UK Registered Cars

PeteKnight wrote:As usual, there's some misinformation in the posts above.

To drive a car that has UK plates in Spain it must be fully road-legal in the UK. This includes a UK MOT, Tax (the vehicle can't be SORN) and insurance. Many UK insurance companies limit European trips to 30 days duration and there's also a limit to how many European trips you can do in one year. I'm 99% certain that it's acceptable to take-out insurance with a Spanish insurance company, if you can find one that does 6 month policies on foreign registered vehicles.

To comply with Spanish law, the vehicle can spend a maximum of 6 months in the country before leaving the country AND WAITING AT LEAST 6 MONTHS BEFORE RETURNING.
The 6 month rule has nothing to do with the residency of the owner, or whether the vechicle is being used whilst in Spain. If it's on Spanish soil for more than 6 months then it's illegal unless you re-register it on Spanish plates.

As several people have said, it's all well and good ignoring the Spanish rules and taking the risk of having the car impounded/crushed if you get found-out, but you could find yourself in jail if you're involved in an accident. You just need a kamikaze cyclist to throw themselves under your car, or for British tourist to look the wrong way before stepping off the pavement in front of you and you'll find yourself in extremely hot water.

Pete.