Talk Quesada forum

There appear to be so many UK plated cars around and many aren't holidaymakers. What do they do about insurance and MOTs as many are quite old?

Most of them don't!!!!

Is there a max amount of time if I was to bring my car over before Spanish plates would be required ....insured and mot ...we are coming over beginning of October for 6 months initially...see if we like it ...

I understand it to be 6 Months . .although how they would know it is debateable as you aren't "logged" in and out by API like airlines . . .
More important is your Insurance/MOT as most UK insurance limits you to 3 Months continuous abroad and obviously you have to be in UK to renew an MOT, I don't know what regulations are if you try to get the Spanish equivalent of an MOT on a foreign registered car.

Quesadasteve wrote:Is there a max amount of time if I was to bring my car over before Spanish plates would be required ....insured and mot ...we are coming over beginning of October for 6 months initially...see if we like it ...

As you are only intending to stay for 6 months, you can bring your car over without registering on Spanish plates providing you and the car leaves before the 6 months is up (183 days, I believe). If you intend to stay longer than 6 months, you should start the re-registration process within 30 days of arrival but, unlike UK, you can continue to drive the car whilst this process is going through.
During that time it must be legal in UK with road tax, MOT and insurance. Be aware that most insurance companies will only give you a maximum of 3 months and will reduce the cover to 3rd party. Companies like Saga allow longer so check on that before you leave.
If your MOT runs out before you return, you cannot renew it in Spain so, again, make sure it will last until you leave. If the road tax runs out you can renew it online providing the MOT and insurance are up to date.
A lot of the Brit registered cars we see around are driving illegally. Probably no valid MOT (a Spanish ITV is not valid) nor taxed especially as you don't show a sticker anymore. A lot of people just think they won't get caught and chance it. If they get in an accident they may find their insurance is invalid (if they have any). I've even heard some of them boasting about it to their mates up the pub.
There have been a couple of cases where cars have been impounded and crushed. Keep your ferry ticket to prove the date you arrived in Spain in case you get stopped.

Its all very good driving without insurance hope they have the spare funds to cover the cost of repairs to a car or property in the event of a accident that was their fault or even worse causing the death of a person I for one can only drive legal which means I can sleep at night
all non compliant cars should be scrapped before something serious happens to someone or something but i do not think they will
they can check how long a car is in spain as unless you can fit it in your suitcase to bring in or out the only way will involve a ferry and roads which all will have a record of when and where you entered france/spain and will show if you ever went back for a mot etc
However its up to the people concerened if they want to risk it by driving without a mot or insurance

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.

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



Pete.

Sorry, where is the misinformation in the posts above?

We have our car over, has not been near 6 months yet. All legal and MOTd. We actually have the ferry ticket and documents in the car with us at all times. Cannot for the life of me remember who told us to keep the ferry ticket in the car but it seems to be a good idea. Although we are now looking into purchasing a Spanish car and getting rid of the Landy.