi Alex and Lesley,

This is exactly what we have already done and it is working brilliantly for us.

Eddie in Jardine 1 collects us in our car from the airport and brings us back, he checks the car regularly and even parks the car beside his own to keep an eye on it. Great service and very reasonable

John

Hi  Alex and Lesley

Like John and Miriam i also use Ed from jardine 1. You can contact him on 0034652436925 or email him at evelyngallacher@yahoo.co.uk

Pretty sure he will be able to point you in the right direction and keep you right.

Although this sounds a very good idea and deal we have been considering leaving the vehicle we buy at Alicante airport. We have been told its possible to do that for about 300 euro's per year with 10 pick up and drop offs in that price, further pickups/drops would be an additional charge. The car is parked at a car park just off the main airport site and a driver will bring it to you and collect it from you. I havent got the website to hand but I'm sure if you googled 'long stay parking' you'd get some appropriate responses. Obviously this restricts you to using a particular airport all of the time

Our concerns with other methods only lie in the insurance requirements and parking by the residents/drivers apartment will only work if places dont belong to anyone. I know there are tons of spaces available at thye moment but no-one wants to arrive and find a car in their speck.

Car hire has jumped a lot in price and taxi fares are generally extortiante- especially iof you travel over frequently or members of the same family travel over frequently. We have seen that a lot of keyholders are offering drop off and collection at airports but if they are not registered as taxi drivers they have no insurance to do this they wont be paying taxes on their income and the whole process is illegal- as it is for anyone who accepts a fee for a service but isnt registered through the right channels. We are aware that the taxi drivers at San Javier and Alicante are very aware of this and are now prepared to report individuals to the Police or to pass on registration numbers they have concerns about- afterall its their business that's being taken away from them. The taxi driver I had in November was very angry about this- along the lines that  we ( property purchasers) come into Spain buy up the land and build properties locals cant afford and then set up all kinds of ventures generally illegally and take income out of the local economy, and I'm sure he's not alone- I was glad when he dropped me off! . I know people try to turn their hand at different ventures in order to make an income but I think with transport you have to be sure you're safe. Its this combination that has made us look at purchasing our own vehicle/vehicles as you have to think of the long term issues.

We can vouch for Lyn and Eddie, very trustworthy and always on hand to help out. We're thinking about the buying a car option too.  Anyone know where is the best place to buy and what it involves?

Hi folks, I have to admit we are also talking about the option of buying a car and leaving it over there. The hire car costs last summer did make me cringe a bit and this con the hire companies are doing with charging you 90 Euros for a tank of fuel is a blatant rip-off.

I understand what Thequietman is saying about the locals and local authorities clamping down on dodgy 'airport collection services' and I even agree with what his taxi driver was moaning to him about, however, if I legally own a car and decide to leave it legally parked in my slot next to my apartment on CdA and a 'friend' of mine legally drives my car to meet me at the airport on arrival (when I will obviously give him a lift back to the resort), is that breaking the law?

I guess the absolutely crucial point here is "financial reward for services"?

I am a professional electrician so I fully appreciate governing bodies, VAT & income tax implications, unregistered foreign cowboys trying to muscle in on my livelyhood, etc............but I also know it does not cost a legitimate taxi owner 90 Euros each way to drive from CdA to Alicante airport or back............but that's what some are charging us.

WW  

We are thinking of driving our own car over and leaving it at Condado.  Can anyone tell us about the insurance/taxes etc. you have to pay in Spain to do that? Thanks