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Advice please re keeping a car on british plates in Spain

Advice please re keeping a car on british plates in Spain

Postby Sunny B » Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:08 pm


Hi everyone We're thinking of bringing over a British car to leave at the airport for use during our holidays and wondered if there is there a time restraint before we have to register it on Spanish plates?

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Re: Advice please re keeping a car on british plates in Spai

Postby marcliff » Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:31 pm

The car can stay as long as it likes provided it is taxed, insured and MOTd in UK. It's you that counts and you can't use the car for more than 6 months in any one year period (not a calendar year and does not have to be consecutive). No-one else can drive it outside that 6 month period either.
You'd have to take it back to UK for an MOT when due (you can do the tax online) and a Spanish ITV is not valid for the car.
We've had this subject before and very few insurance companies allow you to take the car overseas for more than 90 days. Even then they will reduce your cover to 3rd party only unless you pay extra.
AFAIK only Saga will cover for the entire year. Others say up to 6 months providing no one trip exceeds 90 days so check the fine print.
You would also need to take out European breakdown cover as it is a stipulation here you must have it (Spanish insurance companies include it in their policies).
As a non-resident, you can change to Spanish plates any time but you may have to pay duties on it (and it will cost around 800 to 1000 euro to do it depending on whether you need to change the headlights etc).
As a resident, the process must be started within 30 days of arriving to avoid duties (but not the 800 to 1000 euro).
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Re: Advice please re keeping a car on british plates in Spai

Postby freddo » Tue Mar 15, 2016 10:20 am

Quote You would also need to take out European breakdown cover as it is a stipulation here you must have it (Spanish insurance companies include it in their policies).

It is not a legal requirement and is an option on a lot of policies (I am an agent )
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Re: Advice please re keeping a car on british plates in Spai

Postby marcliff » Tue Mar 15, 2016 10:41 am

Thanks for that freddo. Our insurers told us it was mandatory (as in you must have it) but I assume that was just to bump up the premium?
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Re: Advice please re keeping a car on british plates in Spai

Postby valenciasman » Tue Mar 15, 2016 10:47 am

Its not to bump up premiums, you have no choice, its part of the insurance
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Re: Advice please re keeping a car on british plates in Spai

Postby freddo » Tue Mar 15, 2016 12:15 pm

Yes it is part of the policy if that's the way the insurance company want it to be but there are insurance companies that do not insist on it as I said it is not a legal requirement I always offered it as an option
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Re: Advice please re keeping a car on british plates in Spai

Postby Sylwina » Tue Mar 15, 2016 12:38 pm

I have just today renewed my insurance with SAGA. I am again driving over for 3 months in the summer. I know from experience that SAGA is pretty much it for these longer trips. The other insurance companies have limits on the maximum duration of your trip. SAGA comprehensive insurance covers you for an indefinate period abroad at the same level of cover as in the UK except for the replacement car. But you are bound by the six month/UK MOT rule as already mentioned above. European Breakdown is optional but I take it anyway as under SAGA Premier breakdown cover, indefinite European cover is included. For £129 I have annual roadside, national recovery, home start, European cover, the lot. I know I could get breakdown cover for a lot less if not driving in Europe, but for the peace of mind of knowing help is at hand and the costs of repatriation is covered, for me it is a price worth paying. I did a comparison on European breakdown cover and only 4 companies came up and all were a lot more starting from £220 up to over £300! My insurance policy was reasonably competitive but a quote will depend on your circumstances. And of course you have to be of a certain age for SAGA policies :-). Another thing to bear in mind is that if you leave your car in Spain and return to the UK it may not be covered. I was told this unequivocally last year at renewal, but the less experienced agent today just said if you intend to leave it you will need to phone SAGA to see if the underwriters will agree to cover it. If you have a British car to spare it might be better to bite the bullet and put it on Spanish plates, but then you have the cost of registration, another lot of car insurance plus having to come back to have the Spanish MOT equivalent. I guess it really depends on how often you come over and how the costs balance out over hiring at the airport.
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