Cars In Spain
Importation and registration
UK nationals who are not residents may bring their car into Spain, but neither they nor anyone else can use it in Spain for more than six months in any one year. If you are resident in Spain and want to import a vehicle, you must register it with the Local Authorities in the Spanish Province* where you live. They will grant you permission to drive your foreign plated car through the Spanish territory.
The motoring associations in Britain and the Real Automovil Club de España* can provide guidance, but the authoritative source of information is the Directorate-General of Customs in Madrid (Dirección General deAduanas, C/ Guzmán el Bueno 137, 28003 Madrid. Tel: (+34) 91 582 6805.
EU citizens moving to Spain to take up official residence may bring their own car with them, exempt from import duties. If you are from outside the EU, you may get the exemption from Spain's 10 per cent import duties, under the following conditions:
• You must have owned your car for at least 6 months prior to the import into Spain
• You must have paid VAT in your country of origin (otherwise this tax must be paid in Spain)
A registration tax impuesto municipal sobre circulación de vehículos must be paid in Spain. This tax is calculated on the vehicle's current value (based on the original market price in Spain). An imported car that EU residents have owned for 6 months or more is not subject to this tax. You must obtain a residency transfer certificate (alta/baja consular) from a British Consulate*.
Once the importation procedure is completed, you will be issued a temporary registration plate, which enables you to drive your imported car in Spain. Any concession on the duty-free import of cars applies only to people who take out an official residence permit in Spain.
These are only general guidelines, other questions applicable to your individual case should be directed to the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico* or a Lawyer*.
Motor insurance regulations
Spanish insurance regulations differ from those in the UK. It is important to check carefully what cover your policy provides. ASEGURACE may provide guidance (Tel: 902 120 441).
Driving licences
Driving licences issued from 1990, and the photocard licence issued from 1997 are accepted in Spain. However, the minimum age required to drive is 18 years.
Licences issued before 1990 are only accepted if accompanied by an official translation into Spanish (available from the Spanish Embassy in London and the Real Automóvil Club de España* if the licence holder is already in Spain). Holders of these may prefer to use an International Licence issued anywhere outside Spain.
The licence holder may retain their British licence (if issued after 1990) or exchange it for a Spanish one, subject to the same medical examinations as Spanish nationals.
It is advisable to exchange UK licences for Spanish ones, which are also valid for visits to the UK. The DVLA* will not put a non-British address on a replacement licence, or send one out of the country. Therefore, if a British licence is only registered with Spanish authorities and is lost or stolen, a replacement cannot be obtained from the UK, and Spanish authorities will not be able to replace one they did not issue. For more information, please contact the Jefatura Provincial de Trafico* in your area.
Driving licence renewals
Licences are valid for ten years if the licence holder is under 45, 5 years from 45 to 70 years and two years thereafter. To renew a licence the applicant needs a medical certificate issued by an officially recognised centre.
Registering on Spanish plates
The procedures relating to registration are complex. The motoring associations in Britain and the Real Automóvil Club de España can provide guidance, but the authoritative source of information is the Directorate-General of Customs in Madrid (Dirección General de Aduanas, C/ Guzmán el Bueno 137, 28003 Madrid Tel: (+34) 91 553 02 00/ Fax: (+34) 91 553 52 42).
* Links
Spanish Local Authorities - http://www.dgt.es/portal/es/oficina_virtual/dir_telefonos/jefaturas/
Real Automovil Club de España - http://www.race.es
British Consulate - http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/our-offices-in-spain/consular-offices/
Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico - http://www.dgt.es/portal/es/oficina_virtual/dir_telefonos/jefaturas/
Lawyer in Spain - http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/when-things-go-wrong/if-you-need-lawyer/
DVLA - http://www.dvla.gov.uk/
Source www.ukinspain.com © Crown copyright 2009