New Charges for Registering UK car

If no certificate then you can not register it in Spain

BritOverseas wrote:

Big Wheeler wrote:It may not be very helpful to you, but the cheapest way to re register your car is to do it yourself.
I did mine 16 years ago when the cost was only a few hundred euros before Spain dreamed up new ways to get money out of people.
The whole process involved 3 trips to Alicante but I found the personnel to be helpful.I do speak Spanish reasonably well.

It is not really too much to do with the 'Process' the agent only charges a few hundred Euro's, it is the taxes.

Before it was a hefty 3,000 in taxes/charges due to the CO2 group the car was in (which I was going to suck up grudgingly), but now they want an extra 7000 EURO+ in taxes for import duty!!

Somehow, that is 33%, I am just finding it hard to believe this is real?

True enough.I did mine long before pollution taxes and import duty were imposed.

Dont know where you get those pricesess but did mine just last month and for a vauxhall corsa on a 2017 plate cost me less that 1,500 and most of that was the headlights and rear fog plus wiring. No tax on co as was small and cert of conformity 50e at Torrieveja, just do it yourself saves loads of money.

solwayiceman wrote:Dont know where you get those pricesess but did mine just last month and for a vauxhall corsa on a 2017 plate cost me less that 1,500 and most of that was the headlights and rear fog plus wiring. No tax on co as was small and cert of conformity 50e at Torrieveja, just do it yourself saves loads of money.

I am quite willing to do it myself, but my car is not exactly standard and it didn't come from within the EU originally, although it was built in the UK..

Large engine, high CO2 group so I know that I will have to pay that, but are you saying you didn't have to pay any import duty at all? Did you start the application prior to 1st Jan, or after?

And when you say CoC from Torrevieja, do you mean you got one from there, or had to go there to submit it?

Any and all info is appreciated as you can imagine I really don't want to pay 11,850 (received the final quote, nearly 12 grand!!)

Go to the ITV station at Redovan they specialise in getting one offs through the ITVV and can do you a coc

jpeg wrote:Go to the ITV station at Redovan they specialise in getting one offs through the ITVV and can do you a coc

Hi jpeg, thanks for that, that is great information.

Somehow I don't think that will be the bulk of my problem though, the agent actually said the CoC was not a problem, so I am guessing he would do something similar..

And it is not a one off per se, they actually sell this car within Spain with slightly different trims, they are just not very common and due to the low volume manufacturing, from what I have read, under the skin they are nearly identical, all made in the same factory in UK on the same line.

My biggest beef is with the taxes, it just seems irrationally excessive to lump more than half of the supposed value of the vehicle on top to import it, there has to be some kind of relief?

Is this the same for all European country's, or is it just Spain I wonder? I am pretty sure the UK didn't charge this for imports from outside the EU (when it was still in it), I have friends that imported from the ME and Japan and they mentioned none of this kind of excessive charges....

I think you will find most countries do have taxes various amounts from countries outside of eu, we brought car from US into UK and had so much trouble with all the same things you mention regarding Spain.

