What would you do ?

English or Spanish car ? im  thinking of buying a UK car for about £1500 and driving  down to Spain i will stay for about 6 months, im only spending that much as im being told the UK insurance with only cover it as 3rd party when in Spain, Plus i can fill the car up and  take a lot of things with me  ( saving me a few quid on spanish prices )  i would like to buy a Spanish car but because i can only stay for 6 months this could be cost pricey, car price is dearer, 12 months insurance then i would have to sell the car after 6 months, What would you do ?

An English car, without a doubt. I would check that it had adequate inusrance and obviously a long MOT. I would also try and book my return ferry as soon as I could after arriving (or before I left) and carry the paperwork with me in the car, just in case I'm stopped.Obviously, If after 6 months I then decide to relocate, I would buy a Spanish car.

We drive down twice a year for a couple of months at a time and have never had a problem, never even been stopped.Not quite the same as you I realise, but surely you can't be expected to change your car for a Spanish one and then back again for such a short period. I expect someone will say that could and should but that is what I would do. It will be interesting to hear what others would do!

Yes. a bit silly to buy a Spanish car for 6 months. Just make sure the insurance will cover you. Our insurance company in UK would only cover for a maximum of 3 months and quoted something about "residency" rules after that which could have been a load of guff.

We also took out breakdown cover with Green Flag which was cheaper than AA or RAC.

Sounds like good advice for Bob and xetog,

We met folk in Murcia who had purchased a Mercedes van for your sort of money and transported themselves, goods and 2 dogs. Used the van for 6-months and got 500 Euros from a local garage. Cheap transport for 6-months.

Rossetti

Why dont you buy a Spanish car in the UK because they tend to be cheaper there and there are lots of dealers and cars on ebay

Make sure that there are no embargos on the vehicle, drive it over and use it and then sell it in Spain after 6 months

Remember the most recent changes to the laws in Spain regarding UK vehicles and although you can stay for 6 months you could leave the car in Spain at one of the airport parking companys

Cars here do hold their values so may even make some money when you sell it, if you buy right

Why dont you buy a Spanish car in the UK because they tend to be cheaper there and there are lots of dealers and cars on ebay

Make sure that there are no embargos on the vehicle, drive it over and use it and then sell it in Spain after 6 months

Remember the most recent changes to the laws in Spain regarding UK vehicles and although you can stay for 6 months you could leave the car in Spain at one of the airport parking companys

Cars here do hold their values so may even make some money when you sell it, if you buy right

That would seem like an excellent idea, inspectahomespain but it can be fraught with difficulties. Dealer/sellers in the Uk are often unaware of the requirements needed to change ownership of a Spanish reg.car, like a copy of previous owners passport, nie etc.things that we wouldn't even think about when buying a car in the UK. If you do decide to go down that route cumbria, do take some advice  and check that you have everything needed to register the car in your name. A Gestor would probably be the way to go, and, I am told, not too expensive.

I reckon that InspectahomeinSpain's idea is good.  There are a fews second hand drive car dealers who specialise in left hand drive cars and can both advise and undertake can the registration of the vehicle in Spain - and avoid some nasty surprises.

I've dealt with "LHD Place" near Basingstoke who were totally straight with me and advised against a purchase of a vehicle we were pondering as it was a different spec to the Spanish version and would cause problems reistering it.  The guy I dealt with was Martin Street - martin@lhdplace.co.uk.  They've got website, but I believe there are 2 or 3 other specialists in the UK - just google it.

But as InspectahomeinSpain says if you choose well you could profit from the deal as second hand car are generally a lot more expensive than in UK.