Registering a UK car in Spain??

My friend brought one of his cars over to Spain a few months ago and has now decided to have it registered in Spain.  He has found a company who do this but what other documentation/padron etc does he need to have to hand when we come over in April to get the transfer done?  Thanks.  Arlene

I registered my car in spain via a company that specializes in this,

 The first document you need is a padron which you get from the town hall to get a Padron you must be resident in Spain for more than 6 months of the year.

Once you have the Padron you can take your car with all the english docs MOT, Log book etc to and ITV centre where they will test the car (need to have lights pointing other way and fog lights on other side unless you have 2) the ITV costs about 450 as it also generates the spanish equivelent log book. Then you have to pay import tax based on value of the vehicle but this also is linked to the Padron some say iof you register within a minth of the Padro  you dont pay tax some say you will i had to pay but had a padron for 2 months.

The Mayor of Alham is clamping down on Padrons and they no longer issue them to anyone just on the say so i dont know what checks they make but just to let you know that they are aware many people say they are here for 6 months when thay are not

The issue of the Padron for those who dont know is essential as this is where the Tax for the car comes from no padron no tax no tax no insurance.

Good Luck

Hi. I have read your post reference registering car in Spain.You have said that you require a padron.To get the padron you have to be a resident in Spain for 6 months or more. If i have a car and take it over to Spain. Do i have to register the car even though i am a non resident? Your assistance would be much appreciated.

John.

I believe officially you can bring a UK reg car thats properly Taxed and MOT'd in to Spain or any where in Europe for up to six months a year. this could be 3 months now and 3 later or 6 in one go but my understanding is 6 months in any 12 month period.  So if you drive to Condoad for 2 weeks Easter and 4 weeks summer it would not be a problem as long as your UK insurance covers you abroad also if you drive out Easter then leave car here fly back then Fly out in Summer and drive back no problem as long as car is not in Spain more than 6 months

If using a specialist company be guided by them ,I have used P-Pservices   http://www.p-pservices.com/contact-us.html  twice now and I have recomended them to others who find them very helpful.

Problem is each authority has a different way of doing things. Cartagena may be different from Murcia . Some text books say you need a residencia but in practice it is a padron. The issue would be insurance as well . Probably you will need an Insurance from a company like Liberty Seguros based in Gibraltar, see Knights in Camposol. You can insurance a British reg car with them. This may help . You also have to condiser import tax  which can be hefty, depends on vehicle. It is usual to register car when you are going to live here. Illegal if you don't. You can then bring vehicle in as personal goods to avoid import tax. Date of padron crucial to this and you need to go to consulate in Alicante.  . In other words it is not straight forward and getting expert advice is essental. also use someone with experience as there are pitfalls.

David Searl ( Arlene- he a friend of Catherine) You and the Law in Spain " You can keep a foreign registerred car in Spain permanently, but you will have to garage it for 6 months of each year. You can only drive it on Spanish roads for 6 months"

http://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Law-Spain-Foreigners-Horizontal/dp/8489954224

David

That's really good info David, many thanks.  I wonder how he can prove that it's garaged for 6 months per year though?  He visits Spain  3 times a year totalling approx 5-6 weeks and that's all the car is used for.  Anyway, it's another point to bear in mind and one we didn't know about.  Thanks again.

Thank you everyone for your advice on the registration of a car in Spain. Much appreciated.

John.