Thanks go to Spanish Number Plates for this article
THIS ARTICLE WAS FIRST PRODUCED A FEW YEARS AGO FOR THE ANNUAL PUBLICATION BY THE COSTA BLANCA NEWS “COSTA LIFE”. IT WAS REPRODUCED IN THE SAME MAGAZINE IN EARLY 2020 TO INCLUDE THE POTENTIAL AFFECTS OF BREXIT
Most of us when moving to our new life in Spain like to do things right and have everything in order. We all face conflicting advice from our fellow ex-pats and on-line blogs. Most of our fellow countrymen are well meaning, others think that they have answers to everything because they have lived here a while. So, where do you go for advice? By far the best source is from specialists in their subject ideally by recommendation. Bar- room lawyers are to be avoided at all costs!
The status of foreign cars and other vehicles in Spain causes more confusion and misinformation than virtually any other subject that you will face. Brexit has added to the confusion and whilst some things are still not certain, in principle the rules for EU and non-EU cars and drivers are the same as today. Because the UK is leaving the EU however, changes will happen to us and these are highlighted where appropriate. Interestingly, non-EU members are referred to as “Third Countries”. Not “Third World”, but who knows!
Importing/ re-registering
In many cases, a car will have been owned before the driver brings it to Spain, in practice before the first Padron is applied for. If so, the vehicle can be accepted as a personal import under the regime known as “change of residence”. This applies now from wherever in the world a car is presently registered, so this should not be affected by Brexit
As a non-resident you can keep a foreign registered vehicle in Spain for up to 6 months before the law requires you to either re-register it or take it out of the country for 6 months. If you are a resident of Spain, you have one month only to register it
Registration (a.k.a. import) tax is levied on most vehicles coming into Spain; exemptions are provided but only apply to people moving to Spain permanently who can, amongst other requirements, prove that they have lived outside of Spain for the past 12 months. For Brits this is normally by a letter of employment or via information supplied by HMRC. For the Irish and other nationalities, a residency transfer document is available at their Consulates known as a Baja Consular. This service is no longer available at the British Consulate.
BREXIT UPDATE: Registration tax is levied irrespective of where in the world the vehicle came from. Countries in Europe but outside of the EU; Norway and Switzerland for example are also assessed for Customs Duties and Taxes which amount to 31% of the value of the vehicle. As there is presently no agreement regarding trade between the UK and EU, it is not possible to predict whether the above would apply to UK registered vehicles after the full divorce from the EU which at the moment is scheduled for 31/12/2020
If you buy a non-Spanish car after moving here, restrictions may apply, so check before you buy; this specifically applies to motor homes. Generally speaking, a vehicle with an EU type approval number such as this example e193/810022*03 can be accepted
BREXIT UPDATE: Even if the vehicle has an EU type approval number there is no guarantee that it will be accepted into Spain. As a minimum, a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) will be needed from the manufacturer. In certain cases, the vehicle may have to be inspected as if it were unique, a process known as “unitaria” which is expensive
Your car or motor home can be left hand drive or right-hand drive, it does not matter. Motorbikes, quads and caravans can also be re-registered- Yes, caravans and trailers need registering too. It does not matter which side the door is on. Note that right hand drive commercial vehicles cannot be re-registered.
BREXIT UPDATE: Ireland is remaining in the EU where vehicles are also driven on the left, so it is inconceivable that this would change for UK vehicles
For the majority of UK and Irish vehicles, the headlights will need changing. Plastic “beam benders” are only OK for holidaymakers
Smart cops
Police forces have been shown how to access the DVLA website via their smart phones to see if your car is taxed, insured and MOT’d. If it is not, it may well be impounded. Similarly, impounding may follow if your car is SORN as this means that it cannot be used on the roads anywhere in Europe, so keep your car road-legal. Check your vehicle via www.vehicleenquiry.service.co.uk
De-registration
When you re-register your vehicle in Spain, you are obliged to advise the licensing authority in the country in which it was previously registered (DVLA in the UK) that it has been permanently exported. Similarly, if you permanently take a Spanish registered vehicle out of Spain, you must advise Trafico; not doing so means that you will continue to accumulate road tax. Failure to pay the tax could mean embargoing other assets that you may have in Spain such as a property
Vehicle inspection
The Spanish equivalent of the MOT is ITV. The major difference here is that the ITV inspectors are government appointed and provide a totally impartial examination of your vehicle. It makes no difference to them if the car passes or fails as they do not undertake any kind of repair; you can therefore be satisfied of the true status of your vehicle
If you take a foreign plated car for inspection that is not undergoing the re-registration process, a “voluntary ITV inspection” can be undertaken. This inspection is what it says, “voluntary”. It has no legal standing in terms of making the car Spanish and is not a substitute for an MOT. You cannot legally obtain a UK MOT in Spain
What to keep in the car
The following must be kept in the car at all times: Registration document, ITV card (MOT certificate equivalent) and insurance documents. You must always carry your driving licence with you
Additionally, you must carry 2 warning triangles and a minimum of 2 hi-viz jackets, though you should carry enough of these so that every passenger in the car has one in case of need. Recommended, but not obligatory are a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher. My personal recommendation is a few litres of water in case you break down and are stranded in the heat of the day
Insurance
As elsewhere, insurance is obligatory. The main difference between UK and Spanish insurance is that here in Spain it is the car that is insured, not the driver. This means that so long as there are no restrictions on your policy, you can allow others to drive your car, but conversely you cannot drive another car on your insurance. Breakdown cover is almost universally included on Spanish policies. If you take the vehicle out of Spain, you would be given a 90-day Green Card as you should have been with a non-Spanish policy
Buying or selling a Spanish vehicle
One of the prime reasons that ex-pats bring their cars with them from “home” or go back to buy their next car is because of the very high cost of cars in Spain compared to many other EU countries, especially the UK. However, if you do decide to buy a Spanish car (or sell one) privately, the cost of transfer of ownership is not free as transfer of ownership tax and fees are due. At dealers IVA (VAT) will be included in the selling price instead of the transfer tax
If you are buying from a dealer, get an original bill of sale and ask the dealer for a “Permiso de Circulacion Provisional” which is provided by Trafico, often via a gestor (law administrator) preferably before you pick up the car. This is a legal document that shows that the vehicle is being transferred into your name and allows you to use the vehicle.
If buying privately, I would recommend going to a gestor specialising in this type of work or contacting a specialist (such as myself) to handle the 10 pieces of paper required!
If you are selling privately, under no circumstances rely on the buyer to transfer ownership. There are reasons why it is not in his interest to do so, therefore it may never happen and you will remain liable for all fines, taxes, debts etc. being imposed upon the vehicle. Just because the buyer is a friend, neighbour or relative, do not rely upon them undertaking this task but go to a gestoria or a specialist

Britoverseas,

I had to take the car to Torrevieja and the guy there made up the certi of conformation out of a list of cars he has on the computer and your vin number.

No I started the application mid Jan 2021.

The tax office in Oriehela worked out the tax I would have to pay and because the co2 was so low I had nothing to pay.


I had had quotes of 3,000 plus so all in all I saved 1,500 by doing it my self. Just takes time and a bit of running around.

Good luck.

solwayiceman wrote:Britoverseas,

I had to take the car to Torrevieja and the guy there made up the certi of conformation out of a list of cars he has on the computer and your vin number.

No I started the application mid Jan 2021.

The tax office in Oriehela worked out the tax I would have to pay and because the co2 was so low I had nothing to pay.


I had had quotes of 3,000 plus so all in all I saved 1,500 by doing it my self. Just takes time and a bit of running around.

Good luck.

Many thanks for the info, if you don't mind, just a couple more questions..

I am told the tax is worked out on the value of the car, not the CO2 (that is separate), are you saying they just took it on the CO2 and you paid no import duty?

Could you tell me 'which' office in Orihuela? Do they speak English (I can get by in Spanish, but I am nowhere near fluent)