Importing a British UK plated Car into Spain

[pensure1988]

Hi

Please can somebody assist and advise me. If one is a Non-Resident ,what are the restrictions in bringing in a 2003/2004 Mercedes Benz SL Convertible into Spain and obtaining Spanish Plates for it. Does anyone know how much the whole process will cost. Will there be any import tax to pay as a Non-resident.Can a Non-Resident legally keep the British Plates on and get an ITV Certificate for it when necessary ,to save having to go back to UK and getting a MOT done on a regular Basis.

Thank You

[El Cid]

Non residents are allowed to buy cars in Spain so long as they have property in Spain although the rules are pretty vague and can be interpreted different ways in different places.

On that basis it should be possible to register your car in Spain. You will have to pay the registration tax but that is based on the current value of the car which in your case will 10% of its original cost. The tax rate depends on the CO2 emissions and the top rate is 14.75%.

In addition there are costs involved in making changes to the car to conform to Spanish rules such as possibly changing headlights etc. On top of that will be the cost of a special ITV and of course gestors cost for handling it all.

A non resident can keep the car in Spain indefinitely on UK plates so long as it is not used for more than 6 months in a year and has a valid UK tax and MOT and of course insurance. A Spanish ITV is not acceptable so you would have no option but to take it back to the UK for an MOT.

Re-registering it would cost less than the cost of continual trips back to the UK.

Sid

[Enrique]

Hi pensure1988,
1)"Can a Non-Resident legally keep the British Plates on and get an ITV Certificate"...No, vehicle has to be legal in country of registration.

Best to get a Gestor who specialises in Vehicles to get a quote.

On the car side if you go to Spanish plates the Headlights will need to conform and the rear light clusters too, I guess that a Mercedes rear light clusters will conform,ie Fog and reversing lights on both sides.

[Devils Advocate]

Good concise reply Sid...........maybe the bones of that should be in the FAQs.

I've re-matriculated 2 separate UK vehicles in Spain now and I'm in the same position as the OP, ie non resident and living mainly in the UK.

Just a couple of points. I also had a debate of the Maticulate v go home for MOT decision. I decided on the re-matriculate route for a number of reasons.....the main 2 being cost and the vehicle "blending in" a bit better on Spanish plates.

The rematriculation probably cost less than the cost of a trip back for an MOT anyway............the other bonus was Spanish ITVs for me were bi-yearly as the car was only 3 years old.

Having said that and in hindsight, I'd now bring a nicer but older car over as the OP is thinking about.......I got clobbered on the tax with mine but that nice SL should get off lightly in the scale of things.

Other big (ish) expense was headlights............I'd a nightmare sourcing 2 LHD units on the cheap and ended up paying full up for them.................with a bit of luck the Merc may have switchable beams which would save a bomb.

Only other big cost at the time was storage when in the UK. We are OK now we are known over there and the local Spanish garage it for us..............but back then I paid 1000e a year to leave it at the airport.

If you've a garage at your property it's not an issue.....leave it out in the sun for long periods and it peels itself

All the best with it.

[pensure1988]

Sorry Enrique,I am enquiring for a friend of mine who is not computer literate.

She wants to buy a Car in UK and bring over to Spain. Although she has a House in Spain which she visits 4 times a year for 2 Months a a time,her main place of residence is the UK. She wants to do the legal thing but is not too sure what to do about the situation. The new car will remain in Spain as she has another vehicle in UK.

Thank You everyone for your replies

[Enrique]

Hi pensure1988,

I did remove part of my previous post..............

Best to get Mercedes onto Spanish plates and tell DVLA that it has been Exported.

https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out- ... hs-or-more

Like DA I've matriculated a UK Spec car to Spanish plates.............extra expense.. .Headlights and rear light clusters............Love Renault..........

Use a Gestor for a quote as he will have latest prices and tax bands.

[peteroldracer]

she visits 4 times a year for 2 Months at a time

That makes 8 months, and she may only use the car for a total of six - another reason the replate it. It will also mean she will avoid being glared at by me and many other tax-paying Brits, thinking it is yet another illegal banger!

[gerryh]

she visits 4 times a year for 2 Months at a time

That makes 8 months,

Doesn't that also make her a tax resident?
Cheers
Gerry

[quebin]

That makes 8 months, and she may only use the car for a total of six - another reason the replate it. It will also mean she will avoid being glared at by me and many other tax-paying Brits, thinking it is yet another illegal banger!

