Resident driving UK car temporarily

We are residents here with Spanish driving licences, but still have a car in the UK for when we visit. We are wondering about driving it back here just temporarily as an alternative to flying one time. Then we'll drive it back the next time we visit family in the UK and leave it there again. We wouldn't even need to drive it once we're back in Spain because we have our Spanish plated car here so could leave it parked on our driveway throughout if necessary.

So my question is, can I do this? I assume yes, but for how long? Obviously we would need to check the insurance and get a UK sticker! Anything else to think about?

You obviously need to drive through Spain from the ferry port or from the Spanish border with France. As far as I’m aware, the only thing you need to think about is not being allowed to drive a foreign plated car in Spain if you are residents in Spain!

Not sure if there are any exceptions but you’ll need to make absolutely sure of the legality (or illegality) of doing this!

Paul is correct, as a Spanish resident you are not permitted to drive a foreign registered car in Spain.

More critically though if you are non UK resident then you are not entitled to hold UK insurance for it.

The fact that you might have lied (either directly or by omission) to an insurance company to obtain that instantly renders it null and void.

If you doubt me on that then phone the insurer and tell them that you are not UK resident, be prepared to have the policy voided there and then though!

That's the end of that idea then!! I assume there is an exception for people in the process of getting their vehicle re-registered over here, but otherwise not.

P.S. Darro we have legitimate insurance to drive it in the UK (without lying). These people do it: https://www.keithmichaels.co.uk/expat-car-insurance/

Yes, there is an exception if you are bringing in a car but you must apply to register it within 30 days of arrival. You can also drive a UK reg car if it owned by a non resident and the owner is in the car with you.

As none of those will apply to you then you will not be able to drive on foreign plates as a resident.

Thank you. So on a related topic, could we drive our UK car in EU countries other than Spain? And can we take our Spanish car to the UK for a holiday and drive that back as an alternative to flying?

Yes, you can of course take your car to UK. Your insurance should have a green card which covers you for UK. You need to contact your insurance company as some reduce the cover to third party only (mine doesn't but it won't provide a courtesy car in UK if I need one) and some have a time limit.

Never having driven a UK car in another EU country with a Spanish licence I wouldn't know.

OK thank you. Paul M implied I could drive through France as long as I didn't cross the Spanish border so maybe we could go elsewhere too. Maybe he or someone else knows.

Sorry Paul, I only used that as an example of the options you have to get your car to Spain, ferry or drive thru France.

I’ve no idea if you could drive a UK registered car anywhere in rest of Europe with a Spanish licence. I was only thinking about the fact you can’t drive it in Spain.

Good luck whatever you end up doing.

OK thanks