Importing a TVR into Spain

[keirangrogan]

Me and the girlfriend are toying with the idea of buying a Bar in Spain.

This would then mean that the car would have to come along as well as it would be criminal to live in a country with so much good weather and jam free roads without it.

This then beggs the following questions,

what do I have to do, can I drive it on british plates, or will i have to import it,what about insurance etc

I know there are a couple of you out their who have done this, please help

[burriana500]

From what i can gather, you can run it on English plates but it needs to 'come home' either once a year or once every six months. If you don't want to do this it is a fairly simple process I believe to simply re-register the car in Spain and have Spanish plates.

I'm not jealous... much

>> Edited by burriana500 on Wednesday 14th January 18:11

[Lensey]

There are plenty of insurance componies down there so that shouldn't be a problem. I also think the car has to come home every six months. If I was you I would keep the car on UK plates and then you have an excuse to drive it back to the UK every six months

[tj500]

More info here: www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=13&h=&t=61581

tj

[FlipFlopGriff]

Presumably you are looking at mainland Spain. I have just returned from the Canaries and recall reading that you need to convert the plates within 6 months of arrival. I believe that you have to take a driving test more frequently too - think it is every 5 years up to 50 and 2 years beyond that. Don't know whether this was specific to the Canaries or applies to all Spanish colonies.
Have fun and let us know where it is so we can come a have a drink and a drool.
FFG

[phib]

Well just a bit of info for you, my outlaws have lived in spain for 3 years now and the following applies (rules have been changed in the last year):

Cars :
If you are going to be a resident then you need to change the car over to spanish plates after either 6 or 12 mths can't remember, if you don't they have every right to seize the car ( and you don't get it back).

vans / Commercial

You can't change a van or commercail vehicle from uk to spanish plates, we had to bring theirs back to sell it

The cost's for transfering the car from uk to spanish plates was about £1200 and took about 3 months but is very easy its mainly paperwork and an equivelant m.o.t.

Hope this helps
Phib