[Enrique]

Hi Gerry,
I'm sure that was a general term.......... "she visits 4 times a year for 2 Months at a time"....

Maybe "up to" should have been in that sentence.............Bit like Broadband speeds.........

Anyway this is the wrong Section for discussing Tax issues.............

[peteroldracer]

With respect Enrique, one of the reasons that people who do not legalise their cars annoy some of those who do is that they do not pay their road tax here in Spain - and tend then to not take the car back to the UK for MoT testing, and let their UK road tax lapse.
What irritates me even more is the arrogant ones with personalised plates who just break the law rather than lose their precious status symbol - eg Ford Fiesta J444JEF that has been here for years - wonder if the driver is called Jeff? There are many others similarly guilty.

[quebin]

With respect Enrique, one of the reasons that people who do not legalise their cars annoy some of those who do is that they do not pay their road tax here in Spain - and tend then to not take the car back to the UK for MoT testing, and let their UK road tax lapse.
What irritates me even more is the arrogant ones with personalised plates who just break the law rather than lose their precious status symbol - eg Ford Fiesta J444JEF that has been here for years - wonder if the driver is called Jeff? There are many others similarly guilty.

Maybe he's Mutton Jeff.

[dxf]

Hola

Did anyone read "She wants to buy a car in the UK and re-matriculate it in Spain" ????

Warning bells about tax etc?

Davexf

[peteroldracer]

As the lady in question is not aiming for residency the rule that the vehicle must have been owned for three years before doing the personal import will not apply, I reckon.

[El Cid]

As the lady in question is not aiming for residency the rule that the vehicle must have been owned for three years before doing the personal import will not apply, I reckon.

I thought is was only 6 months but, yes the waiver on the tax only applies to the import of "goods and chattels" when moving permanently.

Sid

[peteroldracer]

Thanks Sid - I got my timescale a bit too long!
I still feel that all the bother and complications are not worth it - as I understand it, she would be buying an old car, thus has no experience of how reliable it may be, then driving it/shipping it out here, changing the headlamps etc and getting the high-cost ITV, then paying the duties and taxes.....why not simply buy a Spanish car here, unless she is incapable of doing the simple mind-conversion needed to be driving a left-hand drive car, in which case she shouldn't be driving at all (IMHO)?

[Devils Advocate]

why not simply buy a Spanish car here, unless she is incapable of doing the simple mind-conversion needed to be driving a left-hand drive car, in which case she shouldn't be driving at all (IMHO)?

To be fair it's a bit harsh to say that. If the lady has promised herself she'd like a Mercedes SL for whatever reason then I wish her all the best with it.....if she matriculates it and pays her dues she's doing nothing wrong.

It is a very nice vehicle and a 2003 model can be had for second hand Mondeo money in the UK........if she's found a nice low mileage FSH car then I think with the "wash out" on the tax she'd pay on it in Spain it's a no brainer to bring it across.

Unless of course the same car could be bought for the same price and in the same condition in Spain.

Then I'd agree with you.

[El Cid]

Unless of course the same car could be bought for the same price and in the same condition in Spain.

.

I doubt it but have a look at this and you can tell whether they are more expensive or not - I think they probably are.

http://goo.gl/iLC2r7

Sid

[peteroldracer]

hmmmmm - If I had a good condition car in that price range I am not sure I would be happy to park it anywhere here. I knew a couple of people down Marbella who had a 'nice' car which only came out of their garage when they went out somewhere swanky - valet parking etc - and a day-to-day car that they didn't cry about when it got scratched and dented by the careless.
I have a 2003 4x4, with 100k on the clock, and it squeaks and rattles a bit, has a fair few battle-scars (none of which were my fault and nearly all suffered when I was not in the vehicle), but starts every time and will get through rock-falls, small rivers, and carry a fair bit of chino or arena as required - or a 3 metre drainpipe or sunbed if we want. That is a vehicle for rural Spain!

[katy]

When my grandfather died he left a new/old Mercedes in Spain with Gibraltar reg plates When he bought it new Brits were then allowed to do that. It was an 80's car but only had 7400 km's on. Was stuck in his underground parking space as he rarely drove. We decided to keep it and register it in Spain...an effing nightmare, even though we used a gestor, worse thing we ever did. We were back and forwards with the paperwork, took months. Pays off if you can stand the hassle but I would buy in Spain.