how do we register our car/van in Benidorm?

Mikey · #1 (**permalink**) 8th April 2008, 10:14 PM

please lemme know

Stravinsky · #2 (**permalink**) 8th April 2008, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikey

please lemme know

Mikey, if you have a van the chances are you will not be able to register it as it is classed as commercial and you cant matriculate a commercial vehicle here that is RHD. That means you will have to return it to the UK or try to find a buyer here who is going home

Best thing to do is get a local gestor to do the car for you unless you can speak the language to get through the beaurocracy.

If you have owned the car for 6 months then you escape import registration fees (its a duty really but they cant call it that) but you will pay probably between €400 & €600 to get it done

Mikey · #3 (**permalink**) 8th April 2008, 10:37 PM

Hi again,

Im coming over to Benidorm in Van on wednesday next week.

Obviously i can visit i.e. touring etc, But how long do i have before i get a pull?

Stravinsky · #4 (**permalink**) 8th April 2008, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikey

Hi again,

Im coming over to Benidorm in Van on wednesday next week.

Obviously i can visit i.e. touring etc, But how long do i have before i get a pull?

Technically you could get away with it for 6 months, but its a risk whatever anyone tells you. Up this way there are regular road blocks. In reality if you are a Spanish resident then you shouldn't be driving a foreign plated car.

Also the van must be fully legal in the country of registration. i.e. MOT etc. Many insurance companies in the UK will cease to cover you if you no longer reside in the UK. There are companies in Spain that will cover you but I have heard stories about them not paying out on accidents due to UK docs being out of date

Mikey · #5 (**permalink**) 8th April 2008, 10:52 PM

Totally legal for the year and my insurance covers me and gives me green card for 3 - 6 months (whenever i tell them so that bits ok).

Roadblocks seem a bit worrying but i guess if anything goes wrong then "I'm touring" and will return.

Also looking for a cheap van for sale over there to carry all the musical equipment.

Is there no way to have van registered as a private van and get spanish plates?

Stravinsky · #6 (**permalink**) 8th April 2008, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikey

Totally legal for the year and my insurance covers me and gives me green card for 3 - 6 months (whenever i tell them so that bits ok).
Roadblocks seem a bit worrying but i guess if anything goes wrong then "I'm touring" and will return.
Also looking for a cheap van for sale over there to carry all the musical equipment.
Is there no way to have van registered as a private van and get spanish plates?

You are going to be pushing it if you come here for a year in it. It will be illegal and cars are being empounded. You will be a resident. You will presumably have an NIE and a padron, and you will need to prove that the car has been out of Spain. The Police here aren't daft. Road checks in Spain are much more common than in the UK, and they need absolutely no reason. They set up a road block and stop cars. recently they have been targetting foreign plates here.

A van is a van, and they treat them all as commercial. Its because its RHD your sight is restricted on the roads and is deemed dangerous.

BTW your "green card" (which doesn't actually exist any more) is only for touring, not for foreign residency

Mikey · #7 (**permalink**) 8th April 2008, 11:01 PM

So to summarise,

I am ok for 6 months but should really either purchase a van over there or come back after 6 months

Stravinsky · #8 (**permalink**) 8th April 2008, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikey

So to summarise,

I am ok for 6 months but should really either purchase a van over there or come back after 6 months

No ...... I didn't say you would be OK

. I said you might get away with it, but it would not be legal.

If you are a Spanish resident I think you have now 60 days to matriculate the vehicle or re export it.

Mikey · #9 (**permalink**) 8th April 2008, 11:07 PM

If i go over there and find storage for gear, buy a spanish van and get rid of british one, thats ok?

Stravinsky · #10 (**permalink**) 8th April 2008, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikey

If i go over there and find storage for gear, buy a spanish van and get rid of british one, thats ok?

Yes for sure. Or if you had a LHD van from the UK you could do it, but not a RHD van.
I'm sure theres plenty of people going back that could do with a cheap van to take stuff